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He also holds meetings which are attended by
debtor filing for bankruptcy and his creditors. This is probably
hardest part of
whole proceedure for most people.
The trustee will question
debtor about his financial affairs and go over his financial records to determine that all assets have been disclosed and that no fraud is being perpetrated on
court.
Attorneys for
creditors are also allowed to ask questions about your expenses and assets.
The trustee will also instruct you on other alternatives and lecture you on
proper use of credit.
He will then issue a report
bankruptcy judge will use in deciding whether to dicharge your debts and which debts are to be included.
A debtor is unlikely to ever meet
judge. In a Chapter 7 case,
debtor will not appear in court unless an objection is made. In a Chapter 13 case,
debtor might have to appear at a hearing approving his repayment plan.
Most of
work will be done in
trustee’s office.
What Debt Can Be Discharged?
Not all debt can be discharged by a bankruptcy court.
A bankrupcy court cannot discharge debts arising from alimony, child maintenance and support obligations; certain taxes (including
last three years income taxes); debts for educational benefit overpayments or federal student loans; debts for willful and malicious injury; debts for death or personal injury caused by
driving while intoxicated from alcohol or other substances; and debts from criminal restitution orders.
To
extent that these types of debts are not fully paid by
sale of assets during during a Chapter Seven case or not fully repaid during a Chapter Thirteen case,
debtor is still responsible for them after
bankruptcy case has been concluded.
Other debts may or may not be discharged. Debts for money or property obtained by false pretenses, through fraud, embezzlement or misuse of funds while acting as a fiduciary; debts for willful and malicious injury to another entity or to
property of another entity; and debts arising from a property settlement agreement incurred in connection wth a divorce or separation are discharged, unless a creditor convinces
court to have such debts declared exempt from discharge.
If you can't get at least half of your debts discharged, it's not worth
effort.

Chris Cooper is a retired attorney who has spent several periods of his life deep in debt. At http://www.credit-yourself.com he tries to pass on some of the knowledge he picked up in his journey to become debt free.