A Defense of Student Loan Nondischargeability

By Phil Lamos, Chief Legal Counsel of the Chapter 13 Trustee, Craig Shopneck, Cleveland, OH

Much has been made lately of the high amounts of student loan debt carried in this country. Commentators have called the high levels of student loan debt a “crisis,” “the next housing bubble,” and a “debt bomb.” Many of these same commentators have called for §523 of the Bankruptcy Code to be rewritten so that student loans can be discharged in bankruptcy. This would, the commentators say, bring student loans in line with other kinds of debts and would give financially-distressed student . . .

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.

Critical Case Comment – Separate Class Classy Option for Student Loans

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

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

Chapter 13 No-Look Fees

The NACTT Emeritus Trustees

December 10, 2023

As a follow-up to The Academy’s December 3, 2023, issue, three Emeritus Trustees weighed in. Last week’s issue included Cathy Moran’s Chapter 13 NoLook Fees: The Horns of a Dilemma and Trustee Hildebrand’s You Gotta Fix Your Own Screw-ups, On Your Own Dime. You may also want to take note of the comments on each article and add your own.

Members

Critical Case Comment – How Many Cats?

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

August 7, 2022

Even though the Chapter 13 debtor’s 36 cats were property of the estate, the county animal control office could pursue possession of the cats and resulting disposition (by way of adoption). (Hagenau) In re Karen Mitchell-Smith, 2022 WL 2195466 (Bankr. N.D. Ga. June 17, 2022) Case Summary Sometime in 2021, Henry County Animal Control took possession of 36 cats that...

Interspousal Claims Live On and On and On

Cathy Moran

April 21, 2024

Even when the contentions against a debtor spouse sound in fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, or intentional tort, the claims of the debtor’s spouse survive a Chapter 7 discharge.

Members

Rules, Means-Test Amounts and Miscellaneous Fees: Changes Wrap Up 2020

November 15, 2020

Lawrence R. Ahern, III Brown & Ahern Nashville, Tennessee Appendix C Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule (28 U.S.C § 1930) Effective December 1, 2020 Description Current Fee Adjusted Fee Exemplification $22 $23 Reproduction of audio recording of court proceeding $31 $32 Filing amendment to debtor's schedules $31 $32 Search fee $31 $32 Filing any document that is not related to...

Members

Why Listening Is a Bankruptcy Lawyer’s Superpower

Cathy Moran

February 18, 2024

The initial meeting with a prospective bankruptcy client is the most important work I do as a bankruptcy lawyer. It’s also the hardest.

Members

A Few of Our Favorite (Chapter 13) Things

December 20, 2020

(To be sung to the tune of Julie Andrews’ version of “These Are a Few of My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music) Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens– Hey, wait a minute, that’s not what I mean; It’s time that we focus on Chapter Thirteen. We’ve been Trustees for so...

Critical Case Comment – Bad Faith to Not Pay Both Tests?

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

February 27, 2022

Chapter 13 debtor is not obligated to pay both the disposable income pool and the best interest of creditors test pool to achieve confirmation, only the larger of the two; it is not a manifestation of bad faith that the debtor does not pay both the disposable income pool and the best interest of creditors test amounts. (Altenberger) In re...

Members

Duty to Update Trustee Regarding Changes Post-Plan Confirmation

Daryl J. Smith

April 23, 2023

Is there a duty to inform the trustee about changes post-plan confirmation? Yes. There is an inherent duty for the consumer debtor to update the trustee on any and all material changes, particularly windfalls, post plan confirmation. In a very recent case, In Re Robinson, the United States Trustee moved to dismiss debtor’s chapter 13 case because the debtor received...

Members

WE LOVE AND WILL MISS YOU, HELEN

Elizabeth Vaughan

July 31, 2022

Helen Morris, the Standing Chapter 13 and 12 Trustee for West Virginia is retiring at the end of this fiscal year. I first met Helen over lunch at NACTT, where we chatted about a non-legal interest we both share, writing fiction. I was delighted to discover, then as now, a friend with a razor wit, a wicked sense of humor...