Bankruptcy

Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons. — Woody Allen

• The Benefit Of Bankruptcy To Society
• A Quick Overview Of Bankruptcy For Consumers
• Credit Availability and Credit Scores After Bankruptcy
• Bankruptcy Law Public Policies
• Bankruptcy Law Sources
• Bankruptcy Research

Bankruptcy Fundamentals

I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, unless I buy something. — Jackie Mason

• Bankruptcy Requires Good Faith
• Bankruptcy Participants: Debtor, Creditors, Case and Standing Trustees, United States Trustee, and Bankruptcy Judges
• The Bankruptcy Trustee
• Debt Relief Agencies
• Bankruptcy Petition Preparers
• Bankruptcy Lawyers
• Bankruptcy Petition - The Start of Bankruptcy
• Bankruptcy Estate
• Joint Petitions; Joint Administration And Consolidation Of Bankruptcy Cases Of Closely Related Debtors
• Automatic Stay
• Relief From Automatic Stay
• Creditors Meeting
• Filing And Responding To Motions
• Secured Debts In Bankruptcy
• Cramdowns - Paying for Secured Debt Under Chapter 13, 12, and 11
• The Proof And Allowance Of Claims In Bankruptcy
• Priority Rules In Bankruptcy
• Domestic Support Obligations (DSO) Under Bankruptcy
• Taxes In Bankruptcy: Their Priorities And Dischargeability
• Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases
• Executory Contracts: Rejection
• Executory Contracts: Assumption and Assignment
• Bankruptcy Dismissal
• Bankruptcy Discharge
• Nondischargeable Debts in Bankruptcy
• Bankruptcy Chapter Conversion

Pre-Bankruptcy Period

• Preferences
• Preference Safe Harbors
• Setoffs and Recoupments

Special Topics

Though it has oft been said that money can't buy happiness, it can certainly prevent a lot of unhappiness. — wcs

• Foreclosure and Bankruptcy
• Chapter 12 Bankruptcy Overview
• Chapter 20 Bankruptcy
• Chapter 9-Municipality Bankruptcy
• Chapter 15 Bankruptcy Overview
• Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy — Comparison of Benefits and Drawbacks
• Comparison of Chapter 11, Chapter 12, and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy for Individual Debtors

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart. — e.e. cummings

• Who Qualifies for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
• Chapter 7 Overview And The Creditors Meeting
• Bankruptcy Planning
• The Means Test In Bankruptcy—Is There A Presumption Of Abuse?
• Credit Counseling and Debtor Education (Personal Financial Management Course)
• Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Estate
• State and Federal Exemptions in a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
• Residency Requirements for Exemptions
• Claiming Exemptions Using Schedule C - Property Claimed as Exempt
• Can Bankruptcy Prevent An Eviction For A Renter?
• Will the Trustee Sell Your Home in a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
• Can You Protect Your Home with the Homestead Exemption or Wildcard Exemption in a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
• Secured Property — Surrendering, Redemption, and Reaffirmation in a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
• Lien Avoidance - Reducing Or Eliminating Liens In A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
• Denial or Revocation of a Chapter 7 Discharge

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

• Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Overview
• Chapter 13 Timeline
• Role of Debtor and Standing Trustee Under Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
• Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Estate And Postpetition Claims
• Chapter 13 Payment Plan: Requirements For Confirmation
• Confirmation And Amending The Repayment Plan
• Chapter 13 Repayment Plan: Content and Format

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

• Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Overview
• Debtor In Possession (DIP)
• Creditors' Committees and Equity Committees in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
• Chapter 11 Reorganization Plan
• Chapter 11 Discharge, Post-Confirmation Administration, and Final Decree

Credit and Debt

If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey. — Bo Diddley

• Credit Scores - A complete, but concise, illustrated tutorial about credit scores, especially the FICO score, and how to raise them.
• New Developments in Credit Scoring - Explains new developments and new factors being used to determine credit scores and creditworthiness.
• Credit-Based Insurance Scores - How credit information is used to determine the insurance premiums charged to consumers.
• New Credit Card Rules - A Summary of the Credit CARD Act Of 2009 (Credit Card Accountability Responsibility And Disclosure Act Of 2009)
• Alternative Credit Bureaus - How to build credit even if you have no credit record.
• Tenant Screening - A tutorial about the use of tenant screening companies by landlords and property managers to select whom to rent to.
• Foreclosure
• Real Estate Short Sales - How to avoid foreclosure and bankruptcy by selling your property through a short sale.
• Consumer Credit Blog
• Credit, Debt, And Bankruptcy Resources

Topics

• Cross Collateral Clause

Debt Collection

Debts and lies are generally mixed together. — Rabelais

• Prejudgment Remedies: General Principles, Attachment
• Other Prejudgment Remedies: Prejudgment Garnishment, Replevin, Lis Pendens, Receivership, Court Injunctions
• Execution and Levy
• Judgment Liens
• Garnishment
• Statutory Proceedings in Aid of Execution
• Fraudulent Transfers
• State Insolvency Proceedings: Compositions And Extensions (Workouts), Assignment For The Benefit Of Creditors (ABC)

Debt and Taxes

I've got all the money I'll ever need if I die by four o'clock this afternoon. — Henny Youngman

• Taxation of Canceled Debt - Taxes may be due on the canceled debt in a foreclosure or a short sale. This article explains what canceled debt is taxable, how to figure the tax, and how to possibly avoid it.