Three Mistakes That Will Land You in Jail in Your New Jersey Bankruptcy

Filing bankruptcy can be the best solution for people in financial trouble. It can give you a fresh start in life by wiping out a crushing debt load, or help you save a home from foreclosure. However, bankruptcy is serious business, and when you sign that petition, you are doing so under oath that the information it contains is correct to the best of your knowledge. Lying on your bankruptcy petition, therefore, is a really bad idea!



Here are the three biggest don'ts when you give your attorney the information he or she needs to file your case:

• Not list all of your debts. You must list everything you owe to everyone, even if it is to your mother or your Aunt Mabel. Bankruptcy law seeks to treat all creditors equally, and not listing one, for whatever reason, is a no-no.
• Not list all of your assets. You must list everything you own, even if you do not think it has much value. Go to some effort to put a value on those assets, like going to the Kelley Blue Book site to value a car. Recklessly or intentionally lowballing the value of an asset is not a good idea. Don't wear all of your jewelry to the meeting with the trustee, and then testify that you do not own any jewelry. What you are wearing might be paste, but you will still be lying under oath.
• Not list all of your income. You must list all income from every source. The work you do for your brother-in-law under the table is still income and must be disclosed. Be sure you declare all income on your tax returns, because trustees review those and will find inconsistencies between the tax return and the bankruptcy petition.

If you lie on your petition, you could be denied a discharge. In other words, your debts will not be wiped out in this, or any future bankruptcy! On top of that, you could go to jail (Look what happened to Lenny Dykstra)! Believe me, it isn't worth it. Give all of the information to your attorney, leave nothing out, and answer his or her questions truthfully and accurately. You'll be glad you did!

Looking for more information about bankruptcy? Get the answers to the most frequently asked questions by downloading my free book, Top Questions People Ask About Filing Bankruptcy in New Jersey. It will give you the answers you need all in one place. Then call me at 888-857-8418 or contact me through this site for an appointment for a free consultation to discuss your case.