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Webinars

These informative sessions are led by industry experts and cover a range of consumer bankruptcy topics.

Member Articles

Written by industry experts, these articles provide in-depth analysis and practical guidance on consumer bankruptcy topics.

Industry News

The Academy is the go-to source for the latest news and analysis in the Chapter 13 bankruptcy industry.

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Curated (Free) Selections

Debt and the Economy

U.S. Bankruptcy Filings Jumped in 2024

The $1,000+ Monthly Car Payment Is the New Normal

Here’s Where Mortgage Rates Could Be Headed in 2025

Of Interest

BAPCPA: A Failure For Consumers . . . But A Success For Easy Credit And Ineffective Bankruptcy Relief! (A Study)

Biden Administration Finalizes Rule to Strike Medical Debt from Credit Reports

Sanctions and Irony and Fraud, Oh My!

CFPB Sues Experian for Sham Investigations of Credit Report Errors - Experian does not properly investigate disputes and fails to remove or reinserts errors on reports, threatening consumers’ access to credit, employment, and housing (See also The Academy’s webinar What Bankruptcy Lawyers Should Know About the Fair Credit Reporting Act)

RI Bankruptcy Fraudster Who Taunted Feds Asks for Early Release. Here's Why.

Student Loan Chronicles

Student Loans Chronicles

New Study: Full Discharge Ahead? An Empirical First Look at the New Student Loan Discharge Process in Bankruptcy

For Your Blog

7 Everyday Budgeting Tips for Families

13 of Grandma's Favorite "Cheap" Meals, According to Our Readers

For Your Health

The Definitive Guide to Adapt Your Fitness Routine for Every Phase of Life (Nice way of saying fitness as we age!)

More Selections

From the AO

From the AO

The following rules and form were published for comment in August: Bankruptcy Rules 1007, 3018, 5009, 9006, 9014, 9017, new Rule 7043, and Official Form 410S1. The comment period is open until February 17, 2025. Click here for the proposed amended rules and directions on how to submit comments. Comments are encouraged.

From NCBRC

In re Foster: Bankruptcy court held IRS’s perfected pre-petition tax lien on debtor’s property entitled it to unclaimed funds held by court, superseding debtor’s right to those funds under 11 U.S.C. §1326(a)(2).

From the NYT

From the New York Time: They Were Ashamed About Their Debt. Bankruptcy Gave Them a Second Chance. (You will have to create an account to log in but can read this article free. Such a GREAT article – if only we could get this message out to the general public!)

From the AO

From the Administrative Office of the Courts

REMINDER: Official Form 410 is effective December 1, 2024, and is available here.

From the CFPB

CFPB Establishes Supervisory Authority Over Large Payment Apps

This Week's Featured Articles

Spitballing Chapter 13’s Image Makeover

Cathy Moran

January 12, 2025

“Three cheers for Jen Lee’s piece on the need to pitch the manifest strengths of Chapter 13. Her advice to use head-to-head comparisons with alternative approaches to debt for the client is right on. An image makeover for Chapter 13 would be even more powerful if we can spread the word to a broader audience, before they’ve shorted their tax withholding, encumbered their exempt homestead, signed on with a profit-focused ‘debt consolidation’ company, or dipped into their retirement funds.” Think Chapter 13 needs an image makeover? Let us hear from you.

Members

Big Dog Bites Back but Too Late

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

January 12, 2025

An alleged lessor’s tardy objection to confirmation of a Chapter 13 plan which treats the obligation as a secured loan is precluded from pursuing that objection after passage of the deadline established by the court.

Members

Towering Victory: UT Law Shines Bright with Third Duberstein Moot Court Championship

Debbie Langehennig

January 12, 2025

Trustee Deborah Langehennig lead University of Texas to its third national Duberstein championship. GO DEB!!!!

CHAPTER 12 CONFERENCE ● FARM REORGANIZATION ● 3 HOURS OF CLE

The Academy

January 12, 2025

The Association of Chapter 12 Trustees is excited to announce its virtual seminar scheduled for February 13, 2025. The seminar is a one-day virtual seminar with three sessions.The ACT12 board and officers have worked hard to put together a seminar packed full of great information. REGISTER NOW!

Other Recent Articles

Ditch the Bankruptcy Jargon—Marketing Chapter 13 as the UltimateSolution

Jen Lee

January 5, 2025

“If you want to connect with more clients, you must stop talking about bankruptcy as though it exists in isolation. Instead, compare it head-on with the alternatives.” New author to ConsiderChapter13.org, Jen Lee will be bringing readers a series, primarily, on law firm management and marketing.

Members

Fast Track to Freedom: Judge Greenlights Early Payoff

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

January 5, 2025

Chapter 13 debtor has the right to modify a confirmed Chapter 13 plan to pay off the plan early; at modification the “best interest of creditors test” applies to the modified plan as of the effective date of the modification.

Members

Lessons From In Re Chase: Student Loan Discharge and Loan Consolidation

Rahaf Alrehaili, Esq.

January 5, 2025

A recent decision out of Maine underscores the strategic nuances of discharging student loans in bankruptcy.

Members

Happy New Year

The Academy

December 29, 2024

Re-Examining the Means Test Cost of Home Ownership

Cathy Moran

December 29, 2024

From June: Bankruptcy lawyers can better present non-mortgage homeownership expenses to reflect current economic realities on the means test. By advocating for realistic expense allowances, based on a percentage of the home’s purchase price, attorneys can ensure fairer assessments and more successful bankruptcy plans. Additionally, Trustees and Judges should look at Atty Moran’s analysis here – change will take the whole village.

Members

Ask Ms. Ps & Qs

Nancy B. Rapoport

December 29, 2024

From February, Prof. Rapoport looks at the question: What should happen when the Rule 2016 statement on compensation conflicts with the SOFA #16?

Members

Reconversion to Chapter 13 – Betwixt and Between?

Michael B. Joseph

December 29, 2024

From January: “Is it possible to voluntarily convert a chapter 13 case to chapter 7, and later reconvert back to chapter 13? There is a split of authority on whether this maneuver is allowed.”

Members

Still Crazy After All These Years

Cathy Moran

December 22, 2024

“ . . . , as far as I can find, no court has approved a modification that reduced the liquidation dividend when assets have lost value, such as falling stock values, catastrophic events, or business failure.”

Members

Holiday Memories

The NACTT Emeritus Trustees

December 22, 2024

We thought it would be enjoyable during this time of year to share some memories of the Holiday Season.

Members

New Academy Podcasts

The Academy

December 22, 2024

The first 2 podcast episodes are off to a great start. We are hearing how much listeners enjoy them!!!

Chapter 13 And Death: Discharge or Dismissal?

Michael B. Joseph

December 15, 2024

“It is said that nothing is certain except for death and taxes, but today the Court is asked a question about death and discharge, for which there is some uncertainty in the Chapter 13 context.”

Members

New Academy Podcasts

The Academy

December 15, 2024

In the 1979 Steve Martin movie The Jerk, Martin’s character, Navin Johnson, proclaims “I’m somebody” because his name is listed in the phone book. In 2024 to be “somebody” equates to being on Spotify. Well, The Academy is formally SOMEBODY. We have just launched our first 2 podcast episodes – 3002.1 Debtor Attorneys Were Gobsmacked Parts 1 and 2. Join a funny and frank discussion between Podcast Host Jody Bledsoe and our guest Hilary Bonial.