Pinal County, Arizona, is vast. It has similar sized cities in Florence, Casa Grande, Apache Junction, and Maricopa all vying to be the county center. This may make it difficult to find a good bankruptcy lawyer. Here are some things unique to Pinal County that you may want to consider when filing bankruptcy.
The Bankruptcy Trustees are from Pima County, Tucson, Arizona
It does not matter if you file chapter 7 bankruptcy or chapter 13 bankruptcy. It does not matter if you are from Casa Grande, Maricopa, Apache Junction or Florence. If you file bankruptcy in Pinal County, you will get a bankruptcy trustee from Pima County, Tucson. If you file a chapter 7 bankruptcy, you will likely be assigned to Stanley Kartchner. If you file a chapter 13 bankruptcy, you will likely be assigned to Diane Kerns.
A bankruptcy trustee can make or break your case. The bankruptcy trustee helps make sure the bankruptcy is done right. In this case, if you file bankruptcy in Pinal County, you are quite lucky. Both of the bankruptcy trustees are really good to work with and genuinely care about the debtors.
The 341 Meeting of Creditors for Pinal County Bankruptcy will be held in Florence, Arizona.
Ever since COVID, the Meeting of Creditors, or 341 Meeting, has been held virtually. You may not have to make the journey to Florence. The meeting is scheduled to be held at the Pinal County Superior Courthouse. Fortunately, today the meeting may be virtual and anywhere.
The main purpose of a 341 Creditor Meeting is to check your ID and to hear under oath that you did not intentionally lie on the bankruptcy petition. Checking ID at a 341 Creditor Meeting is more difficult when you are not there. Therefore, your bankruptcy lawyer will check your ID. Verification of ID and social security card will be sent to the trustee before the meeting.
Do I Need My ID and Social Security Card at Bankruptcy 341 Hearing Meeting of Creditors
Trustee Stanley Kartchner does phone appearances for Chapter 7. He has a phone number and pass code to call in and attend the 341 meeting. The pass code and phone number will be provided by your bankruptcy lawyer before the hearing. This means you will not have to figure out a Zoom call. Instead, you will just make a telephone call. Because you will not be on video, your ID will need to be checked before the meeting. Your bankruptcy lawyer will check your ID and file the correct forms. Therefore, you will not need your ID at the time of the 341 hearing.
Trustee Diane Kerns normally does Zoom meetings if you filed chapter 13. This means you will be on video. You will simply click on a link in an email. You will use the camera on your phone or laptop to appear at the 341 hearing. In this case, you will frequently have to hold up your ID during the 341 meeting. If you are not tech savvy, you will still be able to appear by phone. In this case your ID would need to be provided to the trustee before the meeting.
What if I don’t have my Social Security Card for my 341 Creditors Meeting
You might not need your actual Social Security Card to get through a 341 Hearing in Pinal County. Anything that bears your Social Security Number that was not prepared by you should be sufficient. For example, your taxes have your social security number. However, you prepared your taxes. Your w-2 or 1099 have your social security number. Moreover, the tax documents were not created by you. This makes them more reliable. Therefore, they are usually accepted as proof of your social security number. A more foolproof way is to simply apply for a replacement social security card. The receipt the Social Security Administration gives you will have your social security number on it. That card was not created by you. The card was created by the Social Security Administration. Once again, that card will normally be accepted as proof of your social security number.
You Don’t Have to Leave Pinal County to get the Best Bankruptcy Attorneys
Most bankruptcy court hearings are done on the phone or online. Similarly, most bankruptcy attorneys will do consults on the phone or online as well. The whole process can be completed with email and telephone. Alternatively, even if you are not good with email, you can mail the documents to your attorney. The United States Post Office still delivers mail by hand every day.
Bankruptcy can be a useful tool for individuals struggling to repay their debts. It might not be a quick fix. Bankruptcy can take from a few months to several years depending on the complexity. If you are considering filing for bankruptcy to reduce or eliminate your personal debt, first take the time to educate yourself about the bankruptcy process and all that it will require of you. Work with a bankruptcy lawyer to learn more about the long-term repercussions of bankruptcy and the tasks you need to complete before filing, such as taking a credit counseling class and filing your taxes.
Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?
Individuals who are struggling with high levels of personal debt have at least two bankruptcy options: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Not everybody qualifies for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, nor does everybody qualify for Chapter 13. Even in cases where an individual does qualify for one or both of these chapters, one might be a better option for him or her than the other.
Most debtors filing Chapter 7 have few if any non-exempt assets. Therefore, most Chapter 7 debtors are able to keep their property. Exempt assets are assets the individual needs for his or her daily life, such as a car to get to work, household items, and clothing for work and everyday wear. Nonexempt assets, those that can be liquidated, include collectible items, recreational vehicles and objects, and properties other than the filer’s primary residence. To qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, an individual must pass the “means test.” To pass this test, he or she must earn less than his or her state’s median income or demonstrate that he or she does not have sufficient disposable income to complete a Chapter 13 repayment plan.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy is in many ways less restrictive than Chapter 7 bankruptcy. With Chapter 13, the individual must submit a plan to repay some of the debt to the bankruptcy court. If it is accepted, he or she works with a bankruptcy trustee to repay some of the debt over the course of three to five years. Although it can be easier to qualify for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, not everybody does. Individuals who cannot show that they have enough disposable income after subtracting their required expenses from their monthly income will not have the assets to make payments. Also, those who have more than $1,184,200 in secured debt and those who have more than $394,725 in unsecured debt do not qualify for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Work with an Experienced Pinal County Bankruptcy Attorney
If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, the first thing you should do is speak with an experienced bankruptcy lawyer about your situation and your goals for the bankruptcy case. An experienced lawyer can not only help you determine which type of bankruptcy is the better choice for you and your case but also determine whether bankruptcy is the right choice for you at all. He or she can also guide you through each step of the bankruptcy process and help you avoid pitfalls that can set you back or even disqualify your case.
