At the meeting of creditors—also referred to as the 341 hearing—the person filing bankruptcy (debtor) meets with the bankruptcy trustee, who is appointed by the court to oversee the case. The trustee will ask the debtor to provide the debtor’s proof of identification and social security number card.

The trustee will ask the debtor questions (under oath) about the debtor’s bankruptcy petition, schedules, statements, tax returns, property, and financial accounts to confirm the accuracy of the documents and the debtor’s reported income. The trustee will try to determine whether the debtor has any unreported sources of income and will look for signs of bankruptcy fraud. Creditors may also attend and ask the debtor questions.

The meeting of creditors usually takes place at the federal courthouse or other federal building between 21 and 40 days after the debtor files the bankruptcy petition.

In Alabama, the meeting of creditors, also known as the 341 hearing, is a mandatory part of the bankruptcy process. During this meeting, the debtor is required to provide proof of identification and their social security number card to the bankruptcy trustee, who is responsible for overseeing the case. The trustee will question the debtor under oath regarding their bankruptcy petition, schedules, statements, tax returns, property, and financial accounts to verify the accuracy of the submitted documents and the debtor's declared income. The trustee's role is to identify any undisclosed sources of income and to investigate potential bankruptcy fraud. Creditors are also allowed to attend the meeting and pose questions to the debtor. This meeting typically occurs within 21 to 40 days after the bankruptcy petition is filed and is held at a federal courthouse or other federal building. The process is governed by federal bankruptcy law, which applies uniformly across states, including Alabama, but local federal court rules may also influence the specifics of the procedure.