Learn About Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Practice Center – Chapter 7
Did you know that the right to bankruptcy is a constitutional right? It is also complex body of law, with certain state-by-state variances, and can only be safely and efficiently navigated with the assistance of an experienced advocate.
Debra Booher & Associates is one of the leading Chapter 7 bankruptcy law firms in northeastern Ohio. Lawyers at our firm file more than 2,000 bankruptcy cases per year for clients throughout northeastern Ohio, including Akron, Canton, Cleveland and Kent/Ravenna.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Q: How does Chapter 7 liquidation work?
A: In a Chapter 7 case, the debtor must relinquish his or her nonexempt property to a bankruptcy trustee, who then converts the property into cash by selling it and pays the debtor’s creditors from the sale proceeds. In return, the debtor receives a Chapter 7 discharge of certain debts if he or she is eligible for such a discharge, pays the filing fee, completes a personal financial management course and obeys the court’s directives.
Q: Are all debtors automatically eligible for a Chapter 7 discharge?
A: No. A debtor may not be eligible for a discharge under Chapter 7 if he or she has been granted a discharge in a Chapter 7 case within the last eight years. Debtors who engage in certain fraudulent conduct related to the bankruptcy or their financial situation also may not be eligible for discharge. In addition, if the debtor refuses to answer questions or obey orders of the bankruptcy court, the court may refuse to grant a discharge. There is also a “means test” that must be passed before a Chapter 7 can proceed.
Read More About Chapter 7 Discharge Eligibility
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy – An Overview
Both individuals and businesses may find themselves with more debts than they can pay when due. In such cases, filing for bankruptcy may provide a solution to what seems like an insurmountable problem. Bankruptcy provides two basic forms of relief: (1) liquidation and (2) rehabilitation, also known as reorganization. Most bankruptcies filed in the United States involve liquidation, which is governed by Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. An attorney at Debra Booher & Associates Co., LPA in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, can advise individuals and businesses about whether Chapter 7 is the right choice for them. A bankruptcy lawyer’s goals are to help Chapter 7 debtors make a fresh start and ensure that creditors are paid.
Read More About Chapter 7 Basics
Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act
In April of 2005, President George W. Bush signed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA), which instituted substantial changes to the Bankruptcy Code. Most provisions of BAPCPA became effective in October 2005. In an effort to exclude from Chapter 7 relief those debtors deemed to have the ability to pay at least some of the debts that would otherwise be discharged in Chapter 7, BAPCPA tightened the eligibility requirements for Chapter 7 and broadened the court’s power to dismiss Chapter 7 petitions for “abuse.”
Discharge Under Chapter 7
“Discharge” in the bankruptcy sense refers to clearing the debtor’s slate of all, or most, past debts. Although many people expect that filing for bankruptcy will wipe out all of their debts, that is not always the case. Bankruptcy only discharges certain debts. The availability of discharge depends on the type of bankruptcy proceeding involved, who the debtor is, and what type of debts the debtor has.
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Exempt vs. Non-exempt Property Under Chapter 7
In a Chapter 7 liquidation case, the debtor must relinquish certain property to the bankruptcy trustee so that he or she can sell the property and use the proceeds to pay off debts. Property of the bankruptcy estate is broadly defined in the Bankruptcy Code. The bankruptcy estate is technically the legal owner of all of the debtor’s property and consists of all legal and equitable interests that the debtor has in property at the initiation of the bankruptcy case. Income that the debtor earns after the date of the petition is not included in the bankruptcy estate. Debtors, whether they are businesses or individuals, are often justifiably concerned about what property they will be allowed to keep and what they must give up.
Read More Exempt and Non-Exempt Property
Alternatives to Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
The term “workout” is used to describe a non-bankruptcy negotiated modification of debt. More simply stated, a workout is an out-of-court agreement between a debtor and his or her creditors for repayment of the debts between them, which is negotiated without all the procedural complications — and perhaps the stigma — of the bankruptcy process.
Read More About Chapter 7 Alternatives
Chapter 7 Resource Links
- U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
A brief overview of the structure and function of bankruptcy courts. - Liquidation under the bankruptcy code
Basic overview of liquidation under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. - Bankruptcy: An Overview
A general overview of the topic of bankruptcy, along with state and federal materials, from Cornell University. - U.S. Bankruptcy Courts by State
Links to U.S. Bankruptcy Court sites. - Official Bankruptcy Forms
From the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
