Valuation of Assets in Bankruptcy

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Valuation of property or assets in bankruptcy is an important element of any bankruptcy, including Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The proper standard of valuation has been the subject of considerable debate and litigation. Some of the controversy surrounding valuation of assets in bankruptcy has been ameliorated by the passage of the 2005 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA). The standard usually applied in determining the value of an asset for purposes of bankruptcy is the price a retail merchant would charge Read More +

Bankruptcy Waiting Periods

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CHAPTERS WAITING PERIOD 7 TO 7 8 YEARS FROM PREVIOUS FILING 13 TO 13 2 YEARS FROM PREVIOUS FILING (CASE MUST BE CLOSED) 7 TO 13 4 YEARS FROM PREVIOUS FILING 13 TO 7 6 YEARS FROM PREVIOUS FILING UNLESS 100% OF THE UNSECURED WERE PAID IN THE PRIOR CHAPTER 13 OR AT LEAST 70% OF THE UNSECURED DEBTS WERE PAID IN THE PRIOR CHAPTER 13 AND THE PLAN WAS PROPOSED IN GOOD FAITH The above chart represents the period of time a debtor must Read More +

Florida Homestead Exemption

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The State of Florida provides a homestead exemption which is designed to protect persons from the attachment or seizure of their places of residence by creditors. The homestead exemption provides protection against such creditor action to debtors who file bankruptcy and debtors who do not file bankruptcy. The homestead exemption for purposes of asset protection is often confused with the homestead exemption that provides a reduction in property tax obligations. This article will discuss the homestead exemption as it applies to debtors seeking to protect their Read More +

Chapter 9 Bankruptcy: Hartford, Detroit, Et Al

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The mayor of Hartford, Connecticut, Luke Bronin has been intimating for a number of months that the city may need to file Chapter 9 bankruptcy. Chapter 9 bankruptcy is a form of bankruptcy where a municipality can seek to reorganize its debts, and arrange such debts in a reduced payment over a period of years. According to reports, Hartford currently has a $65 million dollar deficit and has problems meeting its obligations, including upcoming shortfalls in revenue of $7 million in November, 2017 and $39.2 Read More +

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Treatment of Secured Property

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STATEMENT OF INTENTIONS IN BANKRUPTCY In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the debtor must complete and sign a form called the Statement of Intentions. The Statement of Intentions indicates which of the available options the debtor chooses towards his or her secured property. The primary examples of secured property are an automobile loan or a mortgage loan. In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy one manifests his or her intent regarding such secured property through the Chapter 13 plan. In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the Statement of Intentions Read More +

Toys R Us, the Retail Apocalypse and Mitt Romney’s Bain Capital

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2017 has been a particularly bad year for many of the nation’s retailers. On September 19, Toys R Us announced its filing of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy is a form of bankruptcy wherein a corporation (or an individual whose debt exceeds certain monetary thresholds) seeks the reorganization of its debt through the mechanism of bankruptcy, and usually the continuation of its operations. Toys R Us announced in a statement that it voluntarily sought Chapter 11 protection, “To achieve our financial objectives, Toys R Read More +

Taxes and Tax Liens in Bankruptcy

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WHEN TAXES MAY BE DISCHARGED IN BANKRUPTCY This article discusses the treatment of taxes due to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Income taxes due to the IRS may be dischargeable if such taxes meet five (5) criteria. 11 USC 507 and 523 hold that taxes are dischargeable in bankruptcy if: The tax return was due more than three (3) years before the filing of the bankruptcy petition. If the debtor, received an extension of time to file the tax return, the period of the extension Read More +

Hurricane Irma and Bankruptcy

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By Jay Weller Natural disasters and hurricanes and bankruptcy filings within affected areas are intuitively correlative.  One would expect that the economic and property damage incurred by a hurricane, such as Hurricane Irma, that beset portions of Florida would have an impact on the number of subsequent bankruptcies filed within the affected regions. This article will discuss the validity of this purported relation between hurricanes, natural disasters and bankruptcy filings.  The article will also discuss possible remedies for those seeking to avoid the filing of Read More +

Tax Refunds in Bankruptcy

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TAX REFUNDS IN BANKRUPTCY

The treatment of tax refunds is a popular issue in bankruptcy.  Income tax refunds are commonly considered to be part of the bankruptcy estate.  Therefore, if a debtor files Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the trustee may attempt to seize all or a portion of the debtor’s tax refund.  In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the trustee may seek to have the debtor turn over all or a portion of the debtor’s tax refund, to be applied towards the funding of the Chapter 13 plan. However, a tax Read More +

Domestic Support Obligations Bankruptcy

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DOMESTIC SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS BANKRUPTCY

Another important exception to bankruptcy is domestic support obligations.  Domestic support obligations are not discharged in bankruptcy and are therefore referred to as an exception to bankruptcy.  Intentional torts are another exception to bankruptcy and were discussed in our prior article. Domestic support obligations are defined by federal and not state law.  11 USC 101(5) states that a domestic support obligation is not discharged in bankruptcy.  11 USC 101(15) furthermore states that monies owed “to a spouse, former spouse, or child of the debtor and Read More +