Bar Dates: A proof of claim must be filed by creditors within 70 days from the date the Petition is filed with the Bankruptcy Court or the date of the conversion order (creditors have an additional 50 days to file supporting documents such as mortgages or deeds of trust). Governmental units must file their claims within 180 days from the date the Petition is filed with the Bankruptcy Court.

If the debtor objects to a claim, the objection must be filed with the Bankruptcy Court and served on the the creditor or creditor’s attorney. Any objection to confirmation filed by a creditor must be served on the debtor, the debtor’s attorney and any other interested party.

Payments on claims for secured debts, priority debts and administrative expenses may begin in the first monthly distribution after the Trustee receives the Order Confirming Plan. Payments to general unsecured creditors generally will not start until after those other debts and expenses have been paid and funds then become available for that class of creditors.

If an objection to a claim is filed and the Trustee receives a copy of the objection, the Trustee will not make a distribution to that creditor until the issue is resolved by the Bankruptcy Court. The Trustee will receive a copy of any objection filed with the Bankruptcy Court electronically. It is advisable that any objection to a proof of claim be made as soon as the proof of claim has been filed.

The Trustee’s Office makes disbursements to creditors monthly in confirmed plans where the creditors have filed claims and those claims have been allowed. The order in which disbursements are made depends upon the categorization of the claims – administrative, secured, priority unsecured, general unsecured – and from the funds available in the case for each class of creditors. The order of disbursements may also be affected by the terms of the Confirmed Chapter 13 Plan.

Trustee fees are calculated based on the amount disbursed to creditors and are paid at each monthly disbursement.

Generally, creditors have 70 days after the date your Petition was filed with the Bankruptcy Court to file their claims for payment under your Chapter 13 plan. Governmental entities have 180 days from the date your Petition was filed to file their claims. These dates are called “bar dates.” Both bar dates will be listed on the Notice of Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Case, Meeting of Creditors, Hearing on Confirmation and Deadlines that is sent out at the beginning of a Chapter 13.

Generally, creditors filing claims after the “bar date” may not be entitled to payment of their claims. The Trustee will object to the late-filed claims. Make sure to discuss all claims with your attorney, but especially any late-filed claims, and how best to treat those claims in your case. ***1234***