Bankruptcy filings may continue during the Covid-19 quarantine. In many ways this has not affected the basic practice. In other ways, it has been seriously affected.

Bankruptcy practice takes place in the Federal Court system, and Federal Courts were already set up for this type of situation; For the past two decades, many hearings in Bankruptcy Court were able to be held by telephonic or video conferencing. Further, most of the arguments in Bankruptcy Court are based upon written documents filed weeks in advance of any given hearing. While it doesn’t make for great TV, it is efficient.

As of March 19th, 2020, the Chief Presiding Judge of the Central District of California has ordered that all hearings will be moved to telephonic or video conferencing; No one is going to a hearing in the courthouse. This is a temporary measure, but it is absolute. For the individual filer, this makes almost no difference to them. This is just something the attorneys have to deal with in their practice.

Individuals however must generally appear at a 341a hearing in their individual Bankruptcy Filing. It is not clear yet how that is to be held, or when it is to be held, but rules will be promulgated shortly.

As far as meeting with our office, it is 2020 and we can meet by telephone, Skype, Zoom or a variety of other non-personal methods. Really, it isn’t a problem. We just need to know you want to meet this way in advance.

If you need to file, give us a call.

Life continues.

Phone: (949) 218-2002 or email us avaesq@lakeforestbkoffice.com.