Section 105 and Lack of Good Faith

By Debbie Langehennig, Chapter 13 Trustee (Austin, TX)

Although consumer cases and business cases are distinctly different in character and scope, both types of case progress against the backdrop of the policies and procedure of the same statutory scheme. Particularly in cases of first impression, or following a Supreme Court or circuit court decision construing similar language, a bankruptcy judge may choose to apply the holding of a consumer case to cases under Chapter 11 or may choose to apply the holding of a commercial case in the consumer context. Bankruptcy practitioners should devote particular attention to those . . .

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Critical Case Comment– Absolute Right to Dismiss But Not the End of the Story

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

December 5, 2021

Although a Chapter 13 debtor has the absolute right to voluntarily dismiss her Chapter 13 case, even after a motion to convert is filed, the Court retains the rights to impose restrictions on the dismissal. (Waites) In re Brittany Frances Minogue, 2021 WL 4453589 (Bankr. D. S.C. September 29, 2021) Summary Brittany Minogue filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 13...

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When $400 Emergency Pushes You Over the Edge

September 8, 2019

By Cathy Moran, Esq. (Redwood City, CA) The Federal Reserve reported that 40% of Americans couldn’t meet a $400 emergency without borrowing. A significant slice of them couldn’t pay it at all. So, a Bloomberg economist devoted his column to deconstructing how the press and political figures, in his opinion, misused that finding. OMGoodness. The guy was too caught up...

Critical Case Comment – Discharged Junior in 7 Survives in 13

October 17, 2021

By Henry E. Hildebrand, III, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Middle District of Tennessee (Nashville) While in personam liability of a junior mortgage on the debtor’s residence is discharged by a Chapter 7, the lien survives and constitutes an allowed unsecured claim in the debtor’s subsequent Chapter 13 case. In re Hopper, 2021 WL 3435445 (Bankr. E.D. N.Y. Aug....

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Tax Deductions Hidden in Chapter 13

Cathy Moran

April 3, 2022

True. Most people no longer itemize under the current Tax Code. However, the amount of money involved varies and should be considered. The same very important debts that a Chapter 13 plan pays are often tax deductible. And your client is still the person who’s paying, even if the trustee writes the check. Don’t allow them to miss out on...

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Critical Case Comment – Post-Petition/Pre-Conversion Equity

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

July 30, 2023

By Henry E. Hildebrand, III, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Middle District of Tennessee (Nashville) Post-petition, pre-conversion equity that accrues in a debtor’s residence during the pendency of a Chapter 13 plan is property of the estate in the Chapter 7 estate following conversion. (Hastings) Goetz v. Weber (In re Goetz), 651 B.R. 292 (8th Cir. BAP, June 1,...

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ABI Commission on Consumer Bankruptcy – Remedies for Discharge Violation

May 12, 2019

By Henry E. Hildebrand, III, Chapter 13 Trustee (Nashville, TN) One of the principle goals of a consumer that chooses to file bankruptcy is to obtain a discharge under § 524. Despite its importance, however, there is much more legal discussion on the logistics and the process of automatic stay under § 362 that is in existence during the pendency...

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Federal Payments for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance in Bankruptcy

April 11, 2021

By Kara K. Gendron, Esquire, Mott & Gendron Law (Harrisburg, PA) If a Chapter 13 Debtor has adopted a child who is eligible for assistance under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, should those funds which were received in the six months prior to filing the petition be included in the Official Form 122C–1 Chapter 13 Statement of Current...

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Objection: Hearsay

July 12, 2020

By Wayne Silver, Wayne Silver Law (Redwood City, CA) There you are, client on the witness stand, judge listening intently, story being told on direct exactly the way you prepared her, things going just swimmingly. And then opposing counsel stands and utters those two lovely words…”Objection, hearsay.” Huh? That’s ridiculous, you confidently think to yourself, just as you hear the...

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From the Editor – Claims

June 21, 2020

By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired) Portion of divorce award was priority domestic support claim and portion dischargeable unsecured claim. Applying Third Circuit’s factors from In re Gianakas, 917 F.2d 759 (3d Cir. 1990), and considering special master’s intent in divorce proceedings, one-third of former spouse’s claim was priority domestic support but two- thirds was reclassified as general unsecured...

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Division of Marital Property During a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Michael B. Joseph

November 5, 2023

“The focus of this article is to review some of the issues faced in cases with pending state court marital property division proceedings.”

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