Castle Law Office Blog | Missouri & Illinois Bankruptcy Legal Blog

What Is There to Fear about Chapter 7 Missouri or Illinois 341 Meetings?

The idea of meeting with an official from the court or any creditor is often scary for people filing chapter 7 bankruptcy in Missouri or Illinois. And part of my duty as a St. Louis Missouri and Fairview Heights Illinois Bankruptcy attorney is to remove some of that fear and make the process easier. After all, getting protection from foreclosure and credit card debt help should be a relief and not a stressful situation. But, surprisingly enough, the meeting of the creditors, or the 341 meeting, isn’t usually a stressful situation. In fact, creditors rarely show up to the meeting.

Why, after spending weeks or even months harassing you by phone and mail, does a creditor not usually bother to show up to your Chapter 7 Missouri or Illinois 341 meeting? There isn’t much they can do. There are usually several meetings scheduled in a 30 minute time period and the trustee will only meet with each debtor for a brief period of time. Most creditors know that they can’t really ask you any questions or get anything accomplished at these meetings because their debt is discharged whether they like or not. So, unless there is fraud going on, it is very rare you will ever be questioned by a creditor.

Instead, most of the concerns and questions that creditors have are dealt with prior to hearings by email and mail. And that is just another example of why it is important to have an experienced Missouri or Illinois bankruptcy lawyer. The best bankruptcy attorneys can arrange your affairs outside of the hearings so you can continue to focus on getting your fresh start and building a new life.

Do you have more questions about the bankruptcy process? The ultimate Missouri and Illinois bankruptcy guide, “Get Out of Debt: Secrets Your Creditors Don’t Want You to Know,” is available for free. You can request your free copy by clicking here.