Texas Bankruptcy Blog : Texas Bankruptcy Lawyer & Attorney : Fears Nachawati law Firm : Chapter 7, Chapter 13, Consumer Bankrutpcy : Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, San Antonio

 Individuals file bankruptcy cases for many reasons. For many Chapter 13 debtors and nearly all Chapter 7 filers, the primary goal is to receive a bankruptcy discharge. The bankruptcy discharge is a court order which discharges your legal obligation to pay a creditor for a debt incurred before your bankruptcy filing. Your discharge is a permanent injunction prohibiting creditors from collecting pre-bankruptcy debts from your personally. The bankruptcy discharge is very powerful and is the cornerstone of the financial fresh start promised by the federal bankruptcy laws.

It is important to recognize that the bankruptcy court’s discharge order only discharges your legal responsibility to pay a creditor. The debt is not forgiven, eliminated, or otherwise erased. It still exists, but is no longer legally enforceable against you. The creditor is forbidden from suing you, or contacting you in any way. The discharge injunction also applies to any subsequent collection agency or attorney who purchases or is assigned the discharged debt.

While the discharged creditor cannot get its money from you, the creditor is not prevented from collecting from any other person legally responsible for the debt. For instance, if your mother co-signed for a personal loan, and the debt is discharged during your bankruptcy case, the creditor may still collect from your mother.

Likewise, a discharged creditor may be able to collect from property subject to a legal lien. For instance, if you discharge a car loan, the lien holder may repossess the vehicle after the bankruptcy case. This collection action is against the property, not against you individually.

Some debts are excluded from your bankruptcy discharge. Certain types of obligations are excluded from the discharge, like child support; and other debts, like taxes, can only be discharged under certain conditions. Debts that arise after your bankruptcy is filed are called “post-petition debts” and are not included in the discharge.

While your bankruptcy discharge is a powerful legal protection, it is important to understand the extent of the discharge order. Be sure to have your attorney identify any debt that is not discharged and your continuing financial obligation.

 A recent study shows that one in four borrowers have trouble repaying their student loans. The study was released by the Institute of Higher Education Policy, a Washington nonprofit organization, and reveals that 26 percent of borrowers who entered repayment in 2005 became delinquent within the first five years of repayment, and 15 percent of borrowers defaulted. That means 41 percent of borrowers are either delinquent or in default on their student loans during the first five years!

Student loans are generally not dischargeable in bankruptcy. However, in some extreme situations, the bankruptcy court can determine that repaying the student loan debt will create an “undue hardship” on the debtor. This standard is very difficult to meet and requires the debtor to prove that he or she is unable to pay anything towards the student loan debt and maintain a minimum standard of living, and that this condition is likely to continue. Individuals who are totally and permanently disabled, and are unable to work will sometimes meet the requirement for an “undue hardship” discharge.

If you are unable to pass the undue hardship test, there are other options. First, during a bankruptcy a student loan collector is strictly forbidden from taking collection action against you. Interest will accrue and is added to your loan balance at the conclusion of the bankruptcy case.

Second, if the student loan was delinquent, but not defaulted when you filed bankruptcy, your account will be re-aged at the end of your case. A loan is not in default until it is delinquent for 270 days. The bankruptcy stay may give you an opportunity to restructure your finances to afford your repayment terms. If the student loan was defaulted prior to the bankruptcy, the lender may offer you a loan rehabilitation program.

Third, there are repayment options after your bankruptcy case ends. One of the more popular programs is the Income Based Repayment Plan which limits your loan repayment to 15% of your income and offers loan forgiveness after 25 years of repayment (or 10 years for public service employees).

If you have student loans that you cannot afford, speak with an experienced bankruptcy attorney and explore your financial options. Your attorney can explain how the federal laws can help you eliminate, manage, or restructure your debts, including your student loans.

 Bankruptcy fraud comes in many forms. One relatively unusual practice combines bankruptcy fraud with identity theft. In one case, a couple used the names and social security numbers of their infant grandchildren to run up debt, and then filed bankruptcy. In another case, a person used a stranger’s social security number to file a bankruptcy and delay her eviction. While these acts are federal crimes which can land the offender in jail, the victim of bankruptcy fraud faces an expensive and time-consuming road to rehabilitating his or her credit.

If you have been the victim of bankruptcy fraud, your first call should be to the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee’s Office. The U.S. Trustee will refer the case to the F.B.I., and in many cases the U.S. Trustee’s Office will assist a victim of bankruptcy fraud. Unfortunately, the procedure for removing a fraudulent bankruptcy can take time. First, the bankruptcy case must be reopened. A bankruptcy case may be reopened “to administer assets, accord relief to the debtor, or for other cause.” Rule 5010 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure grants standing to the victim of identity theft to file a motion to reopen the bankruptcy case.

After the bankruptcy case is reopened, the victim must ask the bankruptcy court to expunge the fraudulent bankruptcy case. The victim must allege and prove harm done by the fraudulent bankruptcy filing. This will involve allegations of harm to the victim’s credit history, as well as the harm done to creditors and to the public by the false and misleading record.

Once the bankruptcy case has been expunged from the victim’s record, there is still the matter of repairing the credit file. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires consumer credit reporting agencies to adopt reasonable procedures for verifying and maintaining accuracy of their records. Once a bankruptcy has been expunged, the FCRA requires the credit bureau to remove that record from the credit file.

Failing to take these steps to remove a fraudulent bankruptcy filing from your record can have lasting consequences. The bankruptcy is a public record that can be found by creditors and employers, and can only be expunged by the bankruptcy court. While the bankruptcy filing may be actually fraudulent, the credit bureau can report the false record for ten years, unless it is expunged.

If you have been the victim of bankruptcy fraud, report the fraud at once to the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee’s Office. The bankruptcy trustee will investigate the fraud, and can assist you in the procedure to file the proper motions with the bankruptcy court.

 A loan is “secured” when property is pledged by the borrower as collateral. Should the borrower fail to repay the loan, the collateral is taken by the lender and sold to repay the debt. There are two types of secured loans: (1) purchase money security interest loans; and (2) non-purchase money security interest loans.

Purchase money security interest loans (PMSI) occur when the lender loans money that the borrower uses to purchase a specific item and the lender retains a secured interest in the item. This is commonly the case with motor vehicles. The bank lends to the borrower for the specific purpose of purchasing an identified vehicle, and the bank takes a lien on the vehicle. PMSI loans cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. However, under certain circumstances a PMSI loan can be “crammed down” by the bankruptcy court so that the amount owed is equal to the value of the collateral.

Non-purchase money security interest loans (NPMSI) occur when the borrower already owns property that is used as collateral for a loan. For instance, a borrower may take a loan from a finance company and use household goods and/or jewelry as collateral for the loan. The bankruptcy laws allow the debtor to exempt (up to a certain amount) household goods and jewelry, so the NPMSI loan can be avoided to the extent that the loan impairs the legal exemption.

For example, let’s say that you take a loan from a finance company for $500 and secure it with your television worth $400. If you apply your legal household goods exemption to protect the full value of your television ($400), the finance company’s loan impairs the exemption. After the bankruptcy court grants a Motion to Avoid Lien filed by your bankruptcy attorney, the television is fully protected and the creditor is left with an unsecured loan.

The bankruptcy laws contain many powerful provisions for protecting property. If you are in debt and need legal relief, speak with an experienced bankruptcy attorney and discover how the federal bankruptcy laws can discharge your debts, safeguard your property, and provide the financial fresh start you need.

Three bankruptcy courts will participate in a pilot program to assist unrepresented bankruptcy filers. Courts in New Mexico, New Jersey, and Los Angeles, California were selected for the Pro Se Pathfinder Project, a computer software program that assists do-it-yourself bankruptcy filers in completing the bankruptcy petition, schedules, and forms. In an article published in the Albuquerque Journal, Norman H. Meyer Jr., clerk of the bankruptcy court for the District of New Mexico stated, “We want this to be more user friendly with a sort of Turbo Tax approach.”

The mechanics of filing the case are relatively easy and the courts attempt to make the process as accessible as possible. However, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts warns, “[w]hile individuals can file a bankruptcy case without an attorney or ‘pro se,’ it is extremely difficult to do it successfully.” A 2009 study by Emory University found that dismissal rates in Chapter 7 pro se cases were higher than those with representation, and that trend has increased since the new bankruptcy laws took effect in 2005.

Filing a bankruptcy case without an attorney is a tricky proposition, and the pro se debtor is ill-equipped to perform a pre-bankruptcy legal analysis of the case. This analysis includes an assessment of property, income, expenses, and debts. Often a small adjustment to one of these categories can mean a huge difference in the outcome of the case. For instance, delaying a bankruptcy filing by a few weeks or even months may mean the difference between a three to four month bankruptcy case with no payments, and a three to five year bankruptcy case costing thousands.

The paperwork filed in a typical bankruptcy runs between 30 and 40 or more pages. The information provided in this paperwork largely dictates the outcome of your bankruptcy case. Often the pro se debtor is under a tremendous amount of stress or must act quickly to file the bankruptcy to protect property from creditors. Consequently, the pro se debtor is apt to make mistakes that can impact the case.

An experienced attorney will perform a pre-bankruptcy legal analysis of your financial situation and discuss strategies to maximize the positive benefits of your bankruptcy case. Additionally, an experienced bankruptcy attorney has office processes and procedures to eliminate mistakes in your case.

If you are considering filing bankruptcy, don’t go it alone. The benefits of having experienced counsel to represent you will save you money, stress, and provide peace of mind. Your case will be handled professionally and effectively. Don’t risk losing your chance at a fresh start. Call today for a consultation.
 

 Some individuals are reluctant to use the federal bankruptcy process to legally adjust an unmanageable personal financial condition. Many of these people view bankruptcy as a personal failure, something to be avoided at all costs. In truth, bankruptcy is not a declaration of failure; it is simply the recognition of an inability to pay creditors. This may be caused by financial mismanagement; or it may result from illness, job loss, or another catastrophic event beyond your control.

The United States has historically been called as a country of second chances and opportunity. Consequently, it is not surprising that the United States is more forgiving of failure and ready to give the honest person a second chance. In 1934 the Supreme Court stated that the purpose of bankruptcy law to give the “honest but unfortunate debtor . . . a new opportunity in life and a clear field for future effort.” Local Loan Co. v. Hunt, 292 U.S. 234, 244 (1934). Bankruptcy attorneys often refer to this "new opportunity" as a financial "fresh start” that is provided by the bankruptcy discharge.

Bankruptcy is not about the end of something, it is the beginning. It is a chance to restart without the burden of unmanageable debt. Bankruptcy is, what some of today’s economists call "failing forward." When a person files bankruptcy, she is using the law to restructure her finances so that her chance of future success is more likely. American humorist Will Rogers once said, "Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment." Obviously, a large part of "failing forward" is not repeating past mistakes, but mostly it is giving yourself, now wiser and armed with good judgment, a second chance to do better.

If you are struggling with unmanageable debt and need to legally restructure your finances, consult with an experienced bankruptcy attorney. The federal bankruptcy laws can provide a second chance at a bright financial future, and an escape from a life buried in debt.

In every consumer bankruptcy case there are three categories of fees: (1) attorney fees; (2) bankruptcy filing fees; and (3) credit counseling fees. The attorney fees are negotiated between yourself and your attorney. Attorney fees are generally paid up-front in Chapter 7 cases. In Chapter 13 cases, your attorney may require a partial payment of the attorney fees before filing your case. Attorneys may elect to be paid the remaining amount in equal monthly installments through the Chapter 13 plan.

Bankruptcy filing fees are the same throughout the country. For a Chapter 7, the filing fee is $299. For a Chapter 13, the filing fee is $274. Typically the filing fee is paid at the time of filing, although there are exceptions to this rule. In some cases the filing fee may be paid in installments, and the filing fee may be waived altogether for extremely poor debtors. Bankruptcy filing fees are the same whether a debtor files a single or joint husband and wife bankruptcy.

The Bankruptcy Code requires each consumer debtor to receive credit counseling from a nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency approved by the United States Trustee within 180 days of filing a bankruptcy. This counseling fee is around $50.00 per household and is available in-person, by telephone, or over the internet.

The Bankruptcy Code also requires that the debtor complete an "instructional course concerning personal financial management." This class is also available in-person, by telephone, or over the internet for a fee around $35.00 per filer.

If you are in need of debt relief, but are afraid that you cannot afford the legal fees, schedule a free consultation with an experienced bankruptcy attorney and discuss your financial situation. The bankruptcy process is surprisingly affordable and there are strategies that your attorney can employ to make the process more affordable for your budget. 

The central feature of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is the repayment plan. The Chapter 13 plan is a proposal by the debtor to repay certain debts in installments over three to five years. A plan must be filed within 14 days after the bankruptcy petition is filed, and a copy or summary of the plan is mailed to all creditors. Creditors or the bankruptcy trustee may object to the debtor’s plan which may require modification. Ultimately the repayment plan must be “confirmed” by the bankruptcy court.

Many Chapter 13 plans make no payments to unsecured creditors. The amount paid to unsecured creditors is largely guided by the outcome of the bankruptcy means test, which makes an initial presumption of the debtor’s ability to pay unsecured creditors over three to five years. The Chapter 13 Plan must provide payment of at least as much for unsecured creditors as they would have received had the debtor filed a Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy. Any priority claims must be paid in full and include a plan for paying secured debts during the plan term. Long term debts, like a mortgage payment or student loans, do not need to be paid off during the plan term, but the plan may provide for the cure of a defaulted note.

Plan payments are made to the Chapter 13 Trustee, who receives a fee for distributing the debtor’s monthly payment to creditors. The debtor’s first plan payment is due 30 days after the case is filed, however the Chapter 13 Plan may not be confirmed by the bankruptcy court until a later date. If a debtor fails to commence making plan payments to the trustee, a motion to dismiss the case will be filed. In most cases is recommended that the debtor execute a voluntary wage withholding to pay the Chapter 13 Trustee, although there is no requirement to do so.

If you are considering a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, it is important to discuss your repayment plan with your attorney. While it is possible to amend a repayment plan when your financial circumstances change, you and your attorney should propose a Chapter 13 plan that is both affordable and realistic. The success of your Chapter 13 case depends upon your ability to follow through with your plan. 

 The federal bankruptcy laws do not limit the number of times an individual can file for bankruptcy protection. When an individual is facing overwhelming debt and needs relief from creditors, the bankruptcy laws provide powerful protection. In some cases that protection can be a discharge of debt. In other cases, it means an opportunity to repay what is owed.

An individual may file multiple bankruptcies for many reasons. When a discharge of debt is needed, the federal law limits time between discharges. After you receive a discharge in a previous Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, you must wait 8 years before you can receive another Chapter 7 discharge; and 6 years to receive a Chapter 13 discharge. If you received a discharge in a previous Chapter 13 bankruptcy case, you must wait 4 years before you can receive a Chapter 7 discharge; and 2 years to receive another Chapter 13 discharge.

The above time periods are measured from the date the previous case was filed. For instance, if you filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 1, 2005, then on June 1, 2013 you will be eligible to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case and receive a discharge. However, on June 1, 2011 you are eligible to file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and receive a discharge.

In some cases a discharge is not needed. A debtor can file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and repay debts without receiving a discharge. In this situation there is no legal limitation between bankruptcy cases. This strategy is especially useful when faced with non-dischargeable debts that must be fully paid. The obligation is paid over time under the supervision and protection of the bankruptcy court. In some rare cases of abuse a bankruptcy court will deny the debtor relief. This may occur when a debtor has shown a history of repeated bankruptcy filings that have been dismissed.

If you have received a discharge and need the protection of the bankruptcy laws for a second time, discuss your situation with an experienced bankruptcy attorney. The bankruptcy laws are meant to help the honest, but unfortunate debtor and can help you straighten out a difficult financial dilemma.

One of the most serious questions a client may ask is, “If I file Chapter 7 bankruptcy, can I keep my vehicle?” Like many simple, straight-forward legal questions, there are no simple, straight-forward legal answers. However, while each case is different, the vast majority of bankruptcy debtors keep their vehicles during Chapter 7.

Keeping a vehicle during Chapter 7 bankruptcy starts with a simple accounting: is the fair market value of the vehicle more than the amount owed on the loan? In other words, does the debtor have equity in the vehicle? If there is no equity in the vehicle, the Chapter 7 trustee cannot take and sell it since there is no benefit to the unsecured creditors.

On the other hand, if there is vehicle equity, that equity must be protected otherwise the trustee can take and sell the vehicle to reach the unprotected equity. The vehicle’s equity may be protected by one or more legal exemptions. The total amount of exemptions available to a debtor is determined by state and/or federal law and varies from state to state, and case to case. In some cases the ownership of the vehicle may protect the vehicle’s equity, such as in cases of joint ownership with a non-filing party.

If the vehicle has unprotected, non-exempt equity, the debtor has a few options. First, instead of taking and selling the vehicle, the trustee may accept a cash payment. Generally this cash payment is less than the amount of available equity, because there are actual costs involved in selling the vehicle. Second, the debtor may consider a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. A payment equal to the amount of non-exempt equity must be paid to the debtor’s unsecured creditors during the Chapter 13 plan, but this payment is stretched over 36-60 months. Third, the debtor may choose to allow the trustee to sell the vehicle. Any claimed exemption will be paid to the debtor from the proceeds of the sale. Finally, the debtor may choose to trade or sell the vehicle prior to bankruptcy and use any proceeds for necessary household expenses.

The truth is that it is rather unusual for a debtor to have a vehicle equity issue during Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If you have a vehicle with a great deal of equity, your bankruptcy attorney can discuss your options for keeping your vehicle and protecting your equity. 

You should obtain a copy of your credit report immediately after receiving your bankruptcy discharge. Federal law entitles you to one free credit report from the “big three” credit reporting agencies, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, every twelve months. The easiest way to obtain your free credit report from each of these agencies is by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com.

After receiving your free credit reports, check each report for errors. First, any debt discharged by your bankruptcy should be listed as “Discharged in Bankruptcy” with a “Zero Balance.” Second, there should not be any negative activity reported after the date that you filed your bankruptcy case. This includes any new collection agency report after your filing date. Third, any debt that was reaffirmed should not be listed as “Discharged in Bankruptcy,” and should list your on-time payments. Finally, in some cases inaccurate information will be reported. For instance, a car voluntarily surrendered back to a creditor during a bankruptcy is not a “repossessed vehicle” and should not be reported as such.

Correcting any errors on your credit report is simple and easy. Each reporting agency has procedures from contesting erroneous information, either by mail or on-line. Once the credit agency has updated its records, it must issue you a free corrected report. Review this new report for errors; do not assume that the report has been correctly amended. You may need to correspond with the agency several times and supply documentation regarding your bankruptcy case. It is your responsibility to ensure that your credit report is accurate. Neither the bankruptcy court, nor your attorney, nor your creditors are responsible for sending the credit reporting agencies information regarding your bankruptcy case.

Updating and correcting your credit reports is the first step on the road to rebuilding your credit after bankruptcy. Fortunately, this step is free and takes very little effort. Be sure to correct your credit reports and then closely monitor your credit regularly for the first two years after your bankruptcy discharge. With timely payments and by carefully protecting your credit file, your credit score will increase quickly.
 

A new federal rule set to take effect on May 1, 2011, will increase protection for exempt funds in a garnished bank account. Federal law already protects many federal benefits, but it is currently the responsibility of the individual to claim these funds as exempt. Often the bank will freeze a bank account pursuant to an order and the individual must request a court hearing to release the funds.

Under this new Treasury Department rule, an electronic tag will be added to automatic deposits from government agencies. These funds include Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”), Veteran’s Administration (“VA”) benefits, federal Railroad Retirement, federal Railroad Unemployment and Sickness benefits, federal Civil Service Retirement benefits and federal Employee Retirement System benefits. Banks are required to exempt all tagged deposits made during the previous two months and protect those deposits from garnishment. The consumer is no longer required to take any action to claim or identify exempt funds. The rule makes banks not liable to creditors for refusing to garnish the tagged funds, even if the money is co-mingled with other non-exempt money.

The National Consumer Law Center estimates that more than 1 million people each year have accounts garnished that contain exempt federal funds. Recipients are often sick or elderly and may be forced to forego needed food and medicine when an account is frozen.

This new rule applies to all federally chartered federal and state banks and credit unions. While there is no cap on the amount of protected funds, the automatic protection only applies to the previous two months. Exempt funds must be deposited electronically to receive the identifying tag. Deposits made by paper checks are still exempt, but the bank is under no obligation to identify these funds or protect them from garnishment. The rule does not apply to military retirement or state issued benefits.

There are many powerful consumer protection laws. If you have a judgment against you and are at risk of a bank or wage garnishment, consult with an experienced bankruptcy attorney and discover how the law can help. Your attorney can discuss your legal options to make the best of a bad situation.
 

Remember that time is money.
Benjamin Franklin (1748)

Several years ago Ian Walker, a professor of economics at Warwick University in England, developed a mathematical formula to show the personal cost of an activity like mowing your lawn or washing your car. The formula looks like this:

V=(W((100-t)/100))/C
V is the value per hour;
W is your hourly wage;
t is your tax rate (e.g. 15%, 20%, etc.)
C is the local cost of living, which is a baseline of 1.0. If you live in an area that is 50% more expensive than the national average, use 1.5

For a person making $20.00 per hour, and a tax rate of 25%, the value per hour is $15.00, or $.25 per minute. Spending an hour mowing your lawn is therefore a value over paying the neighbor boy $30. So let’s look at whether representing yourself in a bankruptcy case is a “value.”

A represented debtor in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy must at minimum collect financial information; spend time with counsel during the initial interview and petition signing; complete credit counseling; attend the 341 meeting; and complete a course in financial management. A pro se (Latin meaning “for himself”) bankruptcy debtor must spend time on these things as well. However, the pro se debtor has a lot to learn including applicable exemption laws, and the bankruptcy rules and procedures. Setting that “learning time” aside for the moment, let’s look at some actual administrative costs the pro se debtor must perform “for himself:”

Time spent preparing the petition. Even the simplest petition will take the pro se debtor time to read the instructions and properly prepare the schedules. Your bankruptcy attorney uses sophisticated petition preparation software and is skilled at completing these forms. 6 hours.

Most pro se debtors drive to the bankruptcy court to personally file the bankruptcy case, and must pay the filing fee with cash, a cashier’s check, or money order. Your bankruptcy attorney has access to the court’s electronic filing system and can file your case within minutes from the office. Time 2 hours.

Extra time at the 341 meeting. The trustee will schedule extra time to spend on your case. Usually, pro se cases are set at the end of the trustee’s docket, so you will have to wait extra time for your examination. 30 minutes.

Communications with the trustee. The trustee generally requires income information, bank records, tax records, vehicle titles, recorded deeds, and other information. The bankruptcy attorney will provide these documents to the trustee while a pro se debtor must prepare and send them. 2 hours.

Communications with the bankruptcy court. The clerk’s office at the bankruptcy court can assist a pro se debtor on certain procedures, but is prohibited from giving legal advice. Pro se debtors generally spend a considerable amount of time on the phone with the clerk’s office. 2 hours.

The pro se debtor’s total so far for these simple administrative activities is 12.5 hours, or $187.50. Now let’s add the time spent researching the bankruptcy laws and processes; and the time spent on correcting or amending the bankruptcy pleadings. Additionally, the bankruptcy judge requires that any pro se debtor must appear personally in court to reaffirm a debt - an appearance is not required for represented debtors. This “extra” time can easily amount to another 40 hours!

The moral of this story is: the representation provided by your experienced bankruptcy attorney is not an expense, it is a savings! By having a licensed, experienced bankruptcy attorney handling your case you will get peace of mind and your case will be handled efficiently without surprises. The actual cash savings to the pro se debtor is small at best, while the truth is that many pro se cases experience problems that result in lost property or case dismissal. Don’t be “penny wise and pound foolish.” Hire qualified counsel and get the legal relief you need.