NEW CARDS TO ADD TO CFLS EXAM Flashcards
Bankruptcy - Types and Results
Ch 7 - discharge
Ch 13 - payment plan
Bankruptcy - Automatic Stay
- describe
- excs
Enjoins all actions against the debt until discharged; EXC – doesn’t stop or preclude paternity, enf of “dom support obligation,” visitation, disso (all but property), withholding of incomes for domestic support order
Bankruptcy - Property of Estate
All legal and equitable interests of the debtor in property, including their spouse that is under their sole or equal/joint management or control. Property given to “trustee” appointed by Ct to be liquidated to pay debts, etc.
Bankruptcy - Domestic Support Obligation
debt (+int) owed to spouse/former/C in form of support order (CS, SS, other)
o Look @ the purpose of the obligation in light of circumstances at time made
o Can include attys fees and expert fees if incurred in litigating support
REQUIREMENTS: written and not assigned to a gov agency for collection
TREATMENT: high priority when liquidated assets distributed by trustee
o ∆ file a proof of claim in a timely manner
• DISCHARGE? Not under Ch. 7, special issues with Ch 13 bankruptcy
Bankruptcy - Asset Exemptions
- explain
- CA tx of alimony?
Certain assets can be made exempt from bankruptcy proceeding, such that they do not become “property of the estate”. What is exempt is up each state.
CA state law provides alimony, support, separate maintenance as “reasonable necessary for the support of debtor” or their C is exempt.
Bankruptcy - Trustee Powers
- Liquidate assets, pay debts
- Avoid or unwind pre-petition payments
o “preference pymt” = made w/in 90 days of filing while the debtor was insolvent; up to 1 year if transfer to insider; can get judgment against creditor who got the $ (EXC: DSO ≠ preferential payment) - Reverse fraudulent conveyance
Bankruptcy - Preferential Payment
“preference pymt” = made w/in 90 days of filing while the debtor was insolvent; up to 1 year if transfer to insider; can get judgment against creditor who got the $ (EXC: DSO ≠ preferential payment)
Bankruptcy - Fraudulent conveyance
- definition
- MSA and FC
Defined: transfers of property done with intent of hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors; transfers where there is inadequate compensation
Can result in denial of Ch 7 bankruptcy discharge
MSA can be a FC if done with intention to hinder, delay or defraud creditors
Bankruptcy - Chapter 13 Issues
- who can get one?
- what is it?
- DSO treatment
- Only individuals with certain amount of debt, discharge upon completion
- Get payment plan, pay to trustee who pays debtors
Ch 13 and DSOs
o plan ≠ approved if debtor is delinquent on a DSO that is payable after petition date; MUST be current to be confirmation of the plan by B Ct.
o Must pay in full the DSO, waivable by creditor
o Discharge given only if current on his/her post-petition DSOs
• Can discharge non-DSO family law obligations
Bankruptcy - Chapter 13 and DSOs
Ch 13 and DSOs
o plan ≠ approved if debtor is delinquent on a DSO that is payable after petition date; MUST be current to be confirmation of the plan by B Ct.
o Must pay in full the DSO, waivable by creditor
o Discharge given only if current on his/her post-petition DSOs
• Can discharge non-DSO family law obligations
Contempt
- what kind of proceeding is it?
FL Contempt – Criminal proceeding but JC forms can be altered to seek civil only; crim standards and rights and laws apply, must inform of rights, waiver in writing
o Civil – contemner can end sentence by doing what previously refused to do
o Criminal – cannot undo or remedy or shorten the term w/ promise to not do
Contempt
- what is enforceable pursuant to contempt?
any order commanding conduct – like non-support and non-atty fee contempts, newer support and atty fees contempt, family support orders, spousal support and visitation orders, discovery orders, impugning ct integrity
o SS orders – can annul contempt if able to show inability to comply
o Visitation - >14 yo hard to force (Coursey v. Sup Ct), no help with < 14 yos
o CS/Family Support orders – enforced the same under FC 4501
o Felony to remove C and hide them
o In-kind division of property (rather than equalizing payment) = contemptable
o Atty fees if related to CS/SS = ok; if arises out of K/MSA ≠ contempt
Contempt
- elements
(1) existence of a lawful order
(2) knowledge of order [questions about whether order must be written or not]
(3) ability to comply with the order [assumed w/ recent order; affirmative defense]
(4) willful disobedience of the order [free will of ∆, not necessarily “evil intent’]
Contempt
- Statute of Limitations
CS, SS, FS – 3 years EXC CS collectable for up to 10 years; All other cases – 2 years
Contempt
- service of motion
- what if P is receiving welfare
Personal service upon citee, ≠ atty [unless P concealing self]; NAR is okay
If P receiving welfare, notice must be given to DA’s office of contempt
Contempt
- amendment of pleadings
Amend pleadings @ any time EXC if →prejudice; give early notice; may wish to consider seeking or agreeing to a continuance if amendment comes near the time of the hearing
Contempt
- proceedings
- what should be done
- rights?
Criminal ∆ arraignment required – rights, charges, burden of proof, etc.
- Advise rights: counsel, silence, speedy trial, stay of criminal proceedings, subpoena power, BOP (beyond a reasonable doubt), deportation possibility, cannot be called as an adverse witness, possibility of needing to reimb co if found guilty.
- 5A able to be triggered EXC if Pet makes it a civil contempt (then not 5A)
Contempt
- right to jury trial?
Yes, if potential punishment is 180+ days; some think anytime jail is possible
• CCP1209 – up to 5 days/ct AND/OR $1k per count fine; EXC: 3rd contempt = 10 days
• Multiple counts can → jury trial (36+ counts or state on pleadings “civil” contempt or don’t want to seek jail time of 180+ days)
Contempt
- potential punishment
CCP1209 – up to 5 days/ct AND/OR $1k per count fine; EXC: 3rd contempt = 10 days
Contempt
- defenses
- mitigating factors
- non-defenses
Defenses:
o Ct can dismiss on own motion – request @ arraignment, @ beginning of hrg
o Discharge of invalid orders
• Must be clear so that a reas person of common intelligence knows what to do; Cannot be “don’t disparage” vague orders
o Paternity – DA + unrep’d P agreement is voidable if not advised of rts to trial and, if they had known re rights, they would not have executed the agreement
o Double Jeopardy – failure to pay on diff dates may be okay despite double jeopardy if able to show that able to pay on dates subsequent
Not Defenses
o Double jeopardy when able to pay later
o Offsets due to citee
Mitigating Factors/Arguments
o Unemp in SS (not in CS) EXC willful refusal to be employed / underperf.
o Credits due for retirement, disability payment directly to claimant (unless pymt were taken into consideration when making the underlying order)
Contempt
- considerations re: contempt orders
- People present boxes checked → presumption present and knew order for contempt
- CS cannot be contemptable unless written order, even if a detailed minute order
- Order must state affirmative action [someone must do something]
Contempt
- appeal v. writ
- standard of review
Writ of Habeus Corpus or Certioriari ONLY!
Not appealable as adjudication is fine and conclusive
Standard of Review = did court exceed its jx? If yes, sent back. Otherwise, upheld
o TC should make finding with particularity and specificity for review purposes
Contempt
- what do you do if someone violates their probation?
If P fails to comply with probation – file new RFO re contempt + file RFO to have probation revoked + ask both be heard concurrently; Revocation = jail time
Contempt
- penalties for contempt
- stay of execution of contempt?
1st Offense – 120 hours OR prison time / count
2nd Offense – 120 hours + prison time / count
3rd Offense – 240 hours + 240 hours prison / count
• Sentences may be concurrent or consecutive
Civil – incarceration can be forever (EXC where court finds ongoing jail is futile)
3 day stay for any atty contempt orders (to file a writ; cannot file an appeal)