In-Depth Look Into Your Finances

• The bankruptcy trustee or bankruptcy administrator is a representative of the bankruptcy court in Alabama and has broad powers to investigate your finances to determine if you've disclosed all of your income in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case. Ignoring written requests for documents or other information related to your finances may raise the trustee's suspicions that you haven't been forthcoming about your financial affairs. The trustee could file a motion with the court to compel you to disclose all documents relating to your finances or income. If you ignore these requests, your bankruptcy may be dismissed allowing your creditors to resume collection practices against you.
  
  

Missed Court Dates

• Your trustee is required to schedule hearings in accordance with your bankruptcy proceedings. These hearings, such as the meeting of the creditors or 341 hearing, require your attendance. If you ignore notices about the dates of the bankruptcy hearings and do not attend any one of the hearings that require your presence, your bankruptcy trustee may immediately recommend your case for dismissal with the court. Under these circumstances, a judge will have little reason not to dismiss the case.
  
  

Missed Exemptions

• It is the responsibility of the trustee to oversee the liquidation of your assets as part of the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process. If your trustee sends you letters attempting to confirm your exemptions and you ignore these requests, you may end up losing more to liquidation than you expect because you didn't properly inform the trustee of your intentions. This could result in the liquidation of property such as an automobile, furniture, jewelry or even your home. You must be proactive to secure proper bankruptcy exemptions under Alabama law.
  
  

Delayed Bankruptcy Proceedings

• The successful completion of your bankruptcy proceedings could be delayed when your ignore letters from your bankruptcy administrator in Alabama. A number of reasons could delay the proceedings such as a discrepancy in your paperwork, the need to pay a filing fee or the need for greater information relating to a debt included in your case. Without this information or requisite fee, your case cannot move forward. If a significant amount of time elapses, the trustee may simply move to dismiss your bankruptcy case.