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Curated (Free) Selections

Debt and the Economy

Car Insurance Premiums Are Finally Falling, But Not Everywhere

Eddie Bauer Expected to Close Stores as Rumored to Be Considering Bankruptcy - Retail holding company also oversees Lucky Brand, Aéropostale, Nautica and Brooks Brothers

Of Interest

When Taxes Don’t Go Away: Bankruptcy, Willful Evasion, and the Limits of a Fresh Start

Not Everyone Can Claim the New Car Loan Interest Deduction: What You Need to Know

Judicial Estoppel—And Interests of Debtor’s Creditors (Royal American v. Roofing Design), Part 2

Sanctions and Irony and Fraud, Oh My!

'Ghost Students' Can Steal Your Identity, Enroll You in School and Take Loans Out in Your Name

First Brands Founder Indicted for Fraud After Bankruptcy that Hit Lenders, Ford, GM

US Judge Tosses Lawsuit Accusing J&J of Fraud Over Talc Bankruptcy Strategy

Lying in Bankruptcy Case Lands Iowa Contractor in Prison

Student Loan Chronicles

Student Loans Chronicles

4 Major Dates for Student Loans Are Rapidly Approaching — Key Details

How Student Loan Debt Stymies Retirement Saving

For Your Blog

SCAM ALERT: Do Not Pay Callers Over the Phone Claiming to Call from the Bankruptcy Court

IRS Warning Some Tax Refunds May Be Put on Hold for Weeks - How to make sure it doesn't happen to you

For Your Health

Types of Psychotherapy for Anxiety and How to Choose One

More Selections

Artificial Intelligence

Judge Issues Public Admonition + $12,000 Sanctions for Hallucinations

Lexos Media v. Overstock.com Memorandum and Order

By The Numbers

Bankruptcy Filings Rise 11 Percent

New Clerk

Clerk of Court Appointed

Eastern District of Tennessee Appoints Christopher Call

As AI-Generated Fake Content Mars Legal Cases, States Want Guardrails

American Bar Association Formal Opinion Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools

Bankruptcy Courts Begin to Create Rules and Orders Governing the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Court Filing By Rebecca Herr (Password Protected)

New Order from District Court of Kansas Regarding AI

From the Supreme Court

Court Holds There Is Time Limit on Challenging Void Judgments

This Week's Featured Articles

Watching Where You Step on Dirty Boulevard: De-escalation in Bankruptcy Practice

Kara K. Gendron

February 8, 2026

De-escalation in bankruptcy means re-establishing structure and clarity—slowing things down and communicating clearly so the process, not the conflict, controls the case.

Members

Revested Property Doesn’t Need a Hall Pass

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

February 8, 2026

It is unnecessary for a Chapter 13 debtor to obtain court approval to hire a realtor or to sell the debtor’s residence following confirmation where property “revested” in the debtor.

Members

Meet Michael Koch – Newish Trustee

The Academy

February 8, 2026

“My office philosophy is to treat all parties with respect and keep it professional, never personal. I know and try to remember we are serving people that can be under serious stress.”

Retirement: No Court Scheduling, Fewer Meetings, More Planning

The NACTT Emeritus Trustees

February 8, 2026

Updates and some practical advice from a few of our very favorite retired trustees.

Other Recent Articles

What’s the Debt for Anyway?

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

February 1, 2026

Clever use of Chapter 13. Expenses paid by a non-filing spouse toward a debt consolidation program confer no benefit to the debtor or the debtor’s household and are not included in Current Monthly Income even though the debts had been incurred for the benefit of the household.

Members

Practice Tip from The Honorable Meredith Jury (Ret.)

M. Jonathan Hayes

February 1, 2026

Judge Jury gives a thoughtful answer to Attorney Hayes question: “My client is adamant that I appeal but I'm afraid the judge will be mad at me. Do you have a comfort blanket I might use to quell my fears?”

Members

Retirement Accounts and the Projected Disposable Income Calculation

James M. Davis

February 1, 2026

The highest profile disposable income issue today—one that many thought was destined for the Supreme Court in 2025—is the deduction for retirement contributions.

Members

No Interest on DMI in Chapter 13

Edward C. Boltz

February 1, 2026

Paying unsecured creditors in full doesn’t mean paying them extra. In re Peters rejects the idea that Chapter 13 debtors owe unsecured creditors post-petition interest simply for paying them in full.

The Mystery of the Disappearing Means Test Deduction

Cathy Moran

January 28, 2026

Just when you thought you figured out the means test, a debtor throws you a curveball. Like the Naked City, there are eight million means test stories out there. This is one of them. I was reviewing a petition that a young lawyer I mentor was prepared to file. The debtor is recently married and he and his bride each make...

Recommendations in Dealing with the Self-Employed Debtor

Andrew B. Finberg

January 25, 2026

Few word combinations sting a Trustee’s office quite like the one-two punch of “self-employed.” The “self-employed” debtor immediately faces additional concerns regarding feasibility.

Members

Leadership, Office Culture, & Policy

The NACTT Emeritus Trustees

January 25, 2026

The Emeritus Trustees considered various approaches to managing an office and office staff.

Members

The Devil (or Angel) is in the Details

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

January 25, 2026

Where Chapter 13 debtor’s non-filing spouse executed a deed of trust securing a second mortgage loan which she owned as a joint tenant with the debtor, but where she did not execute the promissory note, the creditor’s (under secured) lien would be released upon the discharge of the debtor.

Members

Reprimand for Deficient Chapter 13 Filing

Rebecca Herr

January 18, 2026

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued a public reprimand to a debtor’s attorney after concluding that his representation failed to meet the minimum competency standards required in Chapter 13 practice.

Members

The Cost of Proposing Zero

Michael J. McCormick, Esq.

January 18, 2026

Objections matter. Court rejected proposed 0% interest, finding it bad faith and ordering the debtor to pay servicer 5.1666% instead.

Members

A Survey of Key Appellate Decisions on Projected Disposable Income

James M. Davis

January 18, 2026

In preparation for our upcoming** webinar addressing means test conundrums, Attorney Davis brings readers a foundation of appellate decisions. **Save the Date: February 18th 2:00 Eastern

Members