Documents to Bring to Appointment

In order for Michigan Bankruptcy attorney Lander McLoyd to obtain a full understanding of your financial situation, it is important for you to bring some basic information about your income and debts to your appointment. Please contact us with any questions!

{slide=The basics}

• PICTURE IDENTIFICATION and SOCIAL SECURITY CARD

• CREDIT-COUNSELING CERTIFICATE
  • Please have the certificate e-mailed to: lander@johnson-mcloyd.com on completion of counseling.
• DEBTOR EDUCATION CERTIFICATE (must be obtained after case has been filed and should be obtained by the meeting of creditors). You must contact the credit-counseling agency and purchase the education materials that they will then mail to you. You will need to complete the education materials with the counseling agent.
• WAGE STUBS for your last seven months of pay periods.
  
  • We need to know your year-to-date income, your income totals for the previous six months, and your income for the last several calendar years. We calculate your average income based on the last full six months of your total income ending on the last day of the last month before filing bankruptcy. (For example, if today were 11/15/2009, the six-month period of time would be ending 10/31/2009 and beginning 5/01/2009.)
  • Include income from support, social security, pension, or other sources (such as someone paying your living expenses or roommates).
  • Bring all of your documentation showing all household income. Also include records of any bonuses, commissions, or special payments you have received in the last six months. All sources of income (taxable or not, i.e., child support, social security, pension, alimony, worker’s compensation, tax refunds received, lottery winnings, etc.) need to be included when calculating your average income for the past six months.
  • The bankruptcy law requires you to furnish copies of all payment advices (like pay stubs) or other evidence of payment received from all employers within 60 days of filing bankruptcy.

• INCOME TAX RETURNS and W-2 FORMS for previous FOUR YEARS if available.
  • Our office can obtain a transcript from the IRS for all four years for a fee. However, we would need to see the actual income tax returns and W-2s for the last two years. The court will expect you to have filed all tax returns.

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{slide=If you own property}

• IF YOU OWN PROPERTY and if your name is on property (for example, if a parent has put your name on his or her property in case of death, this makes you the owner of that property—do not remove your name, consult the attorney), bring the following:
• PROPERTY TAX STATEMENT showing taxable value and state equalized value (SEV). (This may be obtained from your city or township tax office.)
• APPRAISAL if you have had your property appraised.
• PROOF OF INSURANCE on property (policy declaration page).
• ALL RECORDED DEEDS, MORTGAGES, AND LAND CONTRACTS you received when you bought the property (warranty deed or quit claim deed from the prior owner) or TITLE CERTIFICATE to any MOBILE OR MODULAR HOME.

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{slide=If you rent or lease residence}

IF YOU RENT OR LEASE YOUR RESIDENCE: Bring your LEASE.

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{slide=For all motor vehicles owned or in your name }

• TITLE CERTIFICATE
• VEHICLE PURCHASE AGREEMENT OR VEHICLE LEASE if you are still paying.
• PROOF OF INSURANCE if you have a loan on the vehicle or are leasing.

(A bill to pay your insurance is not proof of insurance—it is the card that you show a state trooper if one were to pull you over. The effective dates of the insurance must include today’s date.)

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{slide=Additional documents/information}

• BANK AND CREDIT UNION STATEMENTS FOR PAST THREE MONTHS for your checking and savings bank or credit union accounts and all 401(k), IRA, OR RETIREMENT PLAN STATEMENTS. Also include the closing statement form any accounts you have closed in the past year.
• BANK AND CREDIT UNION BALANCES as of the date we filed your bankruptcy case. This may mean you may have to call your bank to obtain a balance statement as most likely your bank statements will not reflect the date you filed your case.
• DIVORCE JUDGMENT if you have been divorced.
• ALL DEBT INFORMATION WITH NAME, ADDRESS, ACCOUNT NUMBER, AND APPROXIMATE AMOUNT OWING. We need BALANCES OWING on ALL DEBTS, including home mortgages, car loans, and all other debts you owe. We can order a credit report (at a charge) if you retain us to represent you, but you should still bring all debts with you. If we start a case for you, we must include all debts you owe. The list must include all debts, including debts you may want to continue paying (e.g., home and car payments). For car and home loans, we need the payoff balance (total amount owing at this time) as well as the monthly payment.
• LAWSUITS. All pending cases in the prior two years before filing your case.

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{slide=Checklist of debts}

• ALL CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS even if current unless they have a zero balance.
• ALL MORTGAGE STATEMENTS even if you wish to keep the mortgage.
• ALL HOME EQUITY LOANS even if you wish to keep the loan.
• ALL PERSONAL LOANS even if owed to relatives or friends. We will need the name(s) and address(es) of all cosignors.
• ALL CHILD SUPPORT OR ALIMONY PAYMENTS. We will need the name and address of the custodial parent as well as the name and address of the friend of the court and the amount of arrears.
• ALL OVERDRAFT LOANS
• ALL CAR LOANS OR LEASES even if you wish to keep the car or have cosigned the car loan or had the car loan cosigned for you. We will need name and address of all cosignors.
• ALL PENSION OR 401(k) LOANS even if you wish to keep paying. We will need the balance of the loans and the balance of any remaining funds.
• ALL LOANS AGAINST INSURANCE POLICIES even if you wish to keep paying.
• ALL UTILITY BILLS unless they are within one month of being current. (Your service cannot be shut off if the debt is listed in bankruptcy. The utility may require a security deposit for future service, usually equal to one month payable 20 days after any demand.)

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{slide=Checklist of Income}

Six months ending with the last day of last calendar month.

• PAY STUBS (last seven months for easy calculation)
• OTHER PAYMENTS
• SOCIAL SECURITY STATEMENTS
• CHILD SUPPORT OR ALIMONY PAYMENTS
• WORKER’S COMPENSATION PAYMENTS
• PENSION PAYMENTS
• UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION PAYMENTS
• LOTTERY AND CASINO WINNINGS
• TAX REFUNDS RECEIVED

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{slide=Household budget}

• HOUSEHOLD BUDGET AND FINANCIAL QUESTIONS COMPLETED (Download and Print Budget of Monthly Expenses) for your monthly household income and living expenses broken down by category.
  • We need to analyze your net income from all sources, then break down your living expenses for rent or house payments, car payments, utilities, gas, groceries, insurance, etc., to determine what your payment options are and what debts you can or cannot afford to pay.
  • A budget is required for a proper analysis of your financial situation and to determine whether you qualify for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.

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PRINT AND DOWNLOAD FULL LIST & BUDGET

Download and Print Required Documents

Download and Print Budget of Monthly Expense