“I recently had the opportunity to consider the symbolism of the well-known “Lady Justice” emblem or statue and pondered how the principles attributed to that icon apply to our present bankruptcy system.”

The skills of a consumer bankruptcy lawyer must include a healthy dose of the skillset of a teacher. More on listening/communicating with Clients: Who Is Stupid Here? Why Listening Is a Bankruptcy Lawyer’s Superpower

“Three cheers for Jen Lee’s piece on the need to pitch the manifest strengths of Chapter 13. Her advice to use head-to-head comparisons with alternative approaches to debt for the client is right on. An image makeover for Chapter 13 would be even more powerful if we can spread the word to a broader audience, before they’ve shorted their tax withholding, encumbered their exempt homestead, signed on with a profit-focused ‘debt consolidation’ company, or dipped into their retirement funds.” Think Chapter 13 needs an image makeover? Let us hear from you.

In a point-counter-point to Cathy Moran’s Saldana v. Bronitsky article from last week, Hildebrand brings a slightly different perspective to the case which now appears headed to the Supreme Court. See also: Early Christmas Present for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorneys

Are your clients curing mortgage arrears through their Chapter 13 plan? If so, I’m convinced a mortgage interest tax deduction lurks, unclaimed, in the trustee’s records.

In the fall of 2021, Michael McCormick provided subscribers with an EXCELLENT, expository, seven-part outline on mortgage escrow.   This information is just as relevant today as when we first published it with one important update . . . When the next escrow analysis is performed and the servicer has received less than 12 payments of escrow (and often zero, as is often the case after the borrower received a forbearance during the COVID pandemic), the escrow balance will be far less than anticipated!!