Understanding Non-Dischargeability Complaints When Filing for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Luverne, MN

Filing for bankruptcy throws one’s debts into question in front of a Bankruptcy Court, one’s attorney, and one’s creditors. If one has passed the Means Test and is qualified to move forward with Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the dischargeability of one’s debts is generally not in dispute. Throughout the process of bankruptcy, however, questions and concerns are can arise from all parties involved. Behm Law Group, Ltd. provides legal advice and assistance to those filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Luverne, MN.

In some chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, non-exempt assets (assets one is not able to protect with one’s bankruptcy exemptions) are liquidated and the sale proceeds are used to pay some dividend to one’s creditors.  The good news is that, in most cases, all of one’s debts are discharged, leaving one permanently free of many crushing financial obligations. However, sometimes creditors may have a legal basis to file a non-dischargeability complaint against a debtor under 11 U.S.C. §523.  This means that sometimes a creditor has a good reason to ask a bankruptcy court not to grant a debtor debt relief as to a particular debt.

Non-Dischargeability Complaints

A complaint filed about the legitimacy of the discharge of one’s debt is technically a lawsuit and it is labeled an “adversary proceeding”. If a creditor files a non-dischargeability compliant, one will be given a summons and the process will take place partially by mail and partially in the bankruptcy court. The complaint is served on the defendant and the defendant has the right to respond in his or her own defense (and with the help of an attorney).  Some examples of grounds justifying a non-dischargeability complaint are:  1.) One has incurred significant debt on a credit card within a short time before filing a bankruptcy; 2.) One has misrepresented one’s financial condition, either verbally or in writing, to a lender and the lender has made a loan relying on the misrepresentations; 3.) One has willfully and intentionally caused financial injury or physical injury to someone.

If a creditor has filed the complaint without proper legal standing, or if the complaint is unclear to one as a debtor, one may file a motion to dismiss the claim or force the creditor to provide a complaint with more specificity. Complaints filed against fraudulently incurred debts or other scenarios, as listed above, must be identified correctly and clearly or one may file a motion to dismiss the complaint.

Responding to a clearly defined complaint against the dischargeability of a debt requires an answer to each paragraph of the compliant provided by the creditor. The help of a bankruptcy attorney during this response time is crucial for one to have optimal access to legal information and to assert one’s rights as a defendant. If one does not respond to the complaint, the case will proceed by default, and the debt in question will be excepted from discharge.

For more information about a non-dischargeability complaint and why it’s important to take advantage of the help an attorney can provide during this time, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200. You can also count on us for advice and assistance if you are considering filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy or Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Luverne, MN.

Debt Collector Laws and Handling a Violation With Your Bankruptcy Attorney in Pipestone, MN

When you reach the financial point where filing for bankruptcy becomes a very real option, your relationships with debt collectors often start to change. When your creditors and debt collectors handle your missed payments on file, they start getting more aggressive.  However, for debt collectors in particular, there are laws to prevent harassment, illegal contact, and a number of other unpleasant activities. These laws are designed to protect you, and with the help of Behm Law Group, Ltd. and our experienced bankruptcy attorneys in Pipestone, MN, you can also be protected during the process of filing for bankruptcy.

While your creditors are usually not subject to these laws, debt collectors from any agency are legally bound to collect under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act.

Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA)

Debt collectors are any entities whose professional purpose is to collect debts on behalf of a creditor that a debtor owes to that creditor. They are third parties involved in collecting debt for a creditor. A creditor, on the other hand, is an entity collecting debts directly from those who owe it. The FDCPA prevents debt collectors from illegal action against the debtor.

Though the fair collections laws apply primarily to debt collectors, there are times when they also apply to creditors. This can happen when creditors are debt buyers, when they use fake names to collect, or when they use flat rate collection companies.

Illegal Collections Practices

The FDCPA makes the following illegal for debt collectors:

  1. Calling if you have revealed that you are represented by an attorney
  2. Calling you at a place you have stated is inconvenient
  3. Calling outside of the hours of 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM or calling at any other times you have stated as inconvenient
  4. Not identifying themselves when they call or attempting to mislead you about their identity
  5. Using predial or autodial tactics to contact you (this also applies to text messages)
  6. Revealing your debt situations to others
  7. Contacting your family, friends, or acquaintances about your debt
  8. Mailing you debt collections papers with no envelope (i.e. postcards)
  9. Leaving you voicemails talking about your debt
  10. Contacting you after you request for them to stop
  11. Not informing credit recording agencies when you dispute a debt
  12. Not informing you of your right to request a debt collector to verify the legitimacy of the debt in question
  13. Threatening or harassing you in any other way
  14. Threatening you with going to jail

If you are overwhelmed by debt, you may want to consider the actions of your debt collectors and creditors. In many cases, those struggling with financial difficulties should also consider their options with bankruptcy. Behm Law Group, Ltd. can provide the assistance you need throughout the process of filing for bankruptcy with our bankruptcy attorneys in Pipestone, MN. For more information, contact us at (507) 387-7200 today.

Spouse Debts, Incomes, and Assets Under Common Law and Filing for Joint Bankruptcy in Windom, MN Bankruptcy in Windom, MN

Bankruptcy is an option for any U.S. citizen or business struggling financially. Because the U.S. Bankruptcy Code is a device meant to help entities out of major debt and get back on their feet, it’s a process that’s adaptable to many situations. Expanding a household inevitably increases financial obligations, and many bankruptcy cases involve the assets, debts, and income between spouses. If you and your spouse are considering filing for bankruptcy in Windom, MN, Behm Law Group, Ltd. can help you throughout the process with expert legal advice and assistance.

Filing for bankruptcy as a household can be the best way to handle your debts alongside your spouse’s debts. Because Minnesota is a Common Law state, how your debts, assets, and incomes are handled in a bankruptcy petition will depend on whether they are considered joint or separate under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

Joint

Any debts that were accumulated from financial obligations that benefited the marriage or household are considered a joint debt—for example: food, shelter, and transportation. This means these debts will be included in any single household bankruptcy case. Any debts that are owed through a jointly-undertaken contract that both spouses have signed, or for which both spouses’ credit scores were considered, are also joint debts.

When it comes to joint incomes and assets, how they are considered in a bankruptcy case is similar to debts. Incomes are considered joint if they used to cover joint expenses. Assets and property are jointly owned if both spouses’ names are listed on the title certificates, deeds, and registration cards concerning those items. They are also considered as joint if they were purchased with joint income.

Separate

When filing a joint bankruptcy petition, the majority of the household debt is considered in the case. The debts that are not considered are debts separately incurred by the spouses. This includes business debts, any loans not jointly contracted, and other debts not incurred by spouses as one entity.

The income of each spouse can be considered as separate income. This applies to outside incomes like inheritances, investments, and gifts if they are given or devised to only one spouse and not both. If any properties or assets are purchased with a separate income or have the name of only one spouse on the legal documents, these are also considered separate.

If you’re considering filing for bankruptcy in Windom, MN, or if you have questions about whether certain debts, incomes, and assets can be applied to a joint bankruptcy petition, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200 for more information.

2017 Retail Bankruptcy in Mankato, MN, and Its Effect on Small Businesses

As the Internet continually plays a larger and larger role in our lives, online shopping is slowly taking priority over shopping in physical stores. This is especially true when it comes to the many retail items readily available on Amazon.com. The result of this growth in Internet shopping is a significant surge in retail closures. However, there may be some benefits to small businesses facing the necessary potential of filing for bankruptcy in Mankato, MN.0

Behm Law Group, Ltd. attorneys will work to help any business filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, but in the coming months, financial situations may change for some.

In 2016, several retail giants announced their steps towards filing for bankruptcy, and many other companies planned to close a large number of their outlet locations, making 2017 the year where the effects of these closures will show their true colors.

 Who is filing for bankruptcy and/or closing?

Over 70 major US retailers announced plans to close high numbers of store locations and several of these companies filed for bankruptcy in the last few months. Among these retailers, Macy’s, Sears, Kmart, CVS, Kohl’s, and Walmart will close 30-100 store locations each, with more to be announced over the rest of the year. Mall-oriented stores like American Eagle, The Children’s Place, Aeropostale, and Finish Line are also working through plans to close locations over the next few years.

Of these retailers, several have declared bankruptcy in the past year, and others are entering into full-on bankruptcy in the next month.

Why are they closing?

While online shopping has added to the neglect of physical retail stores over the past 10 years, it’s not necessarily where the root of the problem lies. The fact is that the US retail market is oversaturated. The big retail companies had a long heyday before the Internet poked its head in the door, but in the early 2000s, the decline for large retail companies had already begun. The popularity of mall and retail shopping quickly decreased as the Internet offered more variety within the same categories of retail, wholesale, other cost-effective options, and specialty products. Because each store closure spirals even further shutdowns for each retailer, the process may cause a rapid plummet in the next few years.

How can this benefit small businesses?

Because so many large retailers are in the process of reducing their store footprint, there is more and more space opening up to smaller businesses. Not only do these openings include physical store space, but they also include more spaces on the market for the unique products small businesses specialize in that may be difficult to find online or in the remaining large retail outlets.

While small businesses can look forward to openings in the coming future, the changing market could affect companies of all sizes. Behm Law Group, Ltd. can offer legal advice and assistance for any small business or individual considering filing for bankruptcy in Mankato, MN. For more information, contact us at (507) 387-7200.

Understanding the Role of the Bankruptcy Trustee in Your Petition for Bankruptcy in Owatonna, MN

When you enter the process of filing for bankruptcy, you agree to follow the many stipulations of U.S. Bankruptcy Courts and U.S. Bankruptcy Code. These regulations play important roles in protecting you as a filer, protecting your creditors, and protecting others involved in your bankruptcy case. One such requirement involved in Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases is the appointment of a trustee to oversee the administration of the petition. Behm Law Group, Ltd. offers guidance throughout your own process of filing for bankruptcy in Owatonna, MN, and will work with your trustee to ensure optimal results.

Entering into a bankruptcy case means that you are automatically given a trustee to handle your petition. What a bankruptcy trustee actually does and who they actually are, however, may not be clear to filers.

Who are they?

In a nutshell, your bankruptcy trustee is a qualified individual the court will appoint to your bankruptcy case. Essentially, the trustee is a chaperone for your case. Your trustee is there to work through your case as a liaison between you and your attorney, your creditors, and the bankruptcy court. Bankruptcy trustees handle forms involved in virtually all kinds of cases, so they are well equipped to oversee your petition to the end.

What do they do?

The responsibility of a bankruptcy trustee is to administer your case. This includes the following:

  1. Examining your paperwork and all other information involved in your case
  2. Overseeing your confirmation hearing in a Chapter 13 case
  3. Overseeing your reaffirmation hearing in a Chapter 7 case
  4. Overseeing the meeting of the creditors
  5. Overseeing any other hearing involved (e.g. a hearing for a creditor’s motion for relief on an automatic stay)
  6. Identifying and selling all your nonexempt assets involved in a Chapter 7 case
  7. Evaluating your repayment plan in a Chapter 13 case to verify its fair treatment of you and your creditors
  8. Overseeing adversary proceedings if a lawsuit occurs during your bankruptcy process
  9. Overseeing the motion to dismiss your Chapter 13 case if you do not make repayment plan payments
  10. Ensuring legal accuracy throughout the process

Without bankruptcy trustees, the process of filing a petition and completing a case would be filled with confusion, unfair treatment of players involved, and probably a bit of foul play.

Our attorneys can also help you throughout the process of filing for bankruptcy in Owatonna, MN, with legal advice and assistance. For more information, contact us at (507) 387-7200.

How Lawsuit Money is Handled When You File for Bankruptcy in Marshall, MN

When you file for bankruptcy, your finances are very closely scrutinized. No matter what type of bankruptcy you file for, all your sources of income and debts must be considered in the process. When it comes to your income, this can mean anything from your normal job to money from a garage sale. Income you’ve gained from a lawsuit is no exception to this requirement, and in some cases, you may have to forfeit your lawsuit money. Behm Law Group, Ltd. can help you navigate through the process of determining how your lawsuit money is handled during a bankruptcy filing in Marshall, MN.

The two main types of bankruptcy—Chapter 7 and Chapter 13—treat your income differently. When you file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, your income is considered in balance with your debts in order to determine a suitable repayment plan. This means that your lawsuit money is taken into account for your debt repayment, but it remains generally untouched. The process of Chapter 7 bankruptcy is when your lawsuit money really comes into question.

Lawsuit Money With Chapter 7

In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your assets will be liquidated in order to repay your creditors and discharge your debts. While it’s almost always beneficial to Chapter 7 filers to have these debts discharged, they still have to sacrifice many of their property assets in the process.

Lawsuit money falls into the category of assets in a bankruptcy estate. This includes any money you have received/expect to receive/are entitled to receive from a lawsuit case. In some situations—for example, if you did not have many assets and were in a position to potentially file a lawsuit against a person or entity—your bankruptcy trustee has the right to pursue that claim on your behalf. However, the money from any lawsuit will be used to pay your creditors and discharge your debts unless you can use an exemption.

Exemptions can work to protect the income you’ve earned from a lawsuit. In Minnesota, you can exempt lawsuit money from liquidation if it’s protected under certain exemption laws. For example, Minnesota exemption laws protect lawsuit money from cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, and damaged exempt property (e.g. if your home is wrongfully damaged after it was protected with a Homestead Exemption.)

Federal exemption laws also protect lawsuit settlements involving wrongful death, personal injury, and future incomes lost. Depending on your financial situation, you may choose federal or Minnesota exemption laws to protect your lawsuit money.

Behm Law Group, Ltd. works with you through the process of filing for bankruptcy in Marshall, MN, to help you choose exemptions and protect your assets during Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings. For more information, contact us at (507) 387-7200 today.