Category: Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

When it comes to Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the idea established with the bankruptcy code was to find a balance between the discharging or getting rid of one’s debts and allowing one to retain enough assets to reorganize and not endure further financial hardship.  Indeed, it would not make much sense and it would not be of any public benefit to take all of a one’s assets.  In such a case, the person would only continue to struggle and could not get back one’s feet.  Certain precautions and allowances have been set in place to protect a person against complete destitution after Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Exemptions for qualifying properties are the saving grace for someone who files for bankruptcy relief. At Behm Law Group, Ltd., we can work with you to determine which exemptions would apply to your particular circumstances when filing for bankruptcy in Fairmont, MN.

There are several kinds of exemptions that you can use when filing for bankruptcy relief.  There are exemptions provided by the laws of the State of Minnesota and there are exemptions provided by the bankruptcy code. One exemption that allows you to protect certain assets from liquidation is the wildcard exemption.

What is the wildcard exemption?

When you file for bankruptcy relief, there are several exemptions that apply to specific types of property to prevent liquidation of those assets (e.g. homestead exemption or motor vehicle exemption). The wildcard exemption is a non-specific exemption that you can use to protect one or more assets from among several types of properties.  It is a spill-over or catch-all exemption that allows you to retain miscellaneous property for which there may not be a specific exemption.  In addition, it can allow you to double up on property. For instance if you own 2 vehicles, you could use the motor vehicle exemption to protect the first vehicle and the wildcard exemption to protect the second vehicle.  Alternatively, you could use the wildcard exemption to protect an asset, such as a snowmobile or a boat or a weapon, where there is no specific exemption that can be used to protect it.

When can you use the wildcard exemption?

Because the Minnesota exemption laws do not have a wildcard exemption, a bankruptcy filer can only use the wildcard exemption if one chooses the bankruptcy exemptions provided under the bankruptcy code. The current federal wildcard exemption amount is set at $1,250, but can change based on application. For example, when used in combination with one’s homestead exemption, one may use the federal wildcard exemption amount plus up to $11,850 of one’s unused homestead exemption amount for a total of $13,100.  One can use the wildcard exemption on any one item of property or one can split the amount between multiple items of property.

For example: If one owns a car worth $4,000, and one does not owe anything on the car, one’s equity is $4,000.  In this case, one could use the motor vehicle exemption of 11 U.S.C. §522(d)(2) to protect $3,775 of this amount and then use part of the wildcard exemption of 11 U.S.C. §522(d)(5) to protect the other $225.  Also, if one has a second car worth $5,000, one can use an additional amount of the wildcard exemption of 11 U.S.C. §522(d)(5) to protect it, too.

Why does the wildcard exemption exist?

The bankruptcy exemptions, including the wildcard exemption, were put in place to protect US citizens from irreparable loss and destitution. In the long run, allowing bankrupt individuals to keep assets with which to reorganize will in turn prevent unemployment from growing and keep the economy from falling.

For more information about filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Fairmont, MN, and how exemptions can help you keep your property, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200.

At Behm Law Group, Ltd., we have often found that our clients considering bankruptcy know they could benefit from filing for Chapter 7 but balk at the idea of possibly losing some of their assets.  However, the concern about losing assets is often exaggerated.  The drafters of the bankruptcy code understood the need for households to hold on to some of their assets to prevent the bankruptcy process from doing more harm than good and to allow people to retain assets with which to reorganize their lives and maintain their financial security.  Thus, the drafters of the bankruptcy code included various exemption laws, which are very generous, that allow people to retain assets in bankruptcy. Behm Law Group, Ltd. can help you work through the process of filing for bankruptcy in Redwood Falls, MN, including identifying which exemptions can be applied to your case.

One major concern of those entering into the process of Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the potential loss of their motor vehicle.  For many families and individuals, the loss of a vehicle means the loss of any means of transportation.  However, 11 U.S.C. § 522(d)(2) of the bankruptcy code allows for the exemption or retention of a motor vehicle. It is more accurate to state that the exemption allows the retention of an equitable interest in a motor vehicle rather than the retention of the vehicle itself.

The exemptible equity in your car is determined by its current market value balanced with the amount of your car loan. For example, if you own a car worth $5,000 and have a loan balance of $2,000, your motor vehicle equity is $3,000.  This $3,000.00 would constitute equitable interest that would be protected by or exempted with the applicable bankruptcy exemption.   It is possible to have $0 in equity if your loan is equal to the value of your car and it is possible to have a negative equity if your loan is greater than the value of your car. For instance, if your car is worth $5,000.00 and there is a $5,000.00 or $6,000.00 loan against it there would be no equity to protect or exempt with the applicable bankruptcy exemption.

Federal Exemption

The Federal motor vehicle exemption of 11 U.S.C. § 522(d)(2), among other federal exemptions, changes every three years according to economic conditions and other factors. The current motor vehicle exemption amount is $3,775.  This means that if you have equity in your car less than the exemption amount, the bankruptcy trustee administering your bankruptcy case would not be able to take your motor vehicle, sell it and use the sale proceeds to pay a dividend your creditors.

Minnesota Exemption

In Minnesota, those filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy have the option of choosing either the federal exemptions or the Minnesota exemptions. The Minnesota motor vehicle exemption clocks in at a maximum of $4,600 in equity. The amount increases up to $46,000 for vehicles that accommodate physical disabilities and are eligible for handicapped parking spaces (but only if changes made to the vehicle are more than $3,450).

The bankruptcy exemption laws are designed to help you find ways to keep your motor vehicle and other assets, even if you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy relief. For more information about exemptions you may qualify for and for help with filing for bankruptcy relief in Redwood Falls, MN, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200 today.

Filing a bankruptcy petition often seems intimidating to our clients because of the many steps and requirements involved in the process. While it’s true that bankruptcy proceedings in the U.S. have several requirements, forms, schedules, and a mishmash other legal formalities, filing for bankruptcy doesn’t have to be insurmountable. At Behm Law Group, Ltd., we offer legal advice and assistance for those considering filing for bankruptcy in Owatonna, MN.

Among the many requirements demanded of filers are the preemptive measures U.S. Bankruptcy Courts take to ensure a debtor has a valid petition and will not be rejected for debt discharge or debt reorganization. Some of these measures are also designed to educate debtors on their financial situations and are required in the hopes that a filer will be better equipped to survive financially after the bankruptcy process is complete.

Mandatory credit counseling is one such requirement, as well as the meeting of creditors—also known as a 341 hearing.

Meeting of Creditors for Chapter 7 Petitions

If you’ve chosen to file for Chapter 7 (liquidation) bankruptcy, you will attend a meeting of creditors between 21 and 40 days after filing your petition. While a Chapter 7 trustee will orchestrate this meeting of creditors, there will not be a judge present. The meeting essentially serves to verify the accuracy of the representations made in your bankruptcy petition.  It also serves to provide the bankruptcy trustee and, perhaps, some of your creditors to ask you questions about the representations made in your bankruptcy petition and about your assets.  In most cases your creditors will not be present, but there are instances where some or all of your creditors may attend and ask you questions.

Meeting of Creditors for Chapter 13 Petitions

In Chapter 13 cases, the meeting of creditors is more likely to be referred to as a 341 hearing (although it is not an official court hearing). The 341 hearing will take place between 21 and 50 days after your petition for Chapter 13 (reorganization) bankruptcy is filed. Just as with a Chapter 7 meeting of creditors, there will be a trustee and, perhaps, some of your creditors in attendance, but no judge will be present. This purpose of a 341 hearing is to determine your past and present financial and tax situations, including expenses, exemptions, income, and asset values.

Our attorneys at Behm Law Group, Ltd. are well equipped to help you get through the process of a meeting of creditors. If you have questions about what to bring to your meeting of creditors and how to organize your financial history, contact us at (507) 387-7200 for more information about filing for bankruptcy in Owatonna, MN.

Handling financial troubles alone is trying, but when you fall into a situation where filing for bankruptcy would be your best option, the process can often seem inescapably daunting. For an individual filer, Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the most common and generally the best option for relieving debt. Behm Law Group, Ltd. can help you use your options to the greatest outcome when filing for bankruptcy in Redwood Falls, MN.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Courts understand that individual filers may need options beyond the standard Chapter 7 process, and thus there are bankruptcy mechanisms that allow for collaboration between debtors in similar financial situations.

Joint Administration, for example, is a method of processing two or more bankruptcy cases in U.S. Bankruptcy Courts in unison. The separate cases are combined into one and administered as such, meaning the collaborating debtors can join their resources, assets, and debts into one case representing the debtors as one party in the court. Cooperating debtors can also join together in hiring attorneys and credit counselors.

Substantive Consolidation goes hand-in-hand with Joint Administrations and defines the act of repaying all involved creditors with the combined assets of all involved debtors. Pooling assets alleviates the burden of liquidation that would be placed on a single creditor, but it must also result in equal benefits to all creditors.

Joint Petition allows spouses to file for bankruptcy in the state of Minnesota under the same petition. This means that all debts and assets are consolidated to represent the spouses as a single entity. Joint petitions are similar to Joint Administration proceedings, but they’re more beneficial for spouses because all asset liquidation and debt discharges are contained within the single household.

The collaborative possibilities that individual filers have when considering Chapter 7 bankruptcy may help them in the long run after debts are discharged and assets are liquidated. If you feel any of these options are right for your financial situation, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200 for more information about filing for bankruptcy in Redwood Falls, MN.

Like most individuals and business owners, many of our clients are new to the bankruptcy process.  Many people view the bankruptcy process as being a perpetual black mark on their credit and an indictment of their personal character. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, bankruptcy is a legal process specifically designed to help those who have struggled financially for any reason. As you embark on the journey of filing for bankruptcy in Mankato, MN—especially with the legal advice and assistance of the attorneys at Behm Law Group, Ltd.—you will find that bankruptcy is a helpful, rehabilitative and, possibly, cathartic experience.

Chapter 7 (or liquidation) bankruptcy is the most common form of bankruptcy for individuals and small businesses. One aspect of filing for bankruptcy that allows you to alter the “black and white” situations occurring frequently in Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the subject of reaffirmation agreements.

What is a reaffirmation agreement?

A reaffirmation agreement is something that is unique to Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  A bankruptcy filing nullifies one’s legal, contractual obligations to pay one’s debts.  This applies to all debts, except those debts that may be exempted from discharge under 11 U.S.C. §523 such as child support debts, student loans, criminal fines and certain tax debts.  This means that one is no longer required to pay one’s credit card debts, medical debts, vehicle loans or home mortgage loans. However, one may wish to retain certain debts such as vehicle loans or home mortgage loans.  One does this by completing a reaffirmation agreement.  A reaffirmation agreement is an entirely voluntary agreement between a debtor and a creditor that recites the terms and conditions of the original loan or mortgage.  By signing a reaffirmation agreement a debtor and an impacted creditor agree that the terms and conditions of the original loan or mortgage will be exempted out of the bankruptcy process and will continue after the bankruptcy process has been completed.  They essentially agree that a debtor will continue to be personally liable for the loan or mortgage after the bankruptcy has concluded.  Reaffirmation agreements, in most cases, must be approved by a bankruptcy court.

Why are they beneficial?

Reaffirmation agreements allow you to work with creditors to keep some debts in place, letting you maintain that property or asset.  They allow one to retain debts on assets, such as a house or a vehicle, which may be essential for one’s financial rehabilitation going forward.  Reaffirmation agreements can have positive and rehabilitative credit rating implications because creditors will continue to report one’s ongoing payments to the three big credit reporting agencies – Experian, Transunion, and Equifax.  Positive and consistent reporting by creditors after a bankruptcy has concluded can cause one’s credit rating to rise.

How can they be dangerous?

Because you must sign a reaffirmation agreement before your debts are discharged, you have to be 100% sure that you can continue meeting payments for any debt you want to reaffirm. In fact, we often advise against signing reaffirmation agreements unless it’s certain you will meet regular payments without hardship after the bankruptcy process is complete. If you aren’t sure, you could add to your financial struggles even after other debts are discharged.  The signing of a reaffirmation agreement means that one will be personally responsible for a debt after a bankruptcy has concluded.  If one were to sign a reaffirmation agreement on a vehicle loan, for instance, and if one were not able to continue making payments on the debt, the creditor could repossess the vehicle and sell it.  If there was any remaining deficiency balance (i.e. the sale price of the vehicle was not sufficient to retire the entire debt), one would be fully liable on such debt and the creditor could pursue collection remedies against the person.

If you’re unsure whether choosing Chapter 7 or entering into a reaffirmation agreement is right for you, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200 for more information about bankruptcy in Mankato, MN.

In the majority of cases, filing for bankruptcy puts Minnesota residents and businesses back on their feet by erasing or significantly lessening much of their financial burden. In terms of mortgage debts and foreclosure, filing for bankruptcy will almost always alter the conditions of your mortgage debts to some degree. At Behm Law Group, Ltd., our attorneys are dedicated to assisting you in all aspects of bankruptcy in Mankato, MN, including fighting foreclosure and liquidating or apportioning your mortgage debt.

The two common types of bankruptcy, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, are designed to handle cases of mortgage debt. In both cases, an automatic stay will be in place preventing creditors from collecting debts or harassing you during the filing process. An automatic stay is in place for a limited time period, however, and completing the bankruptcy process is vital to stopping foreclosure and alleviating your mortgage debts. Each type of bankruptcy filing treats the issue of foreclosure in different ways.

Chapter 7:

Chapter 7, or Liquidation Bankruptcy, is a process that will discharge all debts that qualify. This means your mortgage and all other debts that are not considered non-dischargeable under 11 U.S.C. §523 from the process will be eliminated. If you are behind on your home mortgage payments and you want to keep your home, filing for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is probably not your best choice because there is no mechanism allowing you to “cure” or pay back your mortgage delinquency over a period of time.  A chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding will delay a foreclosure by only about 90 to 120 days while the automatic stay injunctive provisions of 11 U.S.C. §362 are in effect.   While the automatic stay will prevent or stop a foreclosure, the relief is only temporary.  Generally speaking, after the chapter 7 case is concluded in 90 to 120 days the automatic stay terminates and a creditor can restart or initiate foreclosure proceedings at that time.

Chapter 13:

A Chapter 13 simple bankruptcy is labeled “reorganization bankruptcy” but it really is more aptly referred to as “partial re-payment bankruptcy”.  In a chapter 13, you draft a chapter 13 plan of reorganization in which you specify a particular payment that fits your income and expenses which you pay for a set period of time – usually 36 to 60 months.  In a chapter 13 bankruptcy, you can “cure” or pay back your mortgage delinquency over the 36 to 60 months.  After your case is filed, you must still make the regular monthly mortgage payments going forward but the delinquency itself would be paid out of the payments you make through the chapter 13 plan.  For instance, assume your regular mortgage payment is $1,000.00 a month and that you are $10,000.00 delinquent.  Further assume that your monthly chapter 13 plan payment is $500.00.  After you file for bankruptcy relief, you would still need to pay your $1,000.00 regular mortgage payment.  However, the $10,000.00 delinquency would be spread over the 36 to 60 month time of your chapter 13 plan.  If your plan was a 36 month plan, roughly $277.77 of the aforementioned $500.00 chapter 13 plan payment would go towards the payoff of the $10,000.00 pre-bankruptcy mortgage delinquency ($10,000.00 / 36 months = $277.77).  If your chapter 13 plan was a 60 month plan, roughly $166.66 of the aforementioned $500.00 chapter 13 plan payment would go towards the payoff of the $10,000.00 pre-bankruptcy mortgage delinquency ($10,000.00 / 60 months = $166.66).  You must be able to meet this repayment plan to keep your home and stop the foreclosure process.   When the plan is completed, your mortgage debt will be fully cured.

There are many legitimate reasons why Minnesota residents fall into debt and find foreclosure looming over them. Call Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200 today and find out how we can help you stop foreclosure with bankruptcy in Mankato, MN.