If you are struggling with debt, filing a New Jersey bankruptcy may help you get back to enjoying life in the Garden State. The first step to a successful Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey is finding a New Jersey bankruptcy lawyer that can help you through the process.
How to File a New Jersey Bankruptcy
In order to filing bankruptcy in New Jersey can cause you a lot of anxiety. You will need to hire a good bankruptcy lawyer, pay the court filing fee of $335 and attend a Court hearing. A Good New Jersey bankruptcy lawyer can help you file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey so that the process moves along smoothly. The Steps below will need to be followed in order to complete your Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey:
- Collect Your New Jersey Bankruptcy Documents
- Take Credit Counseling
- Complete the Bankruptcy Forms
- Get Your Filing Fee
- File Your Forms
- Mail Documents to Your Trustee
- Take Bankruptcy Course 2
- Attend Your 341 Meeting
Collect Your New Jersey Bankruptcy Documents
Filing bankruptcy in New Jersey entails a lot of paperwork. When you meet with your attorney they will be able to review all your documents to make sure that you qualify for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Some of the documents that a New Jersey bankruptcy lawyer may ask for are: copies of each paycheck stub you (and your spouse, if you are married) received in the last 6 months, copies of your credit report and your most recent federal income tax return, bank statements, property valuations, and payoff amounts. A New Jersey bankruptcy lawyer will review all of your documents to ensure that you qualify for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey. If you are able to file bankruptcy in New Jersey, the attorney will put together a petition that lists all of your debts and assets and file it with the New Jersey Bankruptcy Court.
The forms that need to be filed with the bankruptcy Court can seem long and tedious. Luckily, having the help of an attorney can put you at an advantage. An attorney will be able to make sure that all of your property is listed in the right schedules to avoid any future complications. Further, an experienced New Jersey bankruptcy lawyer will know what assets are exempt so that you don’t have to worry about your property being taken away after your bankruptcy is filed.
Take Credit Counseling
To get a discharge in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey you will need to complete a Credit Counseling Course. This course will help you determine if bankruptcy is the right option for you. Your bankruptcy attorney will tell you where and when to take this course. The course can be taken online, on the phone, or in person. It usually takes about one hour and a certificate will be mailed to your attorney once it is completed.
Complete the New Jersey Bankruptcy Forms
In order for your New Jersey bankruptcy lawyer to help you file your Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you will need to be completely honest. Make sure to tell your attorney about any property you own even if you do not plan to give it up in the bankruptcy. Once your attorney has completed all of the forms to file your Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you will need to sign all of them. Lying on the bankruptcy forms is a federal crime so always make sure you review everything carefully.
Get Your Bankruptcy Filing Fee
The court filing fee for anyone filing Chapter 7 in New Jersey is $335. It has to be paid in full before you file your New Jersey bankruptcy case.
Go to New Jersey Bankruptcy Court
Once your case is filed with the New Jersey Bankruptcy Court, you will get a letter detailing the date and time you will need to attend your Chapter 7 bankruptcy hearing. If you do not receive this letter, you should follow up with your attorney. It is important to remember that as soon as your case is filed creditors can no longer go after you. This means that any wage garnishment or bank levy must stop. Ask your bankruptcy attorney for your case number so that you can give it to any creditors who continue to harass you. Take note, that any creditors that continue collection efforts after your New Jersey bankruptcy is filed, can be fined.
Take Bankruptcy Course 2
After your case is filed and you have your case number you will need to take another bankruptcy course. This is known as the financial management and will set you up with tools necessary to start your life over after your New Jersey bankruptcy. Your New Jersey Bankruptcy lawyer will provide you with any information you need to complete the course.
Attend Your 341 Meeting
Once your Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey is filed, you will attend your 341 meeting, or creditors’ meeting. This usually takes place about 30 days after your New Jersey bankruptcy is filed. There are three different New Jersey bankruptcy Court locations. The notice that is mailed to you will tell you which Court you will need to go to. The New Jersey bankruptcy court has put detailed directions to each of the locations right on their website. The meeting usually only takes about ten minutes. Unfortunately, everyone filing Chapter 7 in New Jersey has to go to Court. A good New Jersey bankruptcy lawyer will help prepare you for Court. You will be the one who has to answer the questions, not your attorney. A New Jersey bankruptcy lawyer who practices in New Jersey Bankruptcy Court often is usually familiar with the questions that the Court will ask you. They can better prepare you so that you don’t feel anxious.
Dealing with Your Car
Filing Chapter 7 in New Jersey gives you several options on how to deal with your car, and specifically, your car loan. Just because you own a car does not necessarily mean you will need to give it up, if you filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey. A good New Jersey bankruptcy lawyer will tell you right off the bat the options you have for your vehicle. Remember, even if you don’t plan to give up the vehicle in the bankruptcy, you still must list it on your petition because it is an asset.
New Jersey Bankruptcy Means Test
In order to determine if you qualify for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey, you will need to make sure that you pass the Means Test. The Means Test changes every few months so it is important to speak with a good New Jersey bankruptcy lawyer to help you determine if you qualify for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If you are over these numbers, there is no need to worry! Your New Jersey bankruptcy lawyer will help you calculate the second part of the Means Test which looks at your income, expenses, and deductions to determine if you qualify for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey.
Median income levels for New Jersey Bankruptcy in 2020:
New Jersey Means Test for Cases Filed On or After May 1, 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Household Size | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
| 1 | $5,695.75 | $68,464.00 |
| 2 | $6,855.25 | $82,249.00 |
| 3 | $8,636.17 | $104,752.00 |
| 4 | $10,455.42 | $128,994.00 |
| 5 | $11,205.42 | $137,994.00 |
| 6 | $11,955.42 | $146,994.00 |
| 7 | $12,705.42 | $155,994.00 |
| 8 | $13,455.42 | $164,994.00 |
| 9 | $14,205.42 | $173,994.00 |
| 10 | $14,955.42 | $182,994.00 |
New Jersey Bankruptcy Discharge
Once your case is compelted you should recieve your bankruptcy discharge in the mail. The discharge is a court order that the Court issues telling your creditors that you are no longer liable for the debt. Once you get your bankruptcy discharge keep it with your important papers in case you need it in the future.
Contact Karra L. Kingston Esq. For a Free New Jersey Bankruptcy Consultation. Karra has helped many people get out of debt and start over. Karra practices all over New York and New Jersey and has helped people from all walks of life. If you don’t drive Karra can even come to you at no additional cost.
New Jersey Court Locations
Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse
973-645-4764
50 Walnut Street Newark, NJ 07102
Clarkson S. Fisher Federal Building and United States Courthouse
609-858-9333
402 East State Street Trenton, NJ 08608
United States Post Office and Courthouse
856-361-2300
401 Market Street Camden, NJ 08101
New Jersey Judges
New Jersey Bankruptcy Judges | |
|---|---|
| District | Judge Name |
| District of New Jersey | Hon. Kathryn C. Ferguson |
| District of New Jersey | Hon. Rosemary Gambardella |
| District of New Jersey | Hon. Michael B. Kaplan |
| District of New Jersey | Hon. Christine M. Gravelle |
| District of New Jersey | Hon. Andrew B. Altenburg |
| District of New Jersey | Hon. Vincent F. Papalia |
| District of New Jersey | Hon. John K. Sherwood |
| District of New Jersey | Hon. Jerrold N. Poslusny |
| District of New Jersey | Hon. Stacey L. Meisel |
New Jersey Trustees
New Jersey Trustees | |
|---|---|
| Trustee | Contact Info |
| Bunce D. Atkinson | bunceatkinson@aol.com (732)530-5300 |
| Karen E. Bezner | kbez@bellatlantic.net (908)322-8484 |
| Donald V. Biase | dbiase4236@gmail.com (973)618-1008 |
| Nicholas J. Delzotti | |
| nick9151@aol.com (973)622-3464 | |
| Andrea Dobin | adobin@trenklawfirm.com (609) 695-6070 |
| Barbara A. Edwards | bedwardstrustee@aol.com (201)796-3100 |
| Charles M. Forman | cforman@formanlaw.com (201) 845-1000 |
| Barry W. Frost | trustee@teichgroh.com (609) 890-1500 |
| Nancy Isaacson | nisaacson@greenbaumlaw.com (973)535-1600 |
| Steven P. Kartzman | skartzman@msklaw.net (973) 267-0220 |
| Jeffrey A. Lester | jlester@bllaw.com (201)487-5544 |
| Jay L. Lubetkin | jlubetkin@rltlawfirm.com (973)597-9100 |
| Joseph D. Marchand | |
| jdmarchand@comcast.net (856)451-7600 | |
| John M. McDonnell III | jmcdonnell@mchfirm.com (732) 383.7233 |
| Thomas J. Orr | tom@torrlaw.com (609)386-8700 |
| Eric R. Perkins | eperkins@mdmc-law.com (201) 445-6722 |
| Barry R. Sharer | bsharer@sharerpbs.com (856)435-3200 |
| Andrew S. Sklar | andy@sklarlaw.com (856) 258-4050 |
| Douglas S. Stanger | doug.stanger@flastergreenberg.com (609)645-1881 |
| Benjamin A. Stanziale Jr. | ben@stanzialelaw.com (973) 731-9393 |
| Daniel E. Straffi | dstraffi@comcast.net (732)341-3800 |
| Thomas J. Subranni | trustee@subranni.com (609)347-7000 |
| John W. Sywilok | sywilokattorney@sywilok.com (201)487-9390 |
| Brian S. Thomas | brian@brianthomaslaw.com (609)601-6066 |
| David A. Wolff | dwtrustee@verizon.net (732)566-1189 |