Inside the Building:

In Detroit, 341 Meetings are held on the 3rd floor of the 211 W. Fort St.  building. Passing through security is not required to access this area of the building. The main elevator bank of the building is accessed just before the security gateway through the building’s lobby. Once exiting the elevators on the third floor, simply look to your right or left to see the doubled-door entry to the always extremely crowded waiting area for 341 Meetings. Through that waiting area are the individual hearing rooms for each trustee. Your hearing will be held in one or another of these rooms, depending on who your trustee is.

Bankruptcy courtrooms are located on upper floors of the same building.

Parking:

The easiest place to park is the parking structure directly across Washington from the Bankruptcy Court. However, this ramp can run you as much as $15 per visit, last time I spent any appreciable time parked inside of it. If you are able to walk a few blocks, a better bet is the surface lots 2-3 blocks to the east up Fort St. These lots charge $6-$10 per visit, flat rate. Of course, everyone in Detroit knows of a free parking-spot somewhere in the downtown area, so you may have better luck elsewhere.

Driving Directions:

Depending on your point of origin, the best way to reach the Bankruptcy Court in Detroit is take the Lodge (M-10) south and take Exit 1B onto Congress. After that, it’s a quick left turn onto Washington and 1 block up to Fort. Otherwise, turning right onto Fort from Woodward Ave. will have you arriving in front of the Bankruptcy Court within a few, quick blocks.

If you are a southeast Michigan resident and are considering filing for bankruptcy, please contact me at (866) 674-2317 or john@hillalaw.com to schedule a free, initial consultation.

You probably won’t think of what you’ll wear to your bankruptcy hearing until a day or two before the hearing. And while there are rules about other bankruptcy issues, there really aren’t any concerning what you should wear to your hearing. As with most other decisions you make, use good judgment. Here are some things to keep in mind when you make this decision:

• While you are going to court, the judge will not be present. Instead, a bankruptcy trustee appointed by the United State Trustee’s Office (a division of the Department of Justice) will preside over your hearing. This isn’t as formal as testifying before a judge or jury.
• You are in bankruptcy. You have financial problems. Overdressing, while not prohibited, looks a bit odd. Coming in a suit and tie, for example, is a bit over the top. Let you lawyer be the one in the suit.
• You are in bankruptcy. You were required to list all of your assets on your bankruptcy paperwork. That includes jewelry. I’ve seen trustees cross-reference a debtor’s personal property schedules with what’s on a woman’s hand. If there’s a large diamond engagement ring on her hand but not on her bankruptcy schedules, most trustees will notice. Note: I am not telling you to hide anything. I am telling you that you should notify your attorney immediately if you forgot to list property on your schedules. And wearing jewelry you didn’t list on your schedules is a really bad idea.
• You want to show respect to the court, but, at the same time, blend in. There’s a happy medium between dressing like you’re going to work in the yard all day long and dressing like you are going to a funeral. Pick something somewhere in the middle. You don’t want to look like a slob, but you don’t want to look affluent, either.
• Don’t dress immodestly. You’re not at the beach or at a night club. Again, the goal is to blend, not to stick out (pardon the pun).

The goal at your hearing is to show respect while, at the same time, not look out-of-place. While what to wear to your bankruptcy hearing isn’t one of the more important issues in your case, it still deserves some attention. Don’t put unnecessary obstacles in the way of your bankruptcy case being a success.

Written for the Michigan Bankruptcy Blog by Charleston Bankruptcy Lawyer, Russell A. DeMott.

If you are a southeast Michigan resident and are considering filing for bankruptcy, please contact me at (866) 674-2317 or john@hillalaw.com to schedule a free, initial consultation.