Toolbox 2.0: Basics For Chapter 13 Staff Attorneys

The Academy is pleased to announce an important addition to the resources it makes available to its members in the “Toolbox.” The Toolbox, always a work in progress, is designed to provide practical resources for Chapter 13 bankruptcy practitioners whether they are trustees, the lawyers who represent trustees, debtors’ or creditors’ attorneys. John Gustafson, Chapter 13 Trustee in Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, along with several other contributors, has written an extensive and thorough guide to Chapter 13 for staff attorneys. However, this resource is equally helpful to lawyers for . . .

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From the Editor – Debtor’s Attorney

May 17, 2020

By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired) Sanctions for including foreclosed property in petition. On creditor’s motion, sanctions for attorney fees and costs were awarded against Chapter 13 debtor’s attorney for scheduling as property of estate real property that had been foreclosed and on which debtor’s redemption period had expired. Under Rule 9011(c), a safe harbor letter from the creditor...

Members

When Life Backs Chapter 13 Debtors Into A Corner, § 1329 May Provide A Way Out Of Trouble And A Shorter Path To Discharge

February 17, 2019

By Veronica D. Brown-Moseley, Boleman Law Firm, P.C. (Virginia Beach, VA) Many things can, and often do, change between the time debtors file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition and the end of their case. A variety of circumstances impact a debtor’s ability to afford their Chapter 13 plan payments, including but not limited to: medical problems, disability, loss of employment,...

Members

The Long Reach of R. 3002.1

Cathy Moran

August 20, 2023

What are the consequences of a secured lender’s failure to comply with R. 3002.1 in a prior case when the debtor files again? Significant, it seems. . . . since their attorney said he “didn’t see the need” to do so. [Can you guess, now, how this comes out?]

Members

From the Editor – Lien Modification

March 28, 2021

By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired) Junior mortgage lienholder not affected by modifications of senior mortgage. Under Pennsylvania law, the prepetition modification of terms of the senior mortgage had recapitalized interest and costs already owed but had not created new liabilities. As a result, the junior mortgage holder was not materially prejudiced. The Chapter 13 debtors could avoid the...

Members

From the Editor – Claims

February 9, 2020

By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired) Failure to include creditor on matrix not grounds to extend time for proof of claim. The Chapter 13 debtor had timely filed her list of creditors, pursuant to Rule 1007(a), but she failed to include a creditor either on that list or in the schedules, resulting in the creditor not receiving notice of...

Members

Critical Case Comment–Who is Responsible to Address Eligibility Questions?

April 3, 2022

By Henry E. Hildebrand, III, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Middle District of TN (Nashville) Bankruptcy Court is under an obligation to examine the eligibility of a debtor to file Chapter 13 even where no party raises a timely, written objection. (Seibel) Preuss v. Perry (In re Perry), 7:20-cv-04617-CS (S.D. N.Y., Sept. 21, 2021) Case Summary Bruce Perry filed...

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Possible Solution for Student Loans?

August 16, 2020

By Laila S. Gonzalez, Esq. One thing everyone can agree on is that student loan debt is increasing on an annual basis. Studies have shown than people with high student loan debt wait years longer to buy a home and start a family. Several suggestions have been made as to how to resolve the problem. One suggestion is to eliminate...

Members

How to Present an Effective Summary Judgment Motion

August 23, 2020

By Hon. Erik P. Kimball, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida (Used with permission - Originally Published by the Courthouse Beacon, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida August, 2020) Summary Judgment Applies In Contested Matters Bankruptcy Rule 7056 incorporates all of Federal Rule 56 for purposes of adversary proceedings, adjusting only the...

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A Few of Our Favorite (Chapter 13) Things

December 20, 2020

(To be sung to the tune of Julie Andrews’ version of “These Are a Few of My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music) Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens– Hey, wait a minute, that’s not what I mean; It’s time that we focus on Chapter Thirteen. We’ve been Trustees for so...

Is Voluntary Dismissal of a Chapter 13 Case an Absolute Right?

July 12, 2020

By Daryl J. Smith, Senior Staff Attorney to Sylvia Ford Brown, Chapter 13 Trustee (Memphis, TN) and Katherine L. Rea, Staff Attorney to Pamela Simmons-Beasley, Chapter 13 Trustee (Columbia, SC) Is there ever a reason to oppose a voluntary dismissal of a chapter 13 that has not been converted from a chapter 7? Maybe. But will you be successful? Probably...

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