what is a chapter 13 confirmation hearing and does the debtor have to attend.

When a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is filed in New Jersey a notice is sent by the court to schedule two hearings. The first is the meeting with the trustee that the debtors and their attorneys must attend. Creditors are also invited but rarely attend. The other hearing scheduled is the Confirmation Hearing. Typically only the attorney attends although occasionally the debtors will need to attend. In New Jersey the hearing will take place in Camden NJ, in Trenton NJ, or in Newark NJ. The hearing is to determine whether the court will approve the Chapter 13 plan that was filed. The trustee will consider the amount of the claims filed by the creditors, the income of the debtors, the equity in the assets of the debtors and the feasibility of the plan to determine whether or not to recommend confirmation to the judge. It is important that payments are made each month leading up to the confirmation so that the trustee can see you actually have the ability to make payments. Once the case is confirmed the creditors and the debtors are bound by the plan.