Laurie K. Weatherford, Chapter 13 Trustee
Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division

Meeting of Creditors

A § 341 Meeting of Creditors, sometimes referred to as a 341 meeting, will be scheduled between twenty and forty days after a case is filed.

Attendance is Required

If a debtor does not attend their meeting of creditors, the Trustee may submit a proposed order dismissing the case. The case may be dismissed without further notice or hearing and the dismissal may be with prejudice meaning the debtor cannot file another bankruptcy case for 180 days.

Effective October 5th, 2023, and until further notice, all § 341 Meetings of Creditors will be held by Zoom video conference.

Prior to your § 341 Meeting of Creditors

Upload 341 Forms and Proof of ID via BRAT

Login to the trustee’s Business Record and Tax (BRAT) Upload Portal and upload 341 Forms & Disclosures for Debtors as well as a legible copy of a government-issued photo ID and Social Security Number. If you do not already have a BRAT account, you can register free here.

Acceptable Photo Identification Documents

• Driver’s license
• U.S. government ID
• State ID
• Student ID
• Passport or current visa, if not a U.S. citizen
• Military ID
• Resident alien card
• Identity card issued by a national government authority

Acceptable Social Security Documents

• Social Security card
• Medical insurance card
• Pay stub
• W-2 form
• IRS Form 1099
• Social Security Administration statement
• ITIN (only if debtor is not eligible for a Social Security Number)

Please note that tax returns are not acceptable proof of a Social Security Number.

If a debtor fails to provide an acceptable identification document, Social Security Number document, or both to the trustee at least 7 days prior to the § 341 meeting, the trustee will continue the 341 meeting.

341 Forms

The Trustee will request the following forms from debtors at a meeting of creditors:

• 341 Forms & Disclosures for Debtors - this is a required form for all debtors

• Domestic Support Obligation forms - this is only required for debtors with domestic support obligations

• Statement Regarding Non-Filing of Income Tax Return - this is only required for debtors who are not required to file income tax returns

Zoom Meeting Link

Zoom Meeting Link

Laurie K. Weatherford Zoom Meeting Link

Zoom Meeting ID

536 996 6373

Zoom Passcode

3958355040

Zoom Phone Number

1 (321) 758-1669

Essential Zoom Requirements and Prep

To participate in a Zoom meeting, you will need an electronic device (smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer) with a camera, speakers, microphone, and Internet access.

• If you are using a smartphone, whether iOS or Android, you must download the Zoom app from the App Store or Google Play Store
• If you are using a laptop or desktop computer, you can either download the Zoom application or use the Zoom website.

To join the Meeting, use the Meeting ID and Passcode provided above. You can also find this information at https://www.justice.gov/ust/moc.

Joining a Zoom Meeting

Joining Through the Zoom Application (Required on iOS and Android)

1. Open the Zoom application by clicking its icon

2. Click or tap the blue “Join Meeting” button to open the Join Meeting screen

3. On the Join Meeting screen:

   a. Enter the 10-digit Meeting ID 536 996 6373 found on the Notice of Bankruptcy Case

   b. Enter “Your Name” (also referred to as Screen Name). If a name already appears (e.g., iPhone, a nickname, etc.), delete it from the field and enter your legal name. Note: Enter your full name so the trustee can properly identify you.

   c. Once you have finished entering this information, click or tap the blue “Join” button to prompt the Meeting Passcode screen.

4. On the Meeting Passcode screen enter 3958355040 and then click or tap “Continue” or “Join Meeting”, depending on your device.

5. You will be prompted to read and review the FBI Investigates Bankruptcy Crimes screen. Once you have finished reading this, click or tap “Agree” to join the Meeting’s virtual waiting room.

6. You will remain in the Meeting’s virtual waiting room until the Trustee admits you to the virtual meeting room. **Note: please be patient and remain connected as multiple Meetings may be scheduled for the same meeting time. The trustee may communicate with participants through the chat feature to notify them they are running behind.

   • If you joined by smartphone or tablet, you may see a modal pop-up that says “zoom.us” Would Like to Access the Microphone. If you do, tap “Allow”.

7. Once admitted to the virtual meeting room:

   a. If you joined on a smartphone or tablet, in the “To hear others please join audio” pop-up dialog, tap “Wifi or Cellular Data”.

   b. If you joined by computer, under “Computer Audio”, click the blue “Join Audio by Computer” button.

   c. Mute your audio by clicking or tapping the microphone icon, if not already muted. Note: Depending on your device, you may need to click on or touch the screen to access the meeting control icons.

   d. When the Trustee calls your case, unmute your microphone by clicking or tapping the microphone icon and start your video by clicking or tapping the camera icon if video is not already on. **Note: if you joined by smartphone or tablet, you may receive a pop-up dialog that says “zoom.us” Would Like to Access the Camera”. If so, click or tap “Allow”.

Joining through the Zoom Website (Not Available for iOS or Android)

1. Open a web browser and browse to Zoom.us

2. Click on “JOIN” to open the Join Meeting screen.

3. On the Join Meeting screen:

   a. Enter the 10-digit Meeting ID 536 996 6373 found on the Notice of Bankruptcy Case

   b. Click the blue “Join” button to open the Launch Meeting screen.

4. From the Launch Meeting screen:

   a. Click on the “Join from Your Browser” link at the bottom of the screen. DO NOT CLICK ON THE BLUE “LAUNCH MEETING” BUTTON.

   b. If you joined by tablet, you may receive a pop-up dialog that says “zoom.us” Would Like to Access the Microphone or “zoom.us” Would Like to Access the Microphone and Camera. If so, tap “Allow”.

5. On the subsequent Join Meeting screen:

   a. Mute your audio by clicking the “microphone” icon and start your video by clicking the “camera” icon. **Note: if you joined by tablet, you may receive a pop-up dialog that reads “zoom.us” Would Like to Access the Camera. If so, tap “Allow”.

   b. Enter your full name. If a name other than yours appears, delete it from the field. Note: you must enter your full name so that the Trustee can properly identify you.

   c. Click or tap the blue “Join” button.

6. You will then be prompted to read and review the FBI Investigates Bankruptcy Crimes screen. After you have reviewed this information, click or tap “Agree”.

7. After reading and agreeing to the FBI terms, you will be prompted for the Trustee’s 10-digit Passcode, 536 996 6373, which can be found on the Notice of Bankruptcy Case. After entering the Passcode, click or tap the blue “Join” button.

8. You will remain in the Meeting’s virtual waiting room until the trustee admits you to the virtual meeting room. **Note: please be patient and remain connected as multiple Meetings may be scheduled for the same meeting time. The Trustee may communicate with participants through the chat feature to notify them they are running behind.

9. Once admitted to the virtual meeting room:

   a. If joining via tablet, you may receive a pop-up dialog that reads “zoom.us” Would Like to Access the Camera. If so click or tap “Allow”.

   b. Under “Computer Audio”, click on the blue “Join Audio by Computer” button. If joining via tablet, you may receive a pop-up dialog that reads “zoom.us” Would Like to Access the Microphone. If so, click or tap “Allow”.

   c. Mute your audio by clicking or tapping the “microphone” icon, if not already muted.

   d. When the Trustee calls your case, unmute your microphone by clicking the “microphone” icon and start your video by clicking the “camera” icon, if video is not already on.

For more information, please review USTP Instructions for Joining a Zoom 341(a) Meeting of Creditors.pdf as well as USTP Best Practices for Debtors and Attorneys.pdf.

Plan Payments

A debtor’s initial proposed plan payment is due to the Trustee no later than thirty days from filing a bankruptcy petition.

If a debtor is not current at the time of their meeting of creditors, the Trustee may submit a proposed order dismissing the case. The case may be dismissed without further notice or hearing.

It is a good idea for debtors who are not self-employed to submit to a Wage Deduction Order to the court prior to their meeting of creditors.

Debtors can make payments via payroll deduction (wage deduction), cashier’s check, money order, or online. Mail cashier’s checks or money orders should be mailed to:

A debtor’s name and case number must be listed on all payments. The Trustee will return any payment that does not comply with the above-mentioned requirements and the debtor will not be credited for that payment.

Nationwide TFS Bill Pay

Nationwide TFS Bill Pay allows debtors to make plan payments online.

MoneyGram ePay

MoneyGram ePay for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Payments is provided by TFS and allows debtors to make plan payments with a TFS MoneyGram card at any MoneyGram location.

Helpful Resources for New Debtors

Helpful Information for Pro Se Debtors

If you filed pro se, meaning without an attorney, and have questions, please note that the Trustee’s office cannot provide you legal advice. However, we have posted Helpful Information for Pro Se Debtors.

Additionally, the Middle District of Florida has a Pro Se Clinic that offers free assistance to individuals representing themselves. Contact the Bankruptcy Pro Se Clinic to learn more.

National Data Center

The National Data Center can help debtors, and their attorneys, gain access to their Chapter 13 Bankruptcy case information securely through the Internet. To begin, visit www.ndc.org and click the “Get Started” button to register for your username and password.