Means test confusion — do I qualify for Chapter 7?
CAj_ramos1 month ago
Household of 3, gross income just over the median. Does that automatically disqualify me from Ch 7?
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✓ Verified answer from a licensed attorney — shown first
Not automatically. The means test has two steps. (1) Compare your average 6-month gross income (annualized) to the median for your state and family size. If you're UNDER, you pass automatically. (2) If you're OVER, the second step looks at 'disposable income' after standardized allowed expenses (housing, food, transportation, etc.) — and if your disposable income is below the thresholds, you still pass. Many people just over median pass the second step because their actual expenses (mortgage, daycare, secured-debt payments) bring disposable income to near zero. A means-test review by an attorney before you file is the single best $200 spend — it tells you exactly which chapter fits.
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