Bankruptcy Flashcards

2
Q

For what debts does bankruptcy NOT stop collections?

A
  1. Student Loans
  2. Income taxes from previous 3 years
  3. Alimony & Child Support
  4. Debts/judgements resulting from drunk driving
  5. Pension obligations
  6. Debts relating to SOX violations
  7. Debts arising from illegal activities or fraud
  8. Debts not listed in the bankruptcy filing
  9. Debts from causing Willful & malicious injury to other
  10. Debts from Theft or Embezzlement
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3
Q

For what debts does bankruptcy NOT stop collections?

A
  1. Student Loans
  2. Income taxes from previous 3 years
  3. Alimony & Child Support
  4. Debts/judgements resulting from drunk driving
  5. Pension obligations
  6. Debts relating to SOX violations
  7. Debts arising from illegal activities or fruad
  8. Debts not listed in the bankruptcy filing
  9. Debts from causing Willful & malicious injury to other
  10. Debts from Theft or Embezzlement
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4
Q

How does bankruptcy of a corporation affect the owner’s ability to file bankruptcy?

A

It doesn’t; because the corporation is a separate legal entity.

Under bankruptcy; corporations are dissolved

Under bankruptcy; individuals are discharged

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5
Q

What key action will cause a bankruptcy discharge to be denied?

A

If a debtor fails to keep good records or falsifies documents; a discharge will be denied

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6
Q

What are the basic characteristics of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy (liquidation)?

A

Discharges all non-exempt debt

Can only be filed every 8 years from previous Chapter 7 filing

Voluntary or involuntary filing

Certain businesses are disallowed from Chapter 7 bankruptcies - Railroads; Banks; Insurance companies; Savings & loans (think: 7th inning RBIs)

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7
Q

What are the requirements for an involuntary bankruptcy filing under Chapter 7?

A

In some cases; your creditors can force you into Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 BK

Creditors must be able to prove that they are not being paid on time (i.e. debtor is insolvent) or that within the past 120 days the debtor assigned a custodian of the secured property

If 12+ unsecured creditors - at least 3 must file; claims must be in excess of $14,425

If less than 12 unsecured creditors - only 1 must file; claim(s) must be in excess of $14,425

Upon filing; a judge will declare an order for relief unless the debtor protests

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8
Q

What entities are disallowed from involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings?

A

Charities

Farms

Railroads

Banking & insurance companies

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9
Q

How can a debtor reclaim possession of their property from the interim bankruptcy under Chapter 7?

A

If the debtor pays the court-assigned bond to keep a property in an involuntary BK; they can reclaim possession of their property from the interim BK trustee

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10
Q

What are the basic characteristics of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy (business repayment) filing?

A

Allows a business a reprieve from creditors

Creates a payment plan for the debt

Business remains in operation

At least 2/3 of each debt class of creditors must consent to reorganization

Ch. 11 Involuntary petitions are allowed

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11
Q

What are the requirements for a voluntary bankruptcy filing under Chapter 7?

A

Must pass means test

Your income must be below the median income for your state (Note – median; i.e. middle; not mean; i.e. average)

Credit card companies made it harder for people to declare Chapter 7 when they lobbied Congress in 2005

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12
Q

What are the basic characteristics of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy (personal repayment) filing?

A

Similar to Chapter 11; but for individuals

Gives individuals a reprieve from creditors

Creates a payment plan for the debt

Ch. 13 Involuntary petitions are not allowed

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13
Q

What are the duties and abilities of a bankruptcy trustee?

A

Represents the bankruptcy estate

Can sue or be sued

Oversees bankruptcy and watches for preferential creditor payments

Oversees priority transfer of assets to creditors

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14
Q

How and when is a bankruptcy trustee appointed?

A

Optional – Creditors decide

Can be elected by creditors or can be appointed by the court

Prior association with the debtor is allowed

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15
Q

What actions can a bankruptcy trustee take with respect to preferential creditor payments in a bankruptcy?

A

Trustee can void payments on antecedent (past) debts that occur within 90 days of a BK filing

A Trustee cannot void a payment made to a creditor that is an even swap (contemporaneous exchange) and for new value

A voidable preference must be on an old debt where the debtor is basically picking and choosing which creditors they send money to (AKA a voidable preference)

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16
Q

When can preferential transfers be voided by a bankruptcy (BK) trustee?

A

Made within One Year of BK to “insider” - Corporate officers/directors; Partners; Relatives

Made within 3 Months of BK “non-insider”

Creditor receives larger payment than BK liquidation would have granted

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17
Q

What is the order of priority given to unsecured creditors in a bankruptcy?

A
  1. BK Trustee and Attorney fees get paid before all other unsecured credit cards
  2. Salaries required to continue business once BK proceedings begin
  3. Any claims filed resulting from business operations that occur after involuntary BK is filed
  4. Wages owed to employees
  5. Retirement contributions within last 6 months
  6. Consumer deposits for undelivered goods
  7. Child Support & Alimony
  8. Taxes
  9. Other general unsecured claims
18
Q

What is the treatment of a secured creditor in a bankruptcy?

A

Superior to claims of other types of creditors

Can take either collateral or cash proceeds from the sale of an asset

If collateral doesn’t satisfy amount owed; Secured Creditors become a general creditor for the difference.

19
Q

What are key aspects of a bankruptcy involving a landlord or leases under Chapter 7?

A

The bankruptcy trustee can act in the best interest of the creditors and assign the leases under contract to the creditors

The trustee has 60 days to assume leases on equipment after bankruptcy is granted or the leases will be rejected

20
Q

What is the bankruptcy estate?

A

The pool of assets available to creditors until liquidation

21
Q

What assets are exempt from creditors in a bankruptcy estate?

A

Social security

Disability payments

Unemployment; Child Support; Alimony; Wages; Pensions; Annuities to the extent that they provide reasonable support for debtor and dependents

22
Q

How long after a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing can creditors claim inheritance or insurance payments for repayment?

A

Inheritance/Insurance payments received within 180 days of filing for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy become part of the BK Estate

23
Q

What is a garnishment with respect to a bankruptcy?

A

Court allows a creditor to garnish or take a portion of the debtor’s paycheck

24
Q

What is a mechanics lien?

A

Lien on real property to secure payment for a repair/improvement done to the house

A contractor builds an addition to your house and you won’t pay. They can’t “repo” your house; so they get a Mechanics Lien that sticks until you sell your house and they get paid

25
Q

What is an artisan’s lien?

A

Applies to personal property like a car

If the dealership does $500 in repairs to your car; you don’t get the car back until you pay

26
Q

What is a surety (co-signing)?

A

A third party agrees to be liable for a loan

Example: A parent co-signs on their child’s car loan

27
Q

How is a surety liable in a transaction?

A

A surety is primarily liable

Surety can be released from liability if the creditor behaves in a way that increases the risk that they
initially agreed to

Surety can be released from liability if the debtor changes the loan agreement in a way that materially
increases the surety’s risk

28
Q

What is a cosurety; and how are they liable in a transaction?

A

Two sureties are guaranteeing the same debt

Proportionately liable - If one cosurety is released from their obligation; then the remaining cosureties
have their proportionate share reduced by the released party’s percentage

If one surety pays more than their proportionate share of the risk; then the other sureties must compensate them for the difference; which is called Right of Contribution

29
Q

What is a guarantor?

A

Similar to surety; but a guarantor is secondarily liable

30
Q

What are the basic rights of a debtor under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act?

A

Basically – your creditors have the right to collect from you; but not abuse you or embarrass you

The can’t contact you once you’re represented by an attorney

They can call other people to find out where you are; but they cannot identify themselves as collectors

They must stop calling you at work if you send them a certified letter that says “my employer doesn’t allow me to take calls at work.”

They must call you only at reasonable hours of the day – according to your time zone; not theirs

31
Q

What are ways for which Preferential Transfers can be avoided (preferring 1 creditor over others) by the Trustee of a bankruptcy estate?

In other words, what are situations in which a BK trustee can intercept a payment that a debtor made to creditor that was disallowed?

A

To disaffirm the prior payment to a creditor, 5 tests must be met:

  1. Must have a Transfer for property that benefits a creditor
  2. Transfer must have been for an Antecedent debt - an existing

BK trustee can’t intercept these types of debts:

a. New debts are NOT antecedent debts (a contemporaneous exchange for new value)
b. Secured debts are not antecedent debts - can’t prepay
c. Paying current bills in the ordinary course of business aren’t antecedent debts - can’t prepay
d. Consumer debts of $825 or less are NOT antecedent debts
3. Transfer must have been made within 90 DAYS of the filing day
a. May be up to 1 year prior to filing if creditor was an insider
4. Transfer must have been made while debtor was Insolvent
a. Insolvency is normally presumed if the transfer was made within 90 days
5. Creditor received MORE than what would have received in bankruptcy

32
Q

What kinds of actions from the debtor would prevent them from filing bankruptcy (denial of discharge)?

A

Certain actions by debtor will preclude any discharge (denial of discharge):

  1. Received previous discharge within 8 years of filing
  2. Unjustifiably failed to keep adequate books & records
  3. Attempted to hide assets within 1 YEAR of filing
  4. Refusal to explain a loss of asset or refusal to obey a court order
  5. Making false oath or account
33
Q

What are the defenses that a Surety can have to beat a Creditor?

A

Defenses of a Surety vs. a Creditor:

  1. Lack of writing of consideration
  2. Payment or tender of performance by Debtor
  3. Fraud by the Creditor

Note: Fraud by the Debtor is NOT a good defense unless the Creditor was aware of the fraud.

Fraud by Debtor does NOT relieve Surety of their obligation

Note: Surety may NOT use defenses that are personal to debtor (infancy, insanity, or bankruptcy)

  1. Any action by Creditor which increases the risk of a Surety releases it to the extent of the increased risk
    a. Binding extension of time by Creditor - releases the Surety 100%
    b. If Creditor delays on collection (doesn’t agree to extend time), Surety is NOT released
    c. Release of one cosuretor by a Creditor without consent of the other cosureties, increases their risk by the amount of contribution they could have collected
    d. If Creditor releases Debtor without reserving rights against Surety - Surety is released

Note: If Creditor reserved rights against the Surety, the Surety is NOT released

34
Q

What are Creditor Pre-judgment remedies?

Creditor debt collection remedies

A

Creditor Pre-judgment remedies are actions by a creditor prior to receiving a judgment. There are 2 types:

  1. Attachment - puts a lien on debtor’s property so it’s available if a judgment is obtained (required a hearing before a judge & creditor may be required to post a bond)
  2. Pre-judgment garnishment - actions by a creditor after getting a judgment
35
Q

What is Writ of Execution?

Creditor debt collection remedies

A

Writ of Execution is a type of creditor post-judgment remedy whereby a debtor is served by a sheriff demanding payment of a judgment if returned “unsatisfied” creditor can levy on debtor’s property and fore a public sale

36
Q

What is a Garnishment?

Creditor debt collection remedies

A

Garnishment is when creditor collects money from debtor’s wages or bank accounts

37
Q

What is a Fraudulent conveyance?

Creditor debt collection remedies

A

Fraudulent conveyance is a phony transfer of property by debtor to a 3rd party to stop creditors from attaching it (3rd party is expected to return property to debtor at a later time)

Indications of a fraudulent conveyance include:

  1. Debtor remains in possession of the property
  2. Debtor retains an equitable interest in the property
  3. Transfer was done secretly
38
Q

What is a Composition of Creditors?

Debtor Debt Collection Relief

A

Composition of Creditors is an agreement between a debtor and creditors to discharge the debtor’s debts in return for a partial payment by the debtor

  1. Debts are only discharged when the debtor completes ALL partial payments
  2. A composition of creditors is ONLY binding on the creditors who agree to it
39
Q

What is an Assignment for Benefit of Creditors?

Debtor Debt Collection Relief

A

Assignment for Benefit of Creditors is when a debtor transfers property to a trustee to pay creditors on a pro-rata basis

  1. Doesn’t require the agreement of other creditors
  2. Doesn’t discharge debtor’s debts
  3. Protects assigned property from attachment by other or new creditors