What to expect
The 341 meeting -- named after 11 U.S.C. § 341 -- is the only mandatory appearance in most Chapter 7 cases. The judge does not attend. The trustee asks questions under oath about your finances. Most meetings last 5-15 minutes.
As a pro se filer, the process is identical to represented debtors -- you just answer directly. The trustee is accustomed to pro se filers.
What to bring
- Government-issued photo ID
- Proof of Social Security number (SSN card, W-2, SSA statement)
- Complete copy of your filed petition and schedules
- Most recent federal tax return
- Pay stubs for the last 60 days
- Bank statements (last 3 months, all accounts)
- Vehicle titles (if applicable)
- Any documents the trustee specifically requested
Pro se tip: Bring two copies of everything. Being over-prepared signals competence and makes the meeting go faster.
Standard trustee questions
- Did you review your petition and schedules before signing?
- Is everything listed true and correct?
- Did you list all of your assets?
- Did you list all of your debts?
- Have you transferred any property in the last 2-4 years?
- Are you entitled to receive any inheritance or insurance proceeds?
- Do you have any pending lawsuits?
- Have you filed all required tax returns?
- Is your income the same as listed on Schedule I?
- Are there any changes needed to your schedules?
How to handle it alone
- Answer truthfully. You are under oath. Lying is a federal crime (18 U.S.C. § 152).
- Answer briefly. Yes or no when possible. Do not volunteer extra information.
- If you do not know, say so. "I would need to check my records" is fine.
- Stay calm. The meeting is routine. Thousands happen every business day.
- Arrive early. Sit in on meetings before yours (they are public) to see how it works.
Most 341 meetings since 2020 are by phone or video. Phone meetings are actually easier for pro se filers -- you can have all documents spread out at home.