Whats it like at the court appearance?

markbass

As i understand it anyone petitioning for there own BR has to attend a petition hearing at court, do they ask you intrusive questions at this hearing or is that done when the OR phones you?

Sorry for asking so many questions, i did check out the FAQ section of the forum but just wondered what other forum members experiences were like when they attended this court hearing.

sieve

They just ask you whether you've sought advice and know the implications. You are not grilled as to why at court at all - so don't worry

Some people don't even have to see the judge - I did, but it varies between courts - I only saw the judge for about 5 minutes and she just wanted to check I knew the implications.

Good luck!

Cheers

S

winnie81

Hi Mark,
I will tell you what it was like for me I was quietly terrified and feeling bit :eek: even though everyone here said not too worry. I got there early and had to see the clerk who checked over my forms and took my fees in private. That took about 10mins then I was asked to sit in the reception area while the clerk took my papers to the judge. About 5mins later my forms were brought back to me signed by the judge so I was then taken to receive my call from the OR also in the same private room I was in earlier. The call was only to confirm basic details of who I was etc as my main interview time would be arranged later.
In total I was in there for 20-25mins and only saw the clerk it was all very painless and not at all scary like I was expecting it to be. The staff were lovely and incredibly helpful they put me at ease all the time. The feeling of relief when it was finally over and I could walk from the courthouse debt free was immense I actually cried walking to the car where I carried on crying with relief
I have heard many stories of judges signing BR petitions without seeing the petitioner so you may be lucky and avoid seeing him/her too?

Good Luck Mark I hope that helped some way

Claire x

markbass

Thanks guys, thats a relief..on that note i shall not think anymore tonight about bankruptcy and refrain from looking at this extremely helpful forum until tomorrow, i've been driving myself mad today with nothing but bankruptcy or DRO,s on my mind, but knowing the court appearance is not so bad eases my mind somewhat.

winnie81

It really isn't so bad at all Mark I suppose the staff at the court have bigger and better folk to be concerned/bothered with us with BR papers are I guess small relatively problem free cases ?

Its the final act to starting over again which is a gift of gold after months/years of stress and worry

Enjoy your evening and no more worrying!

Claire x

Kuggers

Hi Markbass - Please see my thread "Day in court". There is nothing to worry about!

Deep_in_Misery

I got a cancellation, it was 7 weeks before my actual hearing date had been listed, but the stress was very bad and the creditors phonecalls were making me feel almost ill. I got on the cancellation list and after a week or so got a call for 4 days away.
I was glad to get there and after a quick worry about seeing a Judge was relieved to be sitting there waiting.
The Interview to check the forms and pay the money was a doodle, i had filled in a form wrong, she gave me another and helped me fill it in. The Bible swearing was easy and the whole interview was quick, just to confirm that the whole debt was around 24k, no comments just that. I said it was and then she told me to go upstairs and wait.
I waited for 5 or so minutes and was in with the Judge and that woman who had interviewed me for about 3 minutes, he said he only had 2 questions for me, one did i own a car and anothere were did i get my benefits paid into as he would leave that account open.
That was it, the first day of the rest of my life, he even said the O.R would phone as i would find it difficult getting there as it is quite a few miles away and i am a carer .
When the OR phoned that was the same she just asked for 12 month bank statements and also some statements from the highest debt an MBNA credit card to see what i had spent all this money on, but i have got it all together and it is like i told here it was for food as they all show, Asda or Iceland.
The main thing to remember is to tell the truth, as if you do tell the complete truth no one can find you out on a lie. Then you never need worry.
Weighing it all up, nothing can be as bad as giving over your entire money and having nothing, i never thought i would be so glad to ever see a Judge or the inside of a court, not ever, but i was so glad to get in there, i came out a free person.
And the debts, they have gone, it is a new life so go for it.

CJV_2

Hey Markbass, I know that feeling well enough, I was terrified, and was totally consumed by bankruptcy until I actually attended the court. I was one of the lucky ones, I didn't have to see the judge at all. More importantly everybodies experiences that I read about on here were true, it is not a painful process, it is very matter-of-fact. The painful part occurs in our own minds, as we mull over the 'what-ifs', and I was a queen at doing that! Please be assured that you will be fine. Take some money for a drink in case you get held up, and take a book or something to occupy your mind.
Good luck with it, this is the start of your new life, well done for taking that scary step into the unknown.

josephine1_2

Mark everyone was lovely and no one made you feel awkward. My judge took one look at my little girl and said for your little girls sake you have soo done the right thing, without this debt you can concentrate on her and working and building a new life. She understood we'd had a series of circumstances that had led to BR and not frivolous spending. We had a lovely OR too, fingers crossed you get the same

Lost2

I was very lucky as I didn't have time to worry about my court date
I went in to CAB Tuesday the lady there phoned up the court and there had been a cancellation, and by the Wednesday morning I was BR

Judge ask me if I had had advice I answered yes
that was it

Holes_in_my_pocket

mine was simple in and out of building in 15mins didnt see the judge