Consequences of Missing Your 341 Meeting

Missing a 341 meeting is one of the worst things you can do for yourself. Filing bankruptcy is one of the most important financial decisions you can make. It will change the outlook of your financial future. If you have gone through the work of filing for bankruptcy, and you have taken the time to fill out all of the documentation, there is no reason not to show up for your creditors meeting, which is also called the 341 Meeting. Doing so, could have significant consequences, too.

What Happens When You Do Not Show

If you have filed bankruptcy, within a month to six weeks, you should receive documentation from the bankruptcy court detailing when this meeting will be held. It may come sooner than this. In general, these notices give you ample time to plan for attending the meeting, which will generally happen during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. There is no flexibility in changing to the time of your meeting and it is possible it can take several hours, with waiting included, though the meeting itself will likely be done within 15 minutes.

Consider a few more important aspects of missing a 341 meeting.

• If you miss the meeting and do not call the bankruptcy court in advance of that meeting to alert them of your inability to attend, it is likely that the bankruptcy trustee will toss the case out of court. You may be limited as to when you can re-file the case.
• If you are involved in some type of emergency, such as a car accident, contact your attorney as soon as possible and instruct the attorney on the actions to take. The 341 meeting cannot go on without you.
• If there is a serious circumstance that prohibits you from attending the 341 meeting and you know this in advance, contact the courts or your attorney. In rare situations, the bankruptcy trustee may agree to extending the date or changing it.

It is never a good idea to request a change of a 341 meeting more than one time. You want to ensure the bankruptcy trustee remains positive about your case to expedite the process.

Seek Legal Advice

The bankruptcy filing process is complex and deadlines are very strict. It is always a good idea to have an attorney working with you on this case to ensure that the process goes well. If there is a problem and you may miss your 341 meeting, contact your attorney to request help.