If it was unclear whether an inherited individual retirement account (IRA) could be excluded from a New York bankruptcy, the U.S. Supreme Court has settled the issue. The topic came up late last year when the Court decided to hear the case. The lawsuit was between the bankruptcy petitioners, Heidi Heffron-Clark and Brandon Clark, and …
Supreme Court Holds Inherited IRAs Not (Directly) Exempt in Bankruptcy Read More »
Sometimes things don’t go smoothly for debtors who have filed chapter 13 bankruptcy in New York. Normally, a chapter 13 case will allow a debtor to put together a repayment plan, which will take three to five years to complete. Often, once it’s concluded, any remaining unsecured debts will be discharged. However, once a debtor …
4 Ways a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Repayment Plan Can Be Modified Read More »
A lien is a legal claim by one person over the property of another. “Statutory liens” are a specific subset of liens; they arise by force of (you guessed it) statute when certain circumstances or conditions are met. One of the most common examples is a tax lien. Whenever people don’t pay their taxes, the …
What Is a ‘Statutory Lien’ in New York Bankruptcy? Read More »
The consequences of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent unanimous ruling in a bankruptcy case aren’t that monumental for debtors considering New York bankruptcy. However, Law v. Siegel illustrates a few important points about exemptions that are worth knowing. Here are the facts: Petitioner Stephen Law (don’t let the surname confuse you) filed chapter 7 bankruptcy …
Supreme Court Forbids Surcharge for Debtor’s Fraudulent Exemption Read More »
When an underwater rental property is involved in a New York bankruptcy case, the trustee usually won’t try to sell it, particularly if the debtor is current on the payments. However, some trustees might actually try to sell an underwater rental to the lender under certain circumstances. This can be a disappointment to some debtors …
Why Trustees Might Sell Underwater Rental Properties to Creditors Read More »
In June 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional in United States v. Windsor. Section 3 defined “marriage” in federal law as “a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.” DOMA required the Bankruptcy Code to deny same-sex married …
Justice Department Recognizes Same-Sex Marriages in Bankruptcy Read More »
We recently discussed the elements a trustee must prove to avoid (that is, invalidate) a preferential payment to a creditor made before a New York bankruptcy filing (called a “preference”). One requirement is that the payment occur within 90 days of the petition or between 90 days and one year of the petition if the …
The topic of how to deal with an inherited underwater house came up recently, as did the unanswered question of whether a rent-stabilized apartment in New York City is an asset that can be included in the bankruptcy estate and liquidated by the trustee to repay chapter 7 creditors. Both issues are partly combined in …
Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Inherited IRAs in Bankruptcy Read More »
New York may have better bankruptcy exemptions than most other states, but a New York Times article asks whether one property right is even an asset at all: rent-stabilized apartments. Here’s the background: New York City maintains a set of laws that protect apartment renters from rent price increases. One is “rent control,” which provides …
Is a New York City Rent-Stabilized Apartment an Asset in Bankruptcy? Read More »
The last thing people who are considering filing bankruptcy in New York are probably interested in is filing two tax returns in one year, but it is not only possible but also worthwhile to do in certain circumstances. First, what are we talking about? Federal law allows individual debtors (i.e. non-businesses) in chapter 7 or …
The Benefits of a Short Tax Year Election to a Bankruptcy Filing Read More »
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