From the Editor’s Desk – Disposable Income • NACTT Academy

From the Editor’s Desk – Disposable Income

By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired)

Disposable Income

Retirement plan contributions at filing are not included in projected disposable income. One above-median income debtor deducted on Form 22C $541.67 monthly voluntary contribution to an employer-sponsored retirement plan under IRC § 457, and the initial contribution began three months before filing Chapter 13. Discussing the three views of § 541(b)(7), the court adopted the view that “if debtors are making voluntary retirement contributions on the date of the petition, they are permitted to continue them during the life of the plan . . .

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.

Rule 3002.1 Does Not Justify Punitive Sanctions

September 19, 2021

By Henry E. Hildebrand, III, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee (Nashville, TN) In order for a bankruptcy court to impose sanctions for contempt, Taggart compelsa finding of a violation of a clear and unambiguous order; the bankruptcy court lacks inherent power to issue punitive sanctions under Rule 3002.1. (Jacobs) PHH Mortgage Corporation v. Sensenich, 6 F.4th 503 (2nd Cir. August 2,...

Members

Critical Case Comment

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

April 17, 2022

In re Galloway, 2022 WL 1017951 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. April 5, 2022) A Chapter 13 trustee’s final audit and notice of completion of payments is not necessary or a precondition to the court granting a discharge to a debtor who has satisfied the requirements of § 1328. (Judge Thorne) Case Summary Tara Galloway filed a Chapter 13 petition in May...

Members

Court Review of Fee Applications in Chapter 13: One Judge’s Perspective

August 16, 2020

By Hon. Brian Lynch, Bankruptcy Judge, WAWB “[T]he bankruptcy court has a duty to review fee applications, notwithstanding the absence of objections by the United States trustee (“UST”), creditors, or any other interested party….” In re Busy Beaver Bldg. Ctrs., Inc., 19 F.3d 833, 841 (3d Cir. 1994). In Chapter 13 cases this role is critical because in this judge’s...

Members

Ask Ms. Ps & Qs

Nancy B. Rapoport

May 19, 2024

Debtor Attorneys, this one is specifically for you – a very direct answer from our ethics expert on a real-world scenario regarding ghosting clients (ghosting is an adjective here, not a verb! Have a question for Ms. Ps & Qs? Click here – you may remain anonymous if you wish.

Members

Section 302: Joint but Separate

Queneshia Fleming

September 24, 2023

“The ambiguity of § 302 raises the question:are jointly administered cases two separate estates? If jointly administered cases are two separate estates, are trustees doing it wrong?”

Members

LLC’s and Chapter 13

The NACTT Emeritus Trustees

August 25, 2024

As a follow up to No Gracie, LLCs May Not File Chapter 13, we posed some questions to the NACTT Emeritus Trustees group. We think you will find their answers interesting and thought provoking.

Members

From the Editor – Discharge Injunction

May 31, 2020

By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired) Only bankruptcy court issuing discharge order can enforce injunction. The Fifth Circuit held that only the bankruptcy court issuing a discharge order has authority to enforce the discharge injunction. The opinion reviews pre-2005 Code provisions and current 28 U.S.C. § 1963, citing other Circuits that “have insisted on a return to the bankruptcy...

Members

New Judge Appointed

The Academy

June 18, 2023

Appeals Court Names Erie Lawyer as Newest Bankruptcy Judge – John C. Melaragno has been named the new judge for the Erie Division of U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Conflicting Interpretations: A Chapter 13 Trustee’s Compensation After Pre-Confirmation Dismissal or Conversion* Part 3 of 3

Brittani Bushman

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

2024 Update: Federal Guidance on Discharging Student Loans in Bankruptcy IS a Game Changer

Tammy Branson, Robert B. Branson

May 12, 2024

The 2022 Justice Department and Department of Education collaboration introduced new bankruptcy guidelines, notably easing the "undue hardship" exception for discharging student loans, marking a departure from the stringent "Brunner Test" requirements. Here the Bransons give us a look at the progress being made in discharging student loans.

Members