After you File

You must take the following steps, by the deadlines mentioned.

1. Required Identification, Tax Return, Payment Advices, and Bank Statements

No later than 7 days before the § 341 Meeting of Creditors, you must deliver to your case trustee copies of the following:

  • A picture ID issued by a governmental unit
  • Evidence of Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
  • Statements for each of the debtor's depository and investment accounts including checking, savings and money market accounts, mutual funds and brokerage accounts for the time period that includes the date of filing of the petition.
  • Documentation of monthly expenses claimed by the debtor when required by section 707(b)(2)(A) or (B).
  • Your most recent federal income tax return, along with copies of pay stubs or wage statements for wages and income received during the 60 days preceding the filing of the petition.   Request a transcript of your federal tax return

NOTE: The name and address of your case trustee and the date, time, and location of your meeting of creditors will be mailed to you by the Clerk's Office within 5 days of the filing of the petition. Failure to provide copies of tax return and payment advices to your case trustee in a timely manner may result in dismissal of your case.

2.  Meeting of Creditors

Within 21 days, but no more than 40 to 60 days (depending on the chapter and location of the meeting) after the date of filing, the United States trustee shall hold a meeting of creditors.

See the U.S. Trustee Program website for important requirements for debtors. 

Also, review the video Creditors' Meeting.  

3. Personal Financial Management Course

Within 60 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors in a Chapter 7 case and no later than the last payment made by the debtor as required by the plan or the filing of a motion for entry of discharge under § 1328 (b) in a Chapter 13 case, you must (1) complete an instructional course in personal financial management from an approved provider and (2) file with the court the Certificate of Course Completion in Financial Management (Certificate of Debtor Education).

Failure to complete the instructional course in personal financial management and file the Certificate of Course Completion will prevent entry of discharge in your case and may result in dismissal of your case. Each debtor in a joint petition must take the course and file a certificate.