I Can Explain

By Helen M. Morris, Standing Chapter 13 Trustee for the Northern and Southern Districts of
West Virginia

The perfect t-shirt for Chapter 13 trustees is now available. It says: “I can explain it to you, but I can’t understand it for you.” It only comes in one color. Too bad ‘cause I need a week’s worth and think different colors would be nice.

Let me share some of my recent experiences which have made this shirt so desirable.

At a recent bar meeting, my systems manager made a presentation on using an Excel based worksheet . . .

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Is a CARES Act Stimulus Payment Exempt?

April 26, 2020

By Lawrence R. Ahern, III, Brown & Ahern (Nashville, TN) Introduction Since April 1, 2020, many unemployed people in the United States have begun to receive "a recovery benefit" in the amount of $1,200.1 These payments, under the CARES Act2 stimulus program, were intended to provide some relief to suffering Americans. However, the most financially distressed Americans, perhaps with existing,...

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From the Editor – Attorney Sanctioned

June 14, 2020

By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired) Attorney sanctioned for filing identical schedules in two cases without updating financial information. The same attorney represented a debtor in two cases filed sixteen months apart, but the attorney filed essentially identical schedules in both cases, violating Rule 9011 by failing to make reasonable inquiry before filing the second case. The schedules in...

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Important Research Survey

The Academy

December 10, 2023

As a professional in an occupation that may often interface with people handling life disruptions (e.g., divorce/separation, unemployment, mortgage foreclosure) you are being asked to participate in a study being conducted by the University of Southern California.

Gambled and Lost – Again

Michael J. McCormick, Esq.

June 29, 2025

This article is not mortgage-related and it is a Chapter 7 . . . BUT the order issued in this adversary is instructive regarding the bases for having records sealed in a bankruptcy case.

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Ask Ms. Ps and Qs

March 15, 2020

By Professor Nancy Rapoport, University of Nevada Dear Readers: The marvelous, indefatigable Regina Logsdon just forwarded me this hypothetical: Post-confirmation, debtor/client gets upset with attorney. Let’s assume for this scenario that the attorney hasn’t done anything wrong – perhaps just a difference of opinion on a plan modification (or not). Debtor/client says ugly things to attorney – name-calling, etc. THEN...

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Bankruptcy Can Help with Discharge of Student Loans

Tammy Branson, Robert B. Branson

August 17, 2025

“The good news is that our firm recently obtained consent judgments discharging more than $300,000 in federal student loans. . . .”

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The Weak Link in the Means Test

Cathy Moran

August 27, 2023

The bankruptcy means test, designed to keep people out of bankruptcy, has a fatal weakness. . . . it’s health care.

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New Judge Appointed

The Academy

September 8, 2024

Judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit have appointed J. Barrett Marum as the next bankruptcy judge on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California.

Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks: New Ideas for Treatment of Student Loans in Bankruptcy

May 12, 2019

By Robert B. Branson and Tammy Branson, Branson Law PLLC (Orlando, FL) Congress’ goal of bankruptcy is for the honest debtor to get a fresh start. Since most federally guaranteed student loans are nondischargeable, the current outcome is a “false start” instead of a fresh start. Resolving a $1.5 trillion student loan crisis is problematic in that the caselaw was...

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“How Long, O Lord?”

November 29, 2020

By Angela M. Scolforo, Staff Attorney to Herbert L. Beskin, Chapter 13 Trustee for the Western District of Virginia “How long?” is a common plea. When my children were young and we travelled they would ask, “how long before we get there?” In scripture we find David, Habakkuk and Zechariah (none of whom were Debtors’ attorneys) all crying out, “how...

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I Can Explain

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Related Articles

Is a CARES Act Stimulus Payment Exempt?

From the Editor – Attorney Sanctioned

Important Research Survey

Gambled and Lost – Again

Ask Ms. Ps and Qs

Bankruptcy Can Help with Discharge of Student Loans

The Weak Link in the Means Test

New Judge Appointed

Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks: New Ideas for Treatment of Student Loans in Bankruptcy

“How Long, O Lord?”

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