The following questions can be expected to be asked by the trustee to a business debtor during meeting:

1. Please state your name and current address for the record.

2. Please provide your picture ID and social security card for review.

Once the documents are verified to be in agreement with the § 341(a) meeting notice, the following statement will be made for the record:

“I have viewed the original state of ________ (the type of original photo ID) and original social security card (or other original document used for proof) and they match the name and social security number on the § 341 (a) meeting notice.”

In case the documents are not in agreement with the 341(a) meeting notice, the following statement will be made for the record:

“I have viewed the original social security card (or other original document used for proof) and the number does not match the number on the § 341(a) meeting notice. I have instructed the debtor to submit to the court an amended verified statement by [date], with notice of the correct number to all creditors, the US Trustee, and the trustee, and to file with the court a redacted copy of the notice, showing only the last four digits of the social security number, and a certificate of service.”

The trustee shall attempt to ascertain why the documents do not match the petition, and shall report the matter to the US Trustee.

3. Did you sign the petition, schedules, statements, and related documents and is the signature your own? Did you read the petition, schedules, statements, and related documents before you signed them?

4. Are you personally familiar with the information contained in the petition, schedules, statements and related documents? To the best of your knowledge, is the information contained in the petition, schedules, statements, and related documents true and correct? Are there any errors or omissions to bring to my attention at this time?

5. Have you listed all of your assets and creditors on the schedules?

6. Have you filed for bankruptcy previously? (If so, the trustee must obtain the case number and the discharge information to determine the debtor(s) discharge eligibility.)

7. What is the name and address of your current employer?

8. have you provided a true copy of the most recent tax return you filed?

9. Do you have a domestic support obligation; and to whom? Please provide to me the claimant’s address and telephone number, but no need to state it on the record.

10. Have you read the Bankruptcy Information Sheet provided by the US Trustee?

The following questions may be asked by the trustee when deemed appropriate

1. Do you own or have any interest in any real estate?

If owned: When did you purchase the property? How much did the property cost? What are the mortgages encumbering it? What do you estimate the present value of the property to be? Is that the whole value or your share? How did you arrive at that value?

If renting: Have you ever owned the property in which you live and/or is its owner in any way related to you?

2. Have you made any transfers of any property or given any property away within the last one year period?

If yes: What did you transfer? To whom was it transferred? What did you receive in exchange? What did you do with the funds?

3. Does anyone hold property belonging to you?

If yes: Who holds the property and what is it? What is its value?

4. Do you have a claim against anyone or any business?

i. If there are large medical debts, are the medical bills from injury?

ii. Are you the plaintiff in any lawsuit?

iii. What is the status of each case and who is representing you?

 5. Are you entitled to life insurance proceeds or an inheritance as a result of someone’s death?

If yes: Please explain the details.

If you become a beneficiary of anyone’s estate within six months of the date your bankruptcy petition was filed, the trustee must be advised within ten days through your counsel of the nature and extent of the property you will receive.

6. Does anyone owe you money?

If yes: Is the money collectible? Why haven’t you collected it? Who owes the money and where are they?

7. Have you made any large payments, over $500, to anyone in the past year?

8. Were federal income tax returns filed on a timely basis? When was the last return filed? Do you have copies of the federal income tax returns? At the time of the filing of your petition, were you entitled to a tax refund from the federal or state government?

If yes: Inquire as to amounts.

9. Do you have a bank account, either checking or savings?

If yes: In what banks and what were the balances as of the date you filed your petition?

10. When you filed your petition, did you have:

i. any cash on hand?

ii. any U.S. Savings Bonds?

iii. any other stocks or bonds?

iv. any Certificates of Deposit?

v. a safe deposit box in your name or in anyone else’s name?

11. Do you own an automobile?

If yes: What is the year, make, and value? Do you owe any money on it? Is it insured?

12. Are you the owner of any cash value life insurance policies?

If yes: State the name of the company, face amount of the policy, cash surrender value, if any, and the beneficiaries.

13. Do you have any winning lottery tickets?

14. Do you anticipate that you might realize any property, cash or otherwise, as a result of a divorce or separation proceeding?

15. Regarding any consumer debts secured by your property, have you filed the required Statement of Intention with respect to the exemption, retention, or surrender of that secured property? Please provide a copy of the statement to the trustee. Have you performed that intention?

16. Have you been engaged in any business during the last six years?

If yes: Where and when? What happened to the assets of the business?

If the debtor is still running the business, the following questions may be asked by the trustee:

1. Who was responsible for maintaining financial records?

2. Which of the following records were maintained?

i. Cash receipts journal

ii. Cash disbursements journal

iii. General journal

iv. Accounts receivable ledger

v. Accounts payable ledger

vi. Payroll ledger

vii. Fixed asset ledger

viii. Inventory ledger

ix. General ledger

x. Balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statements

3. Where are each of the foregoing records now located?

4. Who was responsible for preparing financial statements?

5. How often were financial statements prepared?

6. For what periods are financial statements available?

7. Where are such financial statements now located?

8. Was the business on a calendar year or a fiscal year?

9. Were federal income tax returns filed on a timely basis? When was the last return filed?

10. Do you have copies of the federal income tax returns? Who does have the copies?

11. What outside accountants were employed within the last three years?

12. Do you have copies of the reports of such accountants? Who does have copies?

13. What bank accounts were maintained within the last three years?

14. Where are the bank statements and canceled checks now located?

15. What insurance policies were in effect within the last year? What kind, and why?

16. From whom can copies of such insurance policies be obtained?

17. If the business is incorporated, where are the corporate minutes?

18. Is the debtor owed any outstanding accounts receivable? From whom? Are they collectible?

19. Is there any inventory, property, or equipment remaining?