Empowering Consumer Bankruptcy Professionals Through Knowledge.

Fixing Broke: Consumer Bankruptcy Diary Podcasts

Wherever you get your podcasts, search “Fixing Broke: Consumer Bankruptcy Diary”

“Follow” to get notices when new episodes drop.

Latest Podcast: Get Off the Beaten Path and Don’t Eat Your Pizza With a Fork!

Looking to Become a Member?

ConsiderChapter13.org offers a forum to advance continuing education of consumer bankruptcy via access to insightful articles, informative webinars, and the latest industry news. Join now to benefit from expert resources and stay informed.

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.

To get started, please let us know which of these best fits your current position:

Curated (Free) Selections

Debt and the Economy

'There's No Joy in Living This Way.' Families Struggling to Make Ends Meet (Note the paragraph titled: More people are borrowing to pay for groceries.)

US Auto Loans Hit Record High in Second Quarter, New York Fed Says

A Shocking 92% of US Adults Are Not Going to the Doctor Because It’s Too Expensive

Of Interest

Passing of Kansas Attorney James Lusk

Amazon Agrees to $2.25 Million Settlement and Injunction to Resolve Alleged Violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act

Treasury, IRS Issue Proposed Regulations on Employer Contributions to Trump Accounts Under the Working Families Tax Cuts

Shilo Sanders Suffers Setback in Case to Avoid Paying $11.89 Judgement Against Him

Adversary Proceeding’s “Memorandum and Order” Is Not Final & Appealable (Campbell v. Radiance)

Sanctions and Irony and Fraud, Oh My!

Founder of SCOTUSblog Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Tax Evasion

Alexandria Man Indicted on Bankruptcy Fraud Charges After Seeking to Discharge More Than $3.5M in Debt

Student Loan Chronicles

Student Loans Chronicles

College Costs for Families Up 10% from Last Year, Poll Finds

Fewer Student Loan Borrowers Falling Behind on Payments: Report

Student Loan Borrowers Face Steeper ‘Marriage Penalty’ Under New Repayment Plan

For Your Blog

Signed a Contract but Want to Cancel? When You Have a 3-Day Right to Back Out - What the FTC's Three-Day Rule Covers and What It Doesn't

For Your Health

Avoiding 3 Risk Factors in Midlife Could Add 13 Dementia-Free Years

More Selections

Just for Fun

This Is Why McDonald’s Diet Coke Is So Much Better than Other Fast-Food Restaurants

Passing of Judge

In Memoriam: Judge Thomas H. Fulton, 1946 – 2026

Click here for Obituary

From the IRS

Eligible Taxpayers May Receive Automatic Penalty Relief

From the UST

USTP Issues Report to Congress on Criminal Referrals for FY 2025

By The Numbers

Nearly 25% of New Car Buyers Opted for Loans At Least 84 Months Long in Q2

This Week's Featured Articles

I Think I Saw a Ghost

William H. Clunn, III

August 16, 2026

When does a helpful hand behind the scenes become an attorney hiding in the shadows? Ghostwriting may be friendly—or it may be fraud waiting to be exposed.

Members

Thoughts on Zealous Advocacy – Addendum: “Zeal” Case Summaries – Language – Part 6

The Honorable Cynthia A. Norton

August 16, 2026

Continuing your summer reading, Judge Norton shares with subscribers a three-part outline on zealous advocacy followed by a multi-part Addendum of case summaries broken into various categories. We believe you will enjoy this resource. This week we offer the second group of cases from the Addendum finishing up those dealing with behavior. Part 1 - History of Zealous Advocacy Part 2 - How Have Courts Discussed “Zealous Advocacy”? Part 3 - Practical Takeaways Part 4 – Case Summaries – Behavior Part 5 – Case Summaries – Behavior Continued

Members

Chapter 13 Eligibility Legislation

The Academy

August 16, 2026

Senate passed S. 3977, the “Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment Act of 2026” which permanently raises the debt limit back to $7.5 million for small businesses filing under subchapter V. It also raises the debt limit for individual chapter 13 filings to $2.75 million and removes the distinction between secured and unsecured debt for that calculation. The House of Representatives must still pass the legislation but there appears to be consent, so it may happen any time.

Congratulations New Judge

The Academy

August 16, 2026

Corrine Bielejeski Appointed Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of California

Other Recent Articles

Working Group Report on Providing Post-Petition Online Access to Debtors

The Academy

August 9, 2026

“For the past seven months, the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees has hosted and participated in a working group (the “Working Group”) comprised of individuals from the ﬁnancial services industry. . . . The Working Group’s stated purpose was to discuss the issues, concerns and challenges involved with providing debtors in consumer bankruptcy cases with the ability to make online post-petition payments to creditors holding secured claims and access to online account information related to such claims.”

Members

Thoughts on Zealous Advocacy – Addendum: “Zeal” Case Summaries – Behavior – Part 5

The Honorable Cynthia A. Norton

August 9, 2026

Members

Kill Switch: No Match for the Automatic Stay

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

August 9, 2026

Post-petition use of a “kill switch” disabling debtor’s leased automobile after receiving oral notice by the debtor that he had filed Chapter 13 constituted a willful violation of the automatic stay justifying the award of damages and, when egregious, punitive damages.

Members

Thoughts on Zealous Advocacy – Addendum: “Zeal” Case Summaries – Behavior – Part 4

The Honorable Cynthia A. Norton

August 2, 2026

Continuing your summer reading, Judge Norton shares with subscribers a three-part outline on zealous advocacy followed by a multi-part Addendum of case summaries broken into various categories. We believe you will enjoy this resource. This week we offer the first group of cases from the Addendum. These cases deal with behavior. Part 1 - History of Zealous Advocacy Part 2 - How Have Courts Discussed “Zealous Advocacy”? Part 3 - Practical Takeaways

Members

Here Comes the Sun—and the Lawsuits: What Every Bankruptcy Lawyer Should Know About the Solar Fraud Wave Part 2 of 2

Mark C. Leffler

August 2, 2026

Consumer bankruptcy lawyers are seeing clients with solar panel debt. In Part 1, Mark Leffler provides a background for multi-district class action litigation in Minnesota and other enforcement actions by AG’s in Minnesota and Virginia concerning financing of rooftop solar panels. This, Part 2, examines legal issues underlying the fraud claims in the litigation.

Members

Do You Really Own It?

The Academy

August 2, 2026

Failure to hold the debt before filing proof of claim may lead to disallowance of claim.

Members

Here Comes the Sun—and the Lawsuits

Mark C. Leffler

July 26, 2026

Consumer bankruptcy lawyers are seeing clients with solar panel debt. In Part 1 of his article, Mark Leffler provides a background for multi-district class action litigation in Minnesota and other enforcement actions by Attorneys General in Minnesota and Virginia concerning the financing of rooftop solar panels. Part 2 of his article will appear next week, and in that Part the author examines legal issues underlying the fraud claims in the litigation.

Members

Thoughts on Zealous Advocacy: When Do Bankruptcy Lawyers Cross the Line? Part III Practical Takeaways from Parts I and II

The Honorable Cynthia A. Norton, The Academy

July 26, 2026

Last week we published the second Part of Judge Norton’s article on Zealous Advocacy. Part I discussed the History of Zealous Advocacy, and Part II examined how courts have discussed zealous advocacy. Part III identifies Practical Takeaways from the article. In the following weeks, we will post Judge Norton’s extensive Addendum of reported cases on Zealous Advocacy.

Members

Does Tax Sale Purchaser Hold Tax Claimor Secured Debt? Divided Seventh Circuit Says Tax Claim

The Academy

July 26, 2026

Why does it matter whether the purchaser of property tax debt holds tax debt in a Chapter 13 case or secured debt? The resulting interest rate is why, and the Seventh Circuit’s opinion in In re Romero, Case No. 25-2021 (7th Cir. July 16, 2026), sets out the opposing views.

Thoughts on Zealous Advocacy Part 2

The Honorable Cynthia A. Norton

July 19, 2026

Last week we published the first Part of Judge Norton’s article on Zealous Advocacy. Part I discussed the History of Zealous Advocacy, and Part II examines how courts have discussed zealous advocacy. Part III next week will look at Practical Takeaways from the article. In the following week, we will post Judge Norton’s extensive Addendum of reported cases on Zealous Advocacy.

Members

New York City Annual Seminar Was a Success: Don’t Miss the 2027 Seminar

The Academy

July 19, 2026

Numbers are moving up for Chapter 13 filings, and the attendance was up for 61st Annual NACTT Seminar in New York City, with over 700 registrants.

Article: Reported Recent Decisions on Rule 3002.1

The Honorable William Houston Brown

The Academy

June 14, 2025

Watch on demand $25

Members