There are several rules you have to be careful to follow when you are giving or receiving gifts before filing your bankruptcy case. You must disclose any gifts over $600 to any one person two years prior to filing your bankruptcy case. For that reason, it is best to keep the gift giving to a minimum to avoid having to pay the trustee.

You may give towards charitable contributions such as your church up to 10% of your income. It is fine to receive monetary gifts. For example, if your uncle gives you two thousand dollars to help you pay bills, you can that use money on reasonable living expenses without it being a problem.

If you receive regular financial contributions on a monthly basis, that money might have to be considered as income for the purpose of determining your eligibility for a Chapter 7.

I would recommend consulting with an attorney prior to receiving a gift that would be considered an asset like a car. For example, say your parents buy you a $10,000 car that is now titled in your name. That asset would not be fully exempt and that might require you to pay the trustee several thousand dollars.

That could have been avoided by keeping the car in your parent’s name. Do not transfer property out of your name to avoid paying the trustee because any transfers of property would still need to be disclosed for up to two years.

We generally recommend not making any property transfers before filing your case if you can avoid it or definitely get advice prior to doing so.