"How Do I Know When My Chapter 13 Is Over" Discussion

Upsolve Community Member
Hi Thomas! I used Upsolve in 2020 to file bankruptcy after spending 3 years of hell in both criminal and civil court. My significant other turned out to be a Bernie Madoff. I just wanted to let you know where I am coming from. I learned a lot then and I continue to learn about topics in this Community. (Cont.)

Upsolve Community Member
I am going to be very clear here. Even if you were ABLE to get a loan -- if at the time you take out the loan(s) you plan to file bankruptcy, that is fraud on the creditor. If you lie about it on the bankruptcy petition or in the 341 Meeting of the Creditors, that is perjury. If you hide the loan proceeds in an attempt to keep them after bankruptcy that is fraud on the bankruptcy court. All are punishable by significant fines and jail time.

Upsolve Community Member
My former girlfriend of 12 years is in federal prison serving 8 years for fraud. I used Upsolve to file Chapter 7 to get out from underneath debt spent on attorneys to get 8 innocent people dismissed from the case. It's your call, Thomas. Good luck! :-)

Upsolve Community Member
You might find this helpful to learn more about the context of this: https://upsolve.org/learn/what-is-bankruptcy-fraud/ 

Upsolve Community Member
Clair's answer is a better answer to your question because it is educational. I was speaking from experience and the reason I eventually filed with Upsolve! Between the two methods, I'm hoping this not only answers YOUR question but serves as a moral guide for anyone in this Community viewing this thread. :-) 

Upsolve Community Member
Thomas, you might want to read Upsolve's article https://upsolve.org/learn/private-student-loans/ when you have time. 

Upsolve Community Member
You can file a Chapter 7 to rid everything and elect to keep what you want to keep if this helps

Upsolve Community Member
Hi Maria! I'm sorry you are going through all this but you will! The first article I am attaching here is about your home: https://upsolve.org/learn/can-bankruptcy-take-your-house/ The other article is https://upsolve.org/learn/need-to-know-about-divorce-and-bankruptcy/. Note: Unfortunately, the Upsolve software cannot be used if you own a home but the Learning Center is invaluable! :-). Good luck! 

Upsolve Community Member
Maria, you might also be interested in reading https://upsolve.org/learn/bankruptcy-to-stop-foreclosure/ after you read the articles Mark suggested. If you have any questions while you're reviewing your options, just ask and we'll be happy to help if we can!

Upsolve Community Member
Hope those articles help! Thanks so much for asking and please feel free to ask anything else you'd like to know! 

Upsolve Community Member
Mary yes it really works i thought it would be hard...On the contrary pretty straightforward and simple.....and the upsolve team can answer your questions along the way.....

Upsolve Community Member
Hi Mary! I know, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Welcome to your free lunch...  It's actually a partnership because, through a series of questions and answers, YOU provide the answers and if some of the questions are confusing, the Upsolve Learning Center will most likely have your answers. This Community will assist you in locating the appropriate Learning Center information should you have difficulties. I am an Upsolver! I filed and was discharged in 2020. I couldn't afford a lawyer either and not only was Upsolve the tool I needed to do it myself, but I believe in Upsolve so much, I am here to assist others like you! Good luck, Mary! :-). 

Upsolve Community Member
I have a question. So far it had been easy enough answering the questions. I am stuck though on how how to find all the places you owe and cannot pay? A second question, is on credit Karma I can pull up Transunion and Experian (I think it was Experian). I have 2 credit scores show in the high 500's. They are a couple numbers a part. My question is I did not have a but 3 credited on it I owe..and my student loans whick say I am good standing. Anything else say there closed. So why is my credit score so low?

Upsolve Community Member
Mary, as a former Upsolve filer now rebuilding credit, let me see if I can assist with the several questions you have here. First, CREDIT KARMA is a commercial company NOT a credit reporting agency. This Upsolve Learning Center article: https://upsolve.org/learn/get-your-free-credit-report/ As far as Student Loans are concerned, late payments on private and federal student loans are reported to credit agencies. If they are in good shape, you won't see them on your credit report(s). I hope this helps! :-) 

Upsolve Community Member
You might also find this article helpful, Mary! https://upsolve.org/learn/do-not-remember-creditors-owed-chapter-seven-bankruptcy/

Upsolve Community Member
Thank you. It did help but it's really overwhelming trying to find all the places you owe. Do I go back as far as I can with the debt?  Does this Questioner have to be done in 5 days? What happens if it isn't? Like I said it overwhelming. Sorry guys to ask all these questions.

Upsolve Community Member
You can take longer if you need, Mary. Thanks so much for being here

Upsolve Community Member
My opinion only: Include it. It won't hurt. If there is a problem, you will be alerted and you can always edit or amend later. This is all better than not reporting something and losing sleep over it. :-). Good luck ahead! :-)

Upsolve Community Member
The instructions for the bankruptcy form for unsecured debts (Schedule E/F) states "When you file for bankruptcy, the court needs to know who all your creditors are and what types of claims they have against you." The Upsolve article https://upsolve.org/learn/chapter-7-bankruptcy-forms-explained/ has information and links to bankruptcy forms. Also, 11 U.S. Code § 521 on debtor's duties states that the "debtor shall file a list of creditors." There have been Pell grants listed in bankruptcy before. The Upsolve short learning center article https://upsolve.org/learn/need-list-all-creditors/ says "You should do your best to list all of the companies you owe money to on your bankruptcy forms." I'm just spouting out facts I read but I hope it helps! 

Upsolve Community Member
That's a great question, Ashley! Hopefully others will chime in with what their "real life experience" was right after filing, but in the mean time, check out the article titled https://upsolve.org/learn/what-happens-after-filing-bankruptcy/ in our Learning Center for an overview. 

Upsolve Community Member
There are two ways to read your question, Ashley: After you file (as in the process) or in general, in LIFE! The great thing about Upsolve AND NOW this COMMUNITY, there is a special bond of sorts with those of us who filed "Per Se" (representing ourselves). I sincerely believe that all of us Upsolvers came into this thing scared to death because we had little to NO idea what we were getting into. 

Upsolve Community Member
(continued) but thanks to Community, whether it be the Upsolve Team or my fellow Upsolver's, the process is less painful. We UNDERSTAND every one of us is nervous leading up to the 341 meeting. We UNDERSTAND that AFTER the 341 meeting, we feel like a fool for being so nervous....

Upsolve Community Member
...yet through it all, even though Upsolve can't do pee-diddly-squat in the role of being our attorney, the whole FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) factor lightens. I don't know if anyone else (Upsolve filers) shares this with me, but it also gave me a very much-needed dose of accomplishment thus boosting my self-esteem after a very difficult chapter.