Have You Chosen the Right Trustee?

Have You Chosen the Right Trustee?

Whether you are reviewing your existing trust or creating a new trust, you should understand the important role that a trustee plays not only in handling trust matters but also in providing for and protecting your loved ones. What is a trust? A trust is an agreement between an owner of accounts and property (trustmaker) and another person (trustee) who agrees to manage the accounts and property on behalf of […]

Impact of the Repeal of CARES Act Chapter 13 Plan Modifications

Impact of the Repeal of CARES Act Chapter 13 Plan Modifications

Is it a death knell for cases beyond 60 months? Under the CARES Act  11 USC Sec. 1329 was amended to include a temporary provision that permitted confirmed chapter 13 plans to extend the plan term to up to 84 months. To do so, debtors were required to show they were affected by COVID, Sec. 1329(d). [i]  The maximum term under 11 USC Sec. 1329(c ) has always been 60 […]

Personal Injury Attorney’s Duty of Reasonable Inquiry of a Client’s Bankruptcy

Personal Injury Attorney’s Duty of Reasonable Inquiry of a Client’s Bankruptcy

An attorney meets with a potential client about a recent auto accident personal injury claim. The client suffered severe injuries and may be entitled to a large award. The client fails to mention that he is a debtor in an active bankruptcy. The client also has failed to advise his bankruptcy attorney about the personal injury claim. The debtor/client does not realize the importance of disclosure of the claim. The […]

Best Practices in Bankruptcy: Power of Attorney or Guardian

Best Practices in Bankruptcy: Power of Attorney or Guardian

It is always troublesome when an individual bankruptcy petition is filed by power of attorney.  It may be less of a concern in a chapter 7 case when the debtor is in the military, incarcerated, or temporarily disabled.  More worrisome is the incompetent or advanced aged debtor who has been placed in a chapter 13 by someone holding a power of attorney (POA).  What sort of inquiry is necessary and […]

Game Stop: Dismissals with Prejudice

Game Stop: Dismissals with Prejudice

Faced with abusive and serial bankruptcy cases, courts have fashioned various sanctions to put a stop to gaming the system. The favored sanction of the majority of courts is to enter an order of dismissal with prejudice under Section 349(a) of the Bankruptcy Code that adds a condition prohibiting refiling another bankruptcy case for a set period of time. See Lundin on Chapter 13 Sec. 153.3 “Court-Imposed Conditions and Restrictions […]