Providing Important Documents
I have a client whose house was about to be foreclosed on, so we did filed an emergency petition. This means we just filed the basic petition and have 15 days from the date of filing to file the rest of the necessary paperwork. A Debtor who files an emergency bankruptcy has 15 days to provide the attorney’s office with all the needed paperwork to get the rest of the paperwork together, and have an appointment to review and sign all the paperwork within those 15 days.
My client had an appointment scheduled to come in and provide our office with all the paperwork for us to prepare her petition and schedules. She missed the appointment and never called to reschedule. Finally, the day before her paperwork was due to the court she called me at 4:00 PM to make an appointment for the following day. I explained that she needed to be sure and bring all the paperwork that we requested. When she showed for her appointment in the morning she was missing most of the 6 months of pay stubs needed. She said she would go back to work and get them all printed out. I specifically told her we needed September through current. She showed up that afternoon with January through March.
I had to file an extension with the court to allow her to file the schedules and other needed documents late with the court. I emphasized the importance of getting us all the needed paperwork or her case would get dismissed. She promised she would leave work early and have it the next day. Of course, she didn’t show or call to explain why she wasn’t able to make it. I have tried to call and she isn’t answering her phone and hasn’t returned my calls. It gets to a point where if the Debtors aren’t willing to help themselves by providing paperwork that is needed or showing to important appointment, there is nothing the attorney can do to keep the case from getting dismissed.
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