Debtor’s Counsel’s Duty of Due Diligence–How Much is Enough?

By:  Fredrick E. Clement.  Mr. Clement is a Certified Specialist in Bankruptcy Law by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

“I’m so gullible.  I’m so damn gullible.  And I am so sick of me being gullible.”  (Lana Turner)  Attractive young movie starlets will be forgiven a lack skepticism.  Bankruptcy lawyers will not.

The Bankruptcy Code and the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure each mandate that   counsel attempt to confirm the client’s representations about assets, debts, income, expenses and financial history prior to filing the petition.  Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 9011(b)(3) provides . . .

It looks like you are not signed in or registered! This content is only available to members.

Or Sign In Below:

No Author Biography has been linked to this Article.

Related Articles

June 27, 2021
By Academy Staff Phil was a quiet, humble man. He loved his family, loved the law, and loved to serve others. Philip D. Lamos, age 53 of Painesville Township, passed away suddenly on June 11, 2021. He was a hometown boy who loved his family, especially his son Matthew and daughter Emily. Phil was a graduate of John Carroll University...
AAA_4864
February 13, 2022
(Used with expressed permission from the MI Bankruptcy Journal and the Steven W. Rhodes Consumer Bankruptcy Conference)By Brittani Bushman, Judicial Law Clerk to the Hon. John T. Gregg, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan B. Illustrative Decisions (Minority Approach) The Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit recently issued a comprehensive unpublished decision adopting the minority...
Members
April 26, 2020
By Joseph A. Bledsoe, III, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Eastern District of North Carolina (New Bern) Under section 1113(b)(1)(C) of the CARES Act, upon the request of a debtor, and after notice and a hearing, a plan confirmed may be extended up to 7 years from the date the first payment under the original plan came due if...
Members
Ashley Curry Headshot
December 12, 2021
In a recent case out of South Carolina, rather than a debtor seeking sanctions against a creditor, it was the creditor’s counsel who sought sanctions against counsel for a Chapter 13 debtor in an adversary proceeding. Ruling on a Motion for Sanctions in James Defoe v. Winyah Surgical Specialists, P.A. doing business as Winyah Surgical Specialists (In re Defoe), 632...
Members
Proof of Claim
In any given year Chapter 13 Trustees administer 400,000 to 500,000 cases and distribute almost $5 billion to creditors.  A critical duty for trustees is to be sure that distributions are correctly delivered to an allowed claimant. 11 USC § 501 governs the filing of a proof of claim and 11 USC § 502 sets forth the requirements for allowance...
Members
Copy of Hildebrand-2016
January 14, 2024
In some instances, this case could be a real game-changer for dealing with student loans. Chapter 13 plan may classify student loans in a separate class!
Members
PamelaSimmonsBeasley
September 29, 2024
When you hear the words “gone too soon,” it is usually related to death. Fortunately, that is not the case here. Pamela Simmons Beasley, Chapter 13 Trustee for the District of South Carolina in Columbia, made an indelible impression on me and the NACTT. We will miss you, Pam!
Copy of Hildebrand-2016
A person or entity need not physically prepare a bankruptcy petition for a pro se debtor in order to be a bankruptcy petition preparer, but a debtor must have paid some compensation for the “services” provided.
Hayes Jury
July 7, 2024
Bailey v. Glover 1874 - When the trustee is required to bring an action to avoid a fraudulent conveyance within two years of the bankruptcy filing, does the active concealment of the transfer by the debtor and the transferees toll the running of the two-year statute of limitations to bring the action?
Members
NalikoMarkel-150x150
October 22, 2023
“ . . . next leap: Generative A.I. learns everything there is to know about you from your public social media presence and crafts phishing attacks unique to YOU.”
Members

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: