Category: Bankruptcy

Making prudent use of the financial help that filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy can provide is one of the smartest things you can do if you’re overwhelmed by accumulated debts and financial obligations. Chapter 7 was designed to help people recover from crippling debt and get back on their feet financially. The U.S. Bankruptcy Courts have to treat each case with fairness to debtors and creditors alike, so Chapter 7 works as a balanced process. Behm Law Group, Ltd. helps filers with legal advice and assistance throughout the process of filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Ulm, MN.

To keep things balanced between creditors and debtors, Chapter 7 bankruptcy works to discharge your debts while simultaneously liquidating your nonexempt assets, if any, to repay your creditors.  Most cases, however, are “no asset” cases which means that all of one’s assets are exempt and creditors don’t get paid anything.  It’s your job as a debtor to claim your own exemptions to prevent assets from being unnecessarily liquidated. The flipside to claiming exemptions, however, is that it’s possible to claim too many for your case.

Excessive Exemption Planning

Generally speaking, exemption planning—taking assets you may not be able to keep in bankruptcy and liquidating them and using the money to pay down your mortgage or purchase assets that you would be able to keep so you can maximize your exemptions—can be a tricky process. In fact, it can be considered fraudulent behavior and can be a basis for the dismissal of a bankruptcy case or a denial of all and any debt relief. That being said, there are times when exemption planning is possible when it comes to making purchases before filing for bankruptcy.

Purchasing Before Bankruptcy

Many purchases you make on credit before filing for bankruptcy can be construed as fraudulent use of credit and can render the subject credit debt non-dischargeable. For example, any debts you gather within 90 days before filing for bankruptcy that exceed $675 in total can be considered non-dischargeable. This applies to “luxury goods,” a term that covers most purchases that are not necessary to your household like televisions, furniture, trips to Hawaii or Europe. Purchases that you are allowed to acquire credit debt for within the 90-day period before filing for bankruptcy includes necessities like food, gas, rent, and auto care. These debts may still be petitioned for discharge.

Your spending during the 90-day period prior to filing for bankruptcy is flexible. If you make some bad choices, however, by “maxing out” your credit before filing for bankruptcy, many of your debts may not be discharged, and your case may even be dismissed. Behm Law Group, Ltd. can help you navigate exemption planning and purchasing before you file for bankruptcy in New Ulm, MN. For more information, contact us today at (507) 387-7200.

If you plan to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, having a bankruptcy lawyer is essential. In some cases, a person may have assets that he or she would not be able to retain either because the value of the assets are too high or there are no applicable bankruptcy exemptions to protect the assets.  Before filing for bankruptcy relief, you generally are allowed to rearrange your finances and property in a way that’s legal and allows you to maximize your bankruptcy exemptions to benefit you as much as possible. The more exemptions you can claim, the more of your assets you can protect from the liquidation process involved in a Chapter 7 case. The bankruptcy attorneys at Behm Law Group, Ltd. can assist you during this time and throughout the process of filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Jackson, MN.

It’s possible for you to work with your attorney and convert many properties or cash itself into exempt assets without crossing the line into excessive exemption planning or fraud. The help of a bankruptcy attorney is crucial.  You first must determine the values of your assets and whether there are exemptions available that will protect them.  Also, you must determine if the value of a particular asset exceeds the allowance of the particular exemption with which you intend to protect it.

Nonexempt vs. Exempt

Generally speaking, if an asset is determined to be a basic need to the filer, it’s considered an exempt asset. U.S. Bankruptcy Courts do not want to strip filers of all their property, even if the value of those assets could be used to repay creditors for debts that are dischargeable. Homes, means of transportation, wages, and other important properties are categorized as exempt in the majority of Chapter 7 cases.

Nonexempt properties, however, are often involved in a Chapter 7 case. Many assets are considered nonexempt from the liquidation process because their value is needed for repayment in order to keep the process balanced between debtors and creditors.

Converting Assets

Spending your nonexempt assets (i.e., the money in your bank accounts) is one lawful way to make use of them for your benefit, but keep in mind you should only spend them on necessary items like food, gas, repairs to your vehicle.  You must not pay debts to friends or relatives or make gifts to friends or relatives or put assets into someone else’s name.  Also, you must remember that you will be asked by your lawyer and by the bankruptcy trustee administering your case for a thorough accounting concerning how you spent any non-exempt money and how you disposed of any non-exempt assets.  The Bankruptcy Code requires you to do this and you could be denied bankruptcy relief if you don’t do it.   Spending that money on luxury items such as expensive trips or fancy furniture or big screen televisions could also be considered excessive and could be scrutinized. Chapter 7 code also allows you to sell nonexempt properties and use the money gained to buy exempt assets (for example, selling a yacht and using that money to buy a household vehicle).

Unfortunately, it can be easy to cross the line from legitimate exemption planning and engage in conduct can be viewed as fraudulent or inappropriate. The help of our bankruptcy attorneys prior to filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Jackson, MN, is the key to doing exemption planning right. For more information, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. today at (507) 387-7200.

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.

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.

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.

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.

There are times in many people’s lives when financial emergencies come suddenly. Whether it happens because of a failed investment, a major business loss, stock market crashes, or other unexpected life events, financial difficulties can arise in a matter of minutes. When issues like this loom over your income and assets, filing for bankruptcy may be your best option. When you file for bankruptcy, however, the process can take up to several months to reach the point where you have submitted all of the necessary documentation to your attorney. In cases where you need the protection of the bankruptcy code sooner rather than later, Behm Law Group, Ltd. can help you file for bankruptcy on an emergency basis in Luverne, MN.

The most important immediate result of filing for such a bankruptcy filing is getting the automatic stay fast.  The automatic stay of 11 U.S.C. Sec. 362 is actually a court-mandated injunction that blocks the collection activities of most of one’s creditors. If you have filed for bankruptcy relief, it’s almost certain that the automatic stay was in effect and prevented your creditors from collecting or contacting you during your bankruptcy proceeding.

Steps in Filing for Emergency Bankruptcy:

1. Collect the required documents needed to file for emergency bankruptcy. The attorneys at Behm Law Group, Ltd. will help you throughout this process
2. To get the automatic stay as quickly as possible, you must file a Voluntary Petition (Form 1), a statement of your SSN (Form 21), and Mailing Matrix information denoting the addresses of your creditors
3. Once your initial forms have been processed and the automatic stay is in effect, you must complete the filing of the remaining required bankruptcy forms within 14 days of the filing date. This period can be extended upon request by your attorney.

Filing an emergency bankruptcy petition is a way for individuals and businesses to access the bankruptcy system immediately and get some “breathing space” and time to gather all other necessary paperwork without ongoing creditor harassment.  The process of emergency bankruptcy does not eliminate any of the other necessary standard forms needed to complete your petition, but instead rearranges the order in which you complete the majority of those forms. By completing Forms 1 and 21 along with a mailing matrix listing your creditors, attorneys, debt collectors, or any other agencies seeking payment, the automatic stay will be immediately in place.

Getting an automatic stay quickly when you’re in serious financial trouble is the best benefit of an emergency bankruptcy filing. This rearrangement for the process of filing for bankruptcy in Luverne, MN, allows a quick automatic stay to prevent continued financial struggles throughout your bankruptcy process. For more information about how an emergency bankruptcy can benefit you, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200.