Section 341 meeting and checking account after filing for chapter 7?

Question

I attended section 341 meeting in NY. Trustee asked me whether I had $2000.00 in my bank account last year. I said yes. Then he asked for more personal questions. In the schedules I have mentioned $ 0.00 balance on my checking account. But he did not ask for my present checking account balance ($5000.00)which was attached under judgement. I also did not mention about my present account balance. Trustee gave me back the copy of my Tax refund. He did not ask anything about my refund which is $1266.00 and $290 for the state. My income was well below $10,000 last year and now unemployed of this date. I have student loan of $3000.00

Will this be cosidered as hiding the assets? Should I contact the Trustee and mention about the bank balance and the Tax refund? I am waiting to receive my state and federal earned income credit. Should i mention my EIC to Trustee. Is it ok to contact the Trustee after the section 341 meeting of creditors? Please Help.

Answer 1

When you filed your bankruptcy is the key.  If you got the tax refund, and didn't list it, yes, hiding assets.  You can't transfer assets either for fourteen months previous to bankruptcy.  

I believe if you filed the bankruptcy a year before the refund etc. you would be ok, but I always feel a bankruptcy should be handled by attorney, many people try themselves, and get in trouble w/the transfer situation, or hiding assets.

Unless you were asked about future income when you filed I think you will be ok.  Stu. loan, can't be wiped out by bankruptcy, though.

The EIC is also based on when you filed the bankruptcy.  When the big question, you did not provide that info, and either way, will this income bring your net assets over your debts, usually it would not.

Answer 2

These are questions for your attorney....