At the time that the case is filed, the court will issue an order for a meeting of the creditors. In Maryland the meeting usually takes place in four to five weeks after the case is filed.

At the hearing, the trustee will ask questions of the debtor to examine in connection of the debtor's assets, liabilities, monthly income and expenses.

The primary purposes of the examination is to determine if the debtor has assets that can be sold to help pay the creditors.

Although creditors are given notice of the hearing, creditors are not required to attend the hearing.

Creditors have a number of different remedies that can be filed with the bankruptcy court.

If a creditor has information that the debtor has not honestly scheduled all of the debts, assets, income or expenses, the creditor can notify the chapter seven trustee who can request verification of what was filed in the court.

Creditors can also institute what is called an adversary proceeding. There are two basic types of adversary proceedings.

The first type of adversary proceeding seeks to except that creditor's claim from the discharge.

The second type of adversary proceeding seeks to block the entire discharge.

Visa - Official endorsement on a document or passport showing that the holder may proceed

Void - Invalid; a void agreement is a contract for which there is no remedy

Voidable - Capable of being declared invalid; a voidable contract is one where a party may avoid his obligation, as a contract between an adult and a minor

Voir dire - preliminary examination made in court of a witness or juror to determine his competency or interest in a matter

Unlawful detainer - Detention of real estate without the consent of the owner or other person entitled to its possession

Unliquidated debt - Remaining not determined; unassessed or unsettled; in dispute as to the correct amount

Waiver of immunity - Means authorized by statute by which a witness, before testifying or producing evidence, may relinquish the right to refuse to testify against himself or herself, thereby making it possible for his or her testimony to be used against him or her in future proceedings

Warrant - Most commonly, a court order authorizing law enforcement officers to make an arrest or conduct a search. An application seeking a warrant must be accompanied by an affidavit which establishes probable cause by detailing the facts upon which the request is based

Warranty - promise that a proposition of fact is true

Warranty deed - deed which guarantees that the title conveyed is good and its transfer rightful

Water rights - right to use water, as from a stream or underground source.

Will - A legal declaration that disposes of a person's property when that person dies

Unsecured debts -- In bankruptcy, debts for which the debtor has not pledged collateral to guarantee payment

Urban - city or town

Usury - interest on a loan in excess of the maximum rate permitted by statute

Vacate - To set aside

Venire - writ summoning persons to court to act as jurors

Venue - Authority of a court to hear a matter based on geographical location

Verdict - conclusion, as to fact or law which which forms the basis for the court's judgment

Voluntary bankruptcy - proceeding by which a debtor voluntarily asks for a discharge of his debts under the Bankruptcy Code

Wage Earner's Plan - a bankruptcy which allows a debtor to file a wage earner's plan for payment of a percentage of his debts from future earnings. Waiver - Intentionally surrender a right

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