What You Need To Know About Your Chapter 13 Case

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR CHAPTER 13 CASE This pamphlet is intended to help you understand YOUR responsibilities in Chapter 13, and the rolls played by the Bankruptcy Court, YOU, your Attorney, the Chapter 13 Trustee, and your creditors. Your duties include, but are not limited to: 1) making regular payments to the Chapter 13 Trustee as proposed in your Plan, including promptly making the first payment, which is due within 30 days after the filing of your case; 2) providing the Chapter 13 Trustee a copy of either your federal tax return or an IRS transcript for the last tax year you filed tax returns at least seven days before your First Meeting of Creditors; 3) filing tax returns with the taxing authorities for the four tax years prior to the Chapter 13; 4) attending the First Meeting of Creditors, and having appropriate identification and proof of your social security number; 5) providing the Chapter 13 Trustee with additional information on anyone owed a Domestic Support Obligation; and 6) attending the hearing(s) on Confirmation of your Chapter 13, if necessary. This pamphlet has been prepared and provided to you by: John P. Gustafson Standing Chapter 13 Trustee (419) 255-0675 PLEASE READ THIS BOOKLET CAREFULLY. IT PROVIDES THE BASIC INFORMATION YOU NEED FOR YOUR CHAPTER 13 CASE. If you have a problem making your Chapter 13 payment, or with some other aspect of your Chapter 13 Plan, CALL OR WRITE THE TRUSTEE. Revised 10/01/07-S&W

YOUR CHAPTER 13 CASE INFORMATION (Please fill in information below.)

Your Case Number:_____________________________________ Your Attorney’s Name ___________________________________ Address_______________________________________________ Your Attorney’s Telephone No. ___________________________ PLEASE NOTE: You are required to appear at First Meeting of Creditors held at 316 N. Michigan St., Suite 500, Toledo, OH to be held on ________________________________ *In case of emergency, the Chapter 13 Trustee’s Office telephone number is: 419-255-0675 YOUR ATTORNEY WILL ADVISE YOU IF YOUR APPEARANCE IS ALSO REQUIRED AT THE CONFIRMATION HEARING

When making payments, please make sure that your name (as on the petition) and case number are on your check, money order or cashier’s check. DO NOT SEND CASH OR POST-DATED CHECKS PAYMENTS MUST BE MAILED BY REGULAR FIRST CLASS U.S. MAIL ONLY – DO NOT USE CERTIFIED MAIL, FED EX OR UPS Mail all payments to: Standing Chapter 13 Trustee

John P. Gustafson, Trustee P.O.Box 712284 Cincinnati, OH 45271-2284

INTRODUCTION You have filed a Voluntary Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division (Toledo). A Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows you to propose a Plan to repay your creditors over a 3 to 5 year period. The payments to creditors under your Plan are made under Court supervision through the Office of the Chapter 13 Trustee. During your Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you may be entitled to certain protections from your creditors. For example, if this is your first Chapter 13 case, most creditors are prohibited from taking any action outside of the Bankruptcy Court to collect debts owed at the time of filing, unless the Court issues an Order allowing them to do so. Another benefit is, that if certain conditions are met, you can usually keep your property, and pay for it over time. You are also restrained from attempting to sell any of your assets, including your home, car, etc., without requesting and obtaining permission from the Court. You are also prohibited from making any purchases or obtaining any loans, secured or otherwise, in excess of $1,000.00 without the Court’s consent. As you can see these protections are not just set up for you, but also for your creditors. The Bankruptcy Court is like a mediator between you and your creditors. The Court’s job is to make sure that all parties act in good faith and in compliance with Bankruptcy laws. YOUR CHAPTER 13 PLAN You have filed a voluntary Chapter 13 Petition with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Your petition sets forth all of your assets, your income, expenses, and a Plan. This Plan, if approved by the Court, is the blueprint that will be used to pay back your creditors. Your Plan includes the amount of money you will pay to the Trustee each month, adequate protection payments, in what order you want your creditors to be paid, which secured creditors will be paid by you (outside the plan), and which are to be paid by the Trustee (inside the plan). Your Plan must also state what percentage your unsecured creditors will be paid on their claims and how long the Plan will run.

Secured creditors can be paid through the Plan, or through regular monthly payments directly from the debtor. However, any arrearages (missed payments) that may have accrued prior to the filing of your petition must be paid through the Plan by the Chapter 13 Trustee. If your Plan states that your are to make your current monthly payments directly to a creditor, and the Trustee is only to pay any arrearage, PLEASE REMEMBER: It is imperative that you immediately begin making those monthly payments to the secured creditors, beginning with the first payment that comes due after the filing of your Chapter 13. If you are not sure where to send your mortgage, vehicle, or other secured debt payments, or the creditor has refused your payments in the past, the Trustee advises that you give the payment to your attorney. He/she can then write that creditor and enclose your payment with the letter. YOUR PAYMENTS TO THE CHAPTER 13 TRUSTEE MUST BEGIN WITHIN 30 DAYS. It sometimes takes two to four months (or even longer) to confirm a case depending on its complexity. Waiting may cause you to lose your property, or pay higher monthly payment to catch up what you owe for the period after you filed your Chapter 13 case, or your case may be dismissed. YOUR ATTORNEY Your attorney represents your interests in this case, and must continue to do so for as long as your case is active, or until the Judge permits your attorney to withdraw from your case. Should you have any questions concerning your case, your rights, or your options, contact your attorney first. He/She is familiar with the Bankruptcy Code and Bankruptcy Rules, as well as the local rules and practices. Some questions may have a simple answer. Others may require contact with the Trustee’s Office or the filing of documents with the Court. Only your attorney can prepare these filings and give you advice as to the best way to proceed in a given situation. The Chapter 13 Trustee, and his staff, cannot give you legal advice. In many cases, a portion of your attorney’s fees will be paid through your plan. Make sure you have discussed fees and costs with your attorney, and that you fully understand if additional services will cost you more money. It is to your benefit to fully understand all facets of this Court action.

THE STANDING CHAPTER 13 TRUSTEE The Standing Chapter 13 Trustee’s responsibilities are to administer your confirmed Chapter 13 plan. That includes monitoring your payments, responding to telephone calls and other inquiries from creditors, disbursing payments to your creditors, maintaining your case file, and working with you and your attorney during the pendency of your case. The Chapter 13 Trustee’s Office is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The telephones are closed from Noon to 1 p.m. for lunch. Due to the number of active cases, and the number of cases being filed, telephone lines may be busy, or the Trustee’s staff may be helping other people. If you have difficulty getting through by telephone, a voice mail system is in place. Please leave a detailed message and always include your name, case number, question, and how we can best return your call. Your call will be referred to one of the Trustee’s case analysts or managers. These parties are well-trained and qualified to discuss any problems or concerns that you may have about certain aspects of your Chapter 13 case. However, Trustee and his staff, CANNOT give you legal advice. When necessary, they will refer you back to your attorney for assistance. You may also find the Chapter 13 Trustee’s website to be helpful in answering some very basic questions. The address for the website is: http://www.chapter13toledo.com/ THE FIRST MEETING OF CREDITORS – WHAT IT IS, AND WHAT YOU ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO BRING Be advised that your attendance at the first meeting of creditors is MANDATORY. The First Meeting of Creditors is scheduled by the Chapter 13 Trustee. (On the other hand, your Confirmation Hearing will be scheduled by the Court.) You will receive a notice of the date, time and locations for those hearings. You MUST attend the First Meeting of Creditors. You MAY also be required to attend the Confirmation Hearing.

The First Meetings of Creditors are normally scheduled between 8:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. These hearings are held at 316 N. Michigan Street, Suite 500, Toledo, Ohio 43604. A map of this location is available through the Chapter 13 website at: http://www.chapter13toledo.com/location.htm At the First Meeting of Creditors, YOU, your attorney, the Trustee and his assistant are present, as well as any of your creditors who may choose to attend. The Trustee and your creditors will ask questions about your property, debts, income, expenses and your proposed treatment of creditors.

**YOU ARE REQUIRED TO BRING PICTURE IDENTIFICATION TO THIS HEARING, SUCH AS YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE OR STATE I.D., AND IF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER IS NOT ON YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE OR STATE I.D., YOU MUST ALSO BRING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD. The requirement that you provide a government issued picture indentification, or other documents that establish your identity and social secured number is found in Interim Local Bankrupcy Rule 4002(B): 4002(b) INDIVIDUAL DEBTOR'S DUTY TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION. (1) Personal Identification. Every individual debtor shall bring to the meeting of creditors under § 341: (A) a picture identification issued by a governmental unit, or other personal identifying information that establishes the debtor's identity; and (B) evidence of social security number(s), or a written statement that such documentation does not exist. A directive from the United States Trustee (which is part of the U.S. Justice Department) that became effective December 3, 2001, also requires: “all debtors must provide trustees with picture identification to verify their identity and proof of social security numbers. . . . If a debtor fails to provide the required identification at the 341 meeting the debtor is not to be examined and the meeting must be continued to the trustee’s next date.”

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT MUST BE BROUGHT TO THE FIRST MEETING OF CREDITORS: 1.

DOMESTIC SUPPORT OBLIGATION (DSO) INFORMATION THAT MUST ALSO BE BROUGHT TO THE FIRST MEETING OF CREDITORS

The Chapter 13 Trustee is required by law to send notice of your bankruptcy filing to the holder(s) of Domestic Support Obligations, and to the state child support agency. “Domestic Support Obligations” are what are commonly called child support and alimony. If you owe alimony and/or child support obligations, the Chapter 13 Trustee will need additional information about that debt, including: 1) the name, current address and telephone number of the person(s) to whom the debt(s) is owed (most often, a former spouse); and, 2) whether or not the Domestic Support Obligation payments are current for the period after you filed your bankruptcy. Understand that your Chapter 13 case may dismissed at any time if you are not current with your Domestic Support Obligation payments that arose after your bankruptcy was filed. Under the October 17, 2005 Amendments to the Bankruptcy Code, the Chapter 13 Trustee’s Office is required, by the specific language of the law, to send notices to both the DSO creditor and the state child support enforcement agency. It is mandatory for the Trustee to provide notice to both the creditor and state child support enforcement agency even if the Domestic Support Obligation is only for alimony.

2.

TAX RETURNS

Interim Local Bankrupcy Rule 4002 states: (3) Tax Return. At least 7 days before the first date set for the meeting of creditors under § 341, the debtor shall provide to the trustee a copy of the debtor's Federal income tax return for the most recent tax year ending immediately before the commencement of the case and for which a return was filed, including any attachments, or a transcript of the tax return, or provide a written statement that the documentation does not exist.

Copies of the most recent Federal tax returns must be MAILED (or hand delivered) to the Chapter 13 Trustee’s Office. Not faxed or e-mailed.

3.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BRING UNLESS THE CHAPTER 13 REQUESTS IT

Interim Local Bankrupcy Rule 4002 states that: (B) unless the trustee or the United States trustee instructs otherwise, 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 the filing of the petition; **THIS SERVES AS AN INSTRUCTION THAT YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BRING THESE ITEMS TO THE FIRST MEETING OF CREDITORS UNLESS THE CHAPTER 13 TRUSTEE OR A MEMBER OF HIS STAFF SPECIFICALLY REQUESTS THEM.**

CONFIRMATION HEARING Your Confirmation Hearing will be held at the United States Courthouse at 1716 Spielbusch Ave., Toledo, Ohio 43604. The Confirmation Hearing will be held at a date and time determined by the Bankruptcy Court. Your attorney will advise you if your appearance is required at the Confirmation Hearing.

PAYMENTS TO THE CHAPTER 13 TRUSTEE Your Chapter 13 Plan proposes that certain payments are to be made on a set schedule. The payments made to the Chapter 13 Trustee are applied by the Trustee toward the payment of creditors’ claims filed in your case. The law states that Debtor(s) shall begin making payments proposed by their Plan within 30 days after the date of the filing of your Chapter 13 case. The law further states that if these payments are not made within that 30 day period, the case can be dismissed by the Court. Please re-read that portion of the accompanying letter which states your proposed payment and the date it is due. Payments should be made by money order, cashier’s check or personal check and should be made payable to:

Standing Chapter 13 Trustee. Mail all payments to: Standing Chapter 13 Trustee

John P. Gustafson, Trustee P.O.Box 712284 Cincinnati, OH 45271-2284 PLEASE NOTE: IT IS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND CHAPTER 13 CASE NUMBER ON ALL PAYMENTS. *NO CASH OR POST-DATED CHECKS WILL BE ACCEPTED. **PAYMENTS MUST BE MAILED BY ORDINARY MAIL. ***PAYMENTS MAILED VIA EXPRESS or PRIORITY MAIL WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ****PAYMENTS CANNOT BE MAILED or BROUGHT TO THE CHAPTER 13 TRUSTEE’S OFFICE. !! ALL PAYMENTS RECEIVED AT THE ABOVE MAILING ADDRESS WILL CLEAR YOUR BANK IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT !!

At the first meeting of creditors, it will be determined whether your subsequent payments will be made directly by you or through a payroll deduction. At the present time, the Trustee’s Office is unable to set up electronic/automatic transfers of funds from your bank account. Unless your attorney files a special motion, payroll deductions do not start until after your Plan is Confirmed, which may take several weeks. WE PREFER THAT PAYMENTS INTO YOUR PLAN BE MADE THROUGH A PAYROLL DEDUCTION FROM YOUR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. It makes life easier for you, the Creditor(s) and the Trustee. And most importantly, we have found that cases funded by payroll deduction are more likely to succeed. Remember: You are responsible for making all required Chapter 13 Plan payments. You cannot miss payments to the Plan. If you encounter a problem making your payments directly, or if there is a problem with your payroll department withholding the payroll deductions, you MUST contact your attorney and the Chapter 13 Trustee’s Office immediately. IF YOUR PAYMENTS TO THE CHAPTER 13 TRUSTEE ARE TO BE MADE THROUGH A PAYROLL DEDUCTION: The Court will not Order a payroll deduction unless you agree to it. If you are an employee, you will be asked at your First Meeting of Creditors if you would like to pay through a payroll deduction. If you agree to payment through a payroll deduction, the Order that confirms your Chapter 13 Plan will direct your employer to send to the Chapter 13 Trustee a fixed amount of money every time you are paid. In most cases, the payroll deduction does not start until after your Plan is Confirmed. The Order confirming your Plan will be sent to you by the Court. When you receive the Order, it is likely that your employer received the Order at about the same time. Start looking to see if the payroll deduction is coming out of your paycheck. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING YOUR PLAN PAYMENTS DIRECTLY TO THE CHAPTER 13 TRUSTEE UNTIL YOUR PAYROLL DEDUCTION BEGINS.

Please note: The Court has exclusive jurisdiction over your wages and property during the pendency of your Chapter 13 Plan. Should any employer treat the payroll deduction as a garnishment, or should any creditor attempt to garnishee your wages, you should advise your attorney and the Chapter 13 Trustee’s Office. Your attorney can take steps to help your employer more fully understand that you are making a voluntary effort to pay your debts. And, when necessary, the Trustee’s Office will aid your attorney in conveying that message. IF PERIODIC PAYMENTS TO THE CHAPTER 13 TRUSTEE ARE TO BE MADE DIRECTLY BY YOU: As previously stated, all payments should be made by personal check, cashier’s check or money order, and mailed per the payment instructions set forth earlier in this booklet. It is important that regular and timely payments are made so that the Trustee can make regular monthly disbursements to your creditors. If we don’t receive regular payments from you, and we do not hear from you about the reasons why, the Trustee will be forced to file a motion to have your case dismissed. If your case is dismissed by the Bankruptcy Court, you and your home and your other possessions are no longer under the protection of the Bankruptcy Court, and your creditors may resume foreclosure/re-possession/collection proceedings. You may also lose certain protections if you file again within One (1) year. NOTE: A copy of the Order confirming your Plan is mailed to your employer(s), unless you request that your employer not be notified. This is done for your protection. If a creditor attempts to collect their debt by way of a garnishment, your employer will have been put on notice of the Chapter 13 case and instructed not to honor any garnishments or levies. Further, the employer is instructed to return the notice to the creditor and notify them that you are in a Chapter 13. The creditor should then be advised to file a claim in your case to allow for payment of any debt.

***If, you are making direct payments, and for any reason do not want your employer to be notified that you have filed a Chapter 13, please advise your attorney, and the Trustee at the time of the First Meeting of Creditors. Your employer does not have to be notified if you do not want them to know you are in a Chapter 13. Also, any changes in employment or financial status that would affect your ability to make your payments, must be reported to your attorney and the Trustee’s Office. The Chapter 13 Trustee will try to work through any temporary financial setbacks. We want to see you complete your Plan! However, if there is no communication from you about any difficulties, the Trustee will have no alternative but to file for dismissal of your case.

ADEQUATE PROTECTION PAYMENTS THAT MUST BE MADE BY DEBTOR(S) DIRECTLY TO CERTAIN CREDITOR(S) PRIOR TO PLAN CONFIRMATION Pre-Confirmation “Adequate Protection Payments” required by Section 1326(a)(1)(C) are to be paid directly by you. These payments are generally required to be paid to creditors with valid security interests in personal property. You should talk to your attorney about the amounts that need to be paid as adequate protection for the period prior to the Confirmation of your Chapter 13 Plan. If you fail to make these required adequate protection payments, a creditor with a lien on personal property (such as a motor vehicle, jewelry or tools) may be able to take the collateral (your motor vehicle, jewelry or tools) and sell it to pay the debt they are owed. When making these “Adequate Protection Payments”, it is your obligation to keep accurate records of the amounts paid to creditors for this purpose. You must also provide the Chapter 13 Trustee with: “evidence of such payment, including the amount and the date of payment.” See, §1326(a)(1)(C). COMMON PROBLEMS PREVENTING CONFIRMATION OF CHAPTER 13 PLANS. 1.

Uninsured real estate or vehicles. You will be questioned at the First Meeting of Creditors if your home is insured and whether your vehicles are insured.

The Court will NOT confirm a case if your real estate is not insured. Nor will the Court confirm a case where your mortgage-holder has replaced your homeowner’s insurance with what is called “forced-placed” insurance. “Forced place insurance” is insurance carried by your mortgage-holder that only insures the balance owed on their mortgage. It does not cover you, your possessions, or any equity you may have in your home. This type of insurance will provide YOU with NO benefit if your house is destroyed by fire, natural disaster, etc. Also, FORCED PLACED INSURANCE COSTS APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES AS MUCH AS REGULAR HOMEOWNER’S INSURANCE COSTS. Therefore, if any of your real estate is not insured, or is insured by “forced-placed insurance”, please begin the process of obtaining your own homeowner’s insurance immediately. This will help to avoid delays in the confirmation of your Plan. 2.

Unpaid taxes or unfiled tax returns. Another question you will be asked by the Trustee is whether you have filed all tax returns you were legally required to file within the last four years.

If you have not filed any of the tax returns required to be filed for any tax period within the four years prior to filing, please take steps to file them immediately. The Court will not confirm your Chapter 13 Plan until you do so. Moreover, failure to file tax returns that you are legally required to file, either in the four years prior to the Chapter 13, or at any time after the filing of your Chapter 13 case, may result in your Chapter 13 case being dismissed by the Bankruptcy Court. This rule applies even if you believe that you do not owe the IRS, State, etc., any monies. This office advises that you take all steps necessary to file all past due tax forms, both before and after the filing of your Chapter 13 case, and make every effort to pay any tax that comes due after filing. If all tax forms have been properly filed, you will be protected from rules that require automatic dismissal of your Chapter 13 case for failure to file tax returns, and your attorney will be better able to work out an accurate re-payment plan. In addition, Debtors sometimes fail to include tax debts in their Schedules, especially if a re-payment plan has been arranged with the taxing authorities. Please note that ALL your creditors must be listed in your bankruptcy Schedules. Further, your unsecured tax liabilities must be paid through your Plan by the Trustee. Be sure to discuss this with your attorney, if this situation applies to you.

THE DEBTOR EDUCATION REQUIREMENT Before you make your last payment to the Chapter 13 Trustee, you must complete an instructional course concerning personal financial management that has been approved by the Office of the United States Trustee. In order to obtain a Chapter 13 discharge, you will be required to provide the Bankruptcy Court with appropriate proof that you completed this financial management class. This Chapter 13 information booklet is not intended to, and does not fulfill your debtor education requirements. You must take the approved instructional course or you will not receive a discharge.

TAXES During the pendency of your Chapter 13, you will be required to maintain = and all post-petition tax indebtedness directly to the appropriate taxing authorities. This is a requirement for all Chapter 13 debtors. Failure to do so may result in dismissal of your Chapter 13 case. This requirement is also addressed in the Order Confirming Plan. Please read it carefully.

COMPLETION OF YOUR PLAN When your creditors have been paid in full, the Trustee will prepare the necessary paperwork to stop any payroll deduction and notify you that your plan appears to be completed. You, your attorney and the Court will receive copies of the Trustee’s Final Report and Account, after which you will receive a Discharge Order from the Bankruptcy Court. ** PLEASE NOTE: The Trustee is unable to close Chapter 13 cases that are completed (or advise the Court to issue the “Discharge Order”) until after all of the final checks, issued to your creditors and to you, have been cashed. Therefore, you will NOT receive a Discharge Order at the time you make your final payment. It takes at least 4-6 weeks for the final checks to clear and the paperwork to be prepared by the Trustee and the Court. Upon successful completion of your plan, the Trustee will also notify the Credit Bureau of Toledo that your Chapter 13 case has been completed. We

will also forward to them copies of the Final Report and Discharge Order for their records. It is important that you follow up with the credit reporting agencies to see that your records are accurate once your case has been completed. You can, at any time, pay additional funds into your Plan. Obviously, any additional funds will help shorten the length of the Plan. Often, Debtors will send in all or a portion of profit-sharing or bonus checks, or tax refunds. If you have a 100% Plan, you may pay off your plan at any time prior to the end of the time frame allowed by the Court. If your Plan proposes to pay less than 100%, you should contact your attorney about attempting to pay your Plan off early.

INCURRING ADDITIONAL DEBT If you find it necessary to incur any additional indebtedness during the course of your Chapter 13, for the purchase of a vehicle for example, you MUST obtain approval from the Trustee BEFORE incurring such debt. Contact your attorney and the Chapter 13 Trustee’s Office.

SALE OF ASSETS OR REFINANCING If your Plan provides for sale of an asset, or you desire to sell an asset, be sure to contact your attorney to be sure that the sale is accomplished in accordance with your Plan. Your attorney will then contact the Trustee’s Office so that the disposition of the proceeds of the sale can be determined. Ordinarily, the Court issues an injunction prohibiting you from selling, disposing of, or encumbering your real estate or any other major asset during the course of your Chapter 13 case unless you first obtain approval from the Court. Should a situation arise where you need to sell or refinance property subject to this injunction, please contact your attorney and the Chapter 13 Trustee as soon as possible. It will be up to your attorney to file the required paperwork with the Court to have the injunction lifted.

CHAPTER 13 BUSINESS DEBTORS

Debtors engaged in business are subject to the same requirements, restraints, and jurisdiction as individuals with only personal debts, but must also provide the Chapter 13 Trustee with additional information relating to the business. Business Debtors may be required to mail to the Trustee copies of certain documents, including proof of insurance, bank account records, licenses, tax returns, leases, etc. These documents, if requested, must be provided to the Trustee prior to the first meeting of creditors. If the Trustee does not receive the requested documentation prior to the first meeting of creditors, we may be unable to go forward with the creditors’ meeting as scheduled. Business debtors are also required to file quarterly reports and summaries of their business operations with the Trustee and the Court. Contact your attorney if you have any legal questions.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE TRUSTEE From the time your case is confirmed, and even before, you will receive various communications, notices and other documents from this Office. This letter and pamphlet are the first of many. PLEASE READ ALL COMMUNICATIONS AND DOCUMENTS IN REGARD TO YOUR CHAPTER 13 CASE CAREFULLY. If you do not understand what is being said or the purpose of the document, please call your attorney immediately. If your address changes, let the Chapter 13 Trustee’s Office know your new address as soon as possible. You will be mailed copies of documents which will tell you which creditors have and have not filed claims in your case, and for what amounts. If the amounts do not appear correct call your attorney. You are allowed a certain amount of time within which to object to any claim. Every April and October you will receive a ledger from the Trustee, which will reflect the payments made into your plan and the disbursements made to your creditors during the previous six months, along with current balances. These ledgers will keep you up-to-date on the progress of your Plan.

FINALLY

As was stated at the beginning of this booklet, you have filed a Chapter 13 re-payment Plan. Which means you have entered into a joint effort to satisfy your creditors, while holding on to all of your property. The Trustee, your attorney and even your creditors, are all hoping for the successful completion of your plan. As in any relationship, if lines of communication are not maintained the chances for success are diminished. This is why you need to let us know if you are finding it difficult to make payments, if a check will not clear, or if your employment situation changes. Complying with a Chapter 13 Plan is not always easy. You may have to make real sacrifices to meet the obligations you have set for yourself in your Plan and to live within that budget. Please know that thousands of people have, over the years, been successful in completing their repayment plans and have been just as successful in re-establishing their credit.