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Curated (Free) Selections

Debt and the Economy

Young People Are 'Gambling with Borrowed Money' - And Paying the Price

More Americans Buying Groceries Using Buy Now, Pay Later: Survey (There is a session on this at NACTT New York)

Insurance Rates Based on Credit History Draw Scrutiny from Lawmakers in Some States

Parents Helping Gen Z Become Homeowners Through Generational Wealth

Of Interest

Objection! How the Federal Rules of Evidence Promote Fair Trials

What Standards Govern Liability for Inaccurate Credit Reports About Discharged Debts? (Riddick v. Chex)

Mediating Bankruptcy Reorganization Disputes v. Mediating Commercial Lawsuit Disputes (In re Caesars)

It’s Hard to Get Legal Help in Rural Kansas. Now State Will Pay New Attorneys to Practice There.

Divided 11th Circuit Finds Browsewrap Arbitration Agreement Unenforceable (Vocabulary terms of the week: “clickwrap” and “browsewrap.”)

Sanctions and Irony and Fraud, Oh My!

Iowa Farmer Pleads Guilty to Multi-Year Bankruptcy Fraud Scheme

Bill Aims to Stop 'Claim Sharks' from Targeting Disabled Vets after NPR Investigation

Student Loan Chronicles

Student Loans Chronicles

Private Student Loan Market Set to Expand Under New Federal Loan Caps — With Risks for Grad School Borrowers

For Your Blog

6 Tips for Teaching Your Teen Good Financial Habits

15 Home Remedies for Allergies (Popular from last week)

For Your Health

What Causes Bad Breath and How to Get Rid of It?

More Selections

On the CFPB

Trump Administration Ends Lease for CFPB's Headquarters, Records Show (Headline pretty much says it all except signage has also been removed.)

National Creditor Registration Service

National Creditor Registration Service

Did you know there is a free service provided by the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts to give you (particularly creditors) more convenient delivery options for bankruptcy notices?

In the Credit Department

Lawmakers Demand Answers About Growing Number of Unfixed Mistakes on Credit Reports

Senate Democrats Press Experian, Equifax and TransUnion on BNPL Reporting Practices (Similar to article above.)

Mortgage Lenders Now Have More Credit Score Options. What Homebuyers Should Know. (This falls in the “need to be aware of” category.)

Think ChatGPT Can Replace Your Lawyer? Think Again.

On the CFPB

D.C. Circuit Showdown Over CFPB (Update for those following the potential demise of the CFPB)

This Week's Featured Articles

The Road to Perdition: Dismissals with Consequences

Michael B. Joseph

May 10, 2026

“Bankruptcy courts face a persistent challenge: granting relief to the honest but unfortunate debtor while curbing repeated abuse by others.”

Members

The Hidden Reason Clients Fail Chapter 13

Jen Lee

May 10, 2026

“We assume clients understand more than they do.”

Members

Surrender Does Not Transfer Ownership

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

May 10, 2026

Chapter 13 debtor’s surrender of real property does not effectuate a transfer of ownership absent acceptance by the transferee, thereby leaving the debtor exposed to continuing liabilities incident to ownership.

Members

Other Recent Articles

Fourth Circuit Pumps the Brakes

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

May 3, 2026

Chapter 13 plan’s compliance with the means test in § 1325(b) does not immunize the plan from the good faith requirement of § 1325(a) and an above median Chapter 13 debtor whose plan satisfies the mathematical requirements of the means test must still be proposed and filed in good faith.

Members

Tales from the Trenches – Filing Bankruptcy Is All About the Future

Cathy Moran

May 3, 2026

“We often first encounter prospective clients when a creditor has posed a threat to take something from them, here and now.” But what about six months from now? A year? What does the stress do over time?

Members

A Predictable Path for Household Size Under § 1325(b): Why a Hybrid Approach Should be Adopted

Henry George

May 3, 2026

Household size isn’t just a headcount—it’s the battleground where disposable income is won or lost. Trustee Lon Jenkin’s intern brings readers an excellent dissection of how to determine household size.

Members

NDC Small Sponsorship Program

The Academy

May 3, 2026

The National Data Center provides small sponsorships of up to $2,000 for educational consumer bankruptcy seminars, when approved pursuant to its guidelines and when funds are available.

Ask Ms. Ps & Qs

Nancy B. Rapoport

April 26, 2026

This month, our ethics expert examines the pros and cons of in-person intake meetings versus Zoom and other technology-based approaches for that all-important fact finding client interaction.

Members

What’s Growing in Your Case? A Petri Dish Lesson on Priority Tax Debt

Kara K. Gendron

April 26, 2026

“When trustees and practitioners actively monitor tax claims, outcomes improve.”

Members

From Suspension to Step Plans: Trustees Share What Sticks

The NACTT Emeritus Trustees

April 26, 2026

A look back at the tools that worked during economic turbulence for debtors - and why they still matter.

Members

Lifting the Bar on Discharging Student Loans in Consumer Bankruptcy

Briana Johnson

April 19, 2026

We are pleased to bring another article from a Tom Vaughan Intern. Ms. Johnson does not simply look at discharging student loans, but the much broader picture of how student loans are incurred in the first place – an original perspective.

Members

Your Intake Process Is Costing You Clients

Jen Lee

April 19, 2026

“Most bankruptcy clients do not want to talk on the phone. Not yet.”

Members

Residential Lease in Chpt. 13: Possession Survived, Plan Didn’t

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

April 19, 2026

Although a Chapter 13 plan can override a writ of eviction, debtor must demonstrate they can perform under an assumed lease and default can be cured “promptly.”

Members