Do You Need to Go To a Hearing for Your Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

Yes. You must attend 1 court hearing for your Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.

The sole court hearing is held about 4-6 weeks AFTER you have already legally filed your chapter 7 case. This means that your case is “official” even before you go to the court hearing!

The court hearing is also called the “Section 341 Meeting of Creditors,” or “341 Hearing” because of the section of the Bankruptcy code that mandates the hearing – 11 USC §341. And despite the name “Meeting of Creditors,” it is actually VERY UNCOMMON for a creditor to show up to a chapter 7 hearing.

What to Bring: 100%, you MUST bring your Driver’s License & Social Security Card, or your hearing will not be held.

What to Wear: There is no strict dress code, thus most outfits are acceptable. However, there are things to avoid: Shorts, sleeveless shirts, open-toed shoes, and other inappropriate clothes.

When to Arrive: Arrive about 30 minutes early because the hearing is likely to be in Downtown Columbus (170 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43215; *unless otherwise noted by your attorney). Because it is Downtown Columbus, that means there will be traffic, parking issues, and a security checkpoint at the building that usually takes a few minutes to get through. Of course, we don’t want to miss our hearing!

What to Expect at the Hearing: I will be there with you. The hearing is with a TRUSTEE, NOT A JUDGE. The hearing itself is simply to confirm and clarify the information that we already provided to the Court when we filed the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. The Trustee takes the opportunity to ask any clarifying questions, and to confirm the information is true, correct, and complete.

How Long Does a Typical Hearing Take: A typical hearing for a chapter 7 case lasts about 5-10 minutes. That’s it!

When the 5-10 minute hearing is over, you’re done for the day! I will remind you (1) to pay the court fee (if it has not already been paid) & (2) to complete the 2nd part to the Credit Counseling class. The hearing is usually your last involvement with your case. At that point, it is simply a waiting game for the official discharge to be granted, and your case to be complete with a Fresh Start!

I know it sounds too easy to be true, but it often really is that simple! Contact me, Attorney Lucas Ruffing, to learn how Bankruptcy can benefit you, and change the rest of your life for the better!

-Lucas Ruffing
Bankruptcy Attorney
740-815-1114
LucasRuffingLaw@gmail.com