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Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Post-Petition, ‘After-Acquired’ Property in Chapter 13

Most New York bankruptcies are chapter 7 cases, and debtors don’t need to worry about property acquired after the case is filed. Section 541(a)(5) of the Bankruptcy Code governs “after-acquired” property, and limits it to three post-petition assets that can be roped into the bankruptcy estate if debtors acquire them within 180 days of filing. …

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Unperfected Liens: Clear Advantage in Chapter 11, Tougher in Chapter 13

I’ve written about how debtors can avoid liens in New York bankruptcy when they impair their exemptions, but trustees can avoid liens against debtors’ assets too, thanks to section 544 of the Bankruptcy Code. Of particular value to some debtors is the trustee’s power to avoid liens that creditors improperly recorded—also described as “unperfected.” It …

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Is That Second Mortgage Really Underwater?

That’s a question a New York bankruptcy lawyer should ask whenever a debtor seeks to strip a lien off an (allegedly) underwater junior mortgage in a chapter 13 bankruptcy. I’ve discussed this before, but as a quick review, debtors who owe multiple mortgages can strip the liens off junior mortgages that have no equity in …

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Bankruptcy Is Medicine for Debt-Related Health Problems

It should come as no surprise that debt contributes to serious, measurable health problems. What is notable, however, is just how well documented the connection is. Researchers have conducted quite a few studies on the subject, and here are some of the mental and physical maladies that debt corresponds to: Headaches Anxiety disorders Drug and …

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Suspended Drivers Licenses and New York Bankruptcy

I recently wrote about how debtors can discharge traffic tickets in New York bankruptcy, but in certain circumstances filing bankruptcy can even help debtors reinstate their driver’s licenses if they’ve been suspended. Here’s how. Unpaid civil judgments. If a debtor owes a judgment obtained in small claims court for more than $1,000 based on the …

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A Mortgage Modification Can Stymie a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Negotiating a mortgage modification is an alternative to New York bankruptcy that frequently pops up, even though the Home Affordable Mortgage Program was not so successful. Nevertheless, modifications are perfectly reasonable. Debtor-homeowners can reduce their interest rates and monthly payments to align their mortgage costs with their incomes, particularly when they’ve lost substantial equity in …

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What Is New York Bankruptcy Loss Mitigation?

“Loss Mitigation” sounds like an intimidating term, but it’s really just a mechanism within New York bankruptcy to help parties resolve foreclosure issues to debtors’ and creditors’ benefits. That is, its objective is to keep debtors’ principal residences out of foreclosure or reduce needless costs to creditors. It involves negotiations between the parties, possibly including …

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Traffic Tickets in Bankruptcy

Discharging tax debts can be difficult but not impossible in New York bankruptcy, but what about more mundane debts to the government, like traffic tickets? Are these subject to the same rules as tax debts or are they nondischargeable because they’re unsecured debts? It’s a common concern by debtors. The answer is, it mostly depends …

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What Is a Conduit Mortgage Provision and Is It Worthwhile?

In a typical chapter 13 New York bankruptcy repayment plan, the debtor pays any prepetition mortgage arrearages in the regular plan payments to the trustee in full and any post-petition mortgage payments directly to the lender as though the bankruptcy had not occurred. Two separate payments might be cumbersome to debtors, so the question is …

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