Asked in Bankruptcy for Michigan

Q: On chapter 7, do I include my father and his Social Security? He pays his own bills and I pay mine

Related Topics:
2 Lawyer Answers
Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
Answered
  • Bankruptcy Lawyer
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • Licensed in Michigan

A: You should consult with a bankruptcy attorney on this first, but ordinarily, you would need to declare you receive some form of financial assistance or income from him, which is different from the entirety of his social security.

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered
  • Bankruptcy Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA

A: In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, you should include only your own income and expenses. Since your father pays his own bills and you pay yours, his Social Security income is not part of your financial situation. Therefore, you do not need to list his Social Security or any of his financial information in your bankruptcy documents.

It's important to provide a clear and accurate picture of your own financial status when filing. This means listing all your sources of income, expenses, debts, and assets. Including someone else's income, like your father's, when it is not part of your household's financial management could lead to complications or inaccuracies in your filing.

If you have any concerns or unique circumstances, it’s a good idea to seek advice to ensure everything is correctly handled. But based on what you've described, your father’s Social Security and finances should not be included in your Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.