Bankruptcy Plus, Version 3.12

Bankruptcy Plus, Version 3.12

A good bankruptcy program is essential in handling the many details that are involved in bankruptcy filings, from initial hire of the client to the discharge received.

Cornerstone Computer Group Inc.’s latest program, Bankruptcy Plus, Version 3.12, provides a good basis for keeping you on task from start to finish and offers nearly every form needed to get the job done.

Getting Started
The program installed easily on my Windows 2000 laptop, and comes with sample cases for review and training, and the ability to add your own cases to test the program (which I highly recommend reviewing). There isn’t a printed manual, but an extensive manual on the program CD. Help also is available in the program, but it’s somewhat limited. However, after some trial and error, using the program is fairly intuitive and straightforward.

The introduction screen allows you to view and search cases by debtor type or status. When attempting to delete a case, you must first change the status to inactive, which is easily done by choosing “Make Inactive” from the toolbar. It also is easy to archive cases for storage.

The program comes with worksheets to hand out to clients, which are timesavers after some minor tweaking and modification.

Entering Information
The program has forms and exemptions for each state and district, which are easily modifiable. While entering property for Schedule B, I was able to attach the property to a creditor, show intention and choose the exemption, all from the same screen.

Information is easily entered by using the toolbar or by clicking on the arrows to get to the next schedule.

While entering creditor information, you can attach the creditor to a specific property, state intentions, designate the creditor as a representative or to receive a notice only. There is a common creditors’ list where information is saved for repetitive use.

Once entered, click on a button, choose the creditor and all the information is automatically entered into the schedule. You can add creditors to the list from the “Common Creditor” section on the toolbar, (which is also where the list is edited) but it’s easier to add them on the fly as they are initially entered into the schedules and click on the “Add to Common Creditors List” button. One drawback to the list: When choosing a creditor from the Common Creditor List to be entered on a schedule, you must make the creditor unique to the current case before you can change the address.

The Statement of Financial Affairs (SOFA) has a column on the toolbar. Entering the information is as easy as answering the questions. The sections such as repossessions and attorney fees have links to the creditors for easily entering information.

It would have been nice if the attorney fees, attorney and firm that I entered in the case information were automatically entered in No. 9, payments related to bankruptcy, but at least I could link with the case attorney to save a few keystrokes. I had trouble preparing a Chapter 13 plan and had to go back several times to tweak the plan the way I wanted it to print.

I use my word processor to prepare amendments, motions, orders, certificates of service, and so forth that I need. All of this, and more, is available with the form packages in the program. If the form isn’t to your specifications, you can modify it in a word processor. This is probably my favorite part of the program because everything is available without leaving the program.

Printing the Bankruptcy
It’s possible to preview the schedules and spot-check prior to printing. I would have preferred to highlight and select several schedules to print at one time (as you can do in an Explorer window), but unfortunately I could only select all, or one at a time, to print.

It took a while, but I finally figured out how to print just one page of a schedule; it’s in the preview section instead of the print section. It was beneficial to print the matrix as labels or to a file.

It was also handy to customize and rearrange the forms package to include only the specific forms that I use.

Case Management
I like the available special reports; case inventory (summary, details and plan details), case date summary and notes to file. The Case Dates Summary tracks what is going on with the case, from the date filed, to the date of the 341 hearing and date of discharge.

Once dates are entered, you can see what is happening on a case in the current case status page.

The notes section is handy to enter specific notes pertaining to the case needing follow-up actions, such as reminders of information needed for a 341 hearing. With these reports you can see, at a quick glance, what has been done and what remains to be done with each case.

There is a lot of paperwork and date tracking in a bankruptcy, and Bankruptcy Plus helps keep each case organized while helping you stay on top of what is going on.

Cornerstone Computer Group Inc.
(800) 397-8238
www.cornerstone-
computer.com

Price: $495, single-user; $395, single-user trade-in upgrade; $725, multi-user; $625, multi-user trade-in upgrade

Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000

Reviewed by Sheryl Cramer, a legal technology consultant and legal office manager at Cramer Law Firm in Lawton, Okla.

Dec/Jan '02 Issue

PROS
Good flow in entering the core bankruptcy information; has almost every form needed for a bankruptcy case.

CONS
Can’t change the address of the firm without a new activation number. The Chapter 13 Plan preparation is confusing.

VERDICT
Recommended for anyone who does even one bankruptcy a month.