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

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, and divorce. In the event of an unfortunate change after the confirmation of a plan, 11 U.S.C. § 1329(a) allows for modifications . . .

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From the Editor

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By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired) Debtors’ attorney fees not authorized under Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA). Although the Chapter 13 debtors had prevailed before the Ninth Circuit, In re Sisk, 962 F.3d 1133 (9th Cir. 2020), their application for attorney fees as prevailing parties under EAJA was denied. That Act did not authorize awards of attorney fees...

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From the Editor – Claims

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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...

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The Academy

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Critical Case Comment – Debtor’s Counsel’s Fee Reduced to $48k

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

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