Vol. 78, No. 7, July 2005

Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005

• Congressional Delegation Championed Employee Benefit Protections in Bankruptcy Law

by Randall D. Crocker & Rebecca H. Simoni

resident Bush signed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (the "Act") into law on April 20, 2005. This new law makes the most significant changes to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.) since the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978. The President's signing of the law came after nearly nine years of heated debate, public hearings, negotiations, and amendments.

The Act is controversial in that it makes fundamental changes in bankruptcy law. Many of the provisions have been widely criticized by bankruptcy specialists, including academicians, practitioners, and judges. Nonetheless, these modifications have now become law, and it will be the responsibility of everyone who practices in the area to understand the changes and to operate effectively under them.

The Act makes more than 150 amendments to the Bankruptcy Code, in addition to enacting new Chapter 15, which addresses cross-border insolvencies. This article highlights several significant modifications.

New legislation already has been proposed to clean up conflicting and unclear Act provisions, although no new substantive changes are expected. In addition, the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and each federal district's local rules likely will be amended to make them consistent with the Act.

Effective Dates

Most provisions of the Act become effective on Oct. 17, 2005 (the "effective date") and do not apply to cases filed before the effective date.¹ However, several provisions became effective immediately on enactment and apply either to cases commenced on or after the enactment date or retroactively to pending cases. The amendments to provisions related to the homestead exemption apply to cases commenced on or after April 20, 2005.² The amendments to provisions related to recovering fraudulent transfers apply only to cases commenced more than one year after April 20, 2005.³ The amendments to provisions relating to recovering insider preferences apply to cases currently pending or commenced after April 20, 2005.⁴ The amendments to provisions related to the nondischargeability of debts incurred in violation of securities fraud laws apply to cases filed on or after July 30, 2002 (the effective date of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act).⁵

Several other provisions also have specific effective dates. Practitioners should review the Act carefully to verify which amendments are already in effect.

Administrative Expense Priorities

The treatment of administrative expenses is one of the most significant but least noted changes made by the Act. By definition, administrative expenses are expenses that must be paid before a plan is confirmed or before assets are distributed to any unsecured creditors, including priority creditors. Under the Act, all administrative and other priority expenses are now subordinate to domestic support obligations.⁶

Randall D. Crocker, Marquette 1979, is president of von Briesen & Roper s.c., Milwaukee and chair of its Banking, Bankruptcy and Business Restructuring Group.

Rebecca H. Simoni, Minnesota 1999, is a principal associate in the firm's Banking, Bankruptcy and Business Restructuring Group.

The Act expands some administrative expenses and limits others. Administrative expenses include wages and benefits awarded as back pay to a debtor's employees through a judicial proceeding or a proceeding before the National Labor Relations Board that arise from the debtor's violation of federal or state law, if the wages and benefits are attributable to time worked after the bankruptcy case commences.⁷ This change makes claims arising out of violations of the Wisconsin or federal Worker's Adjustment and Retraining Notification Acts⁸ administrative expenses, but only if the court determines that payment of those wages and benefits will not substantially increase the probability of layoff or termination of current employees or of nonpayment of domestic support obligations during the bankruptcy case.⁹ It is unclear if the last clause of this provision applies to nonpayment of domestic support obligations by the debtor's employees, or by the debtor. In light of the priority given to domestic support obligations throughout the Act, courts are likely to construe this provision to cover both.

In addition, actual and necessary costs and expenses incurred by a trustee or federal agency in closing a health care business, including the costs associated with disposing of patient records or transferring patients as a result of a closure, can now be paid as an administrative expense.¹⁰

But perhaps the most significant change is that the value of any goods the debtor received within 20 days before the bankruptcy case commenced are payable as administrative expenses, if the goods had been sold to the debtor in the ordinary course of the debtor's business.¹¹ The Act is unclear as to how the "value" is to be determined. Value is most often determined to be the price set forth in the contract between the debtor and the nondebtor party. However, the contract price is not determinative of value. It is unresolved as to whether the relevant value is the value to the debtor or to the nondebtor. This provision should encourage debtors and potential providers of debtor-in-possession financing to work out a way to continue paying current suppliers before the bankruptcy filing. This amendment also raises significant questions. If a debtor loads up on inventory pre-petition, will the resulting obligations be considered to be incurred in the ordinary course of business?

The Act specifically excludes from administrative expenses transfers to or obligations incurred for the benefit of an insider that are intended to induce the insider to remain with the debtor's business.¹² With respect to individual debtors, "insiders" generally include the debtor's relatives or partners, and the corporation in which the debtor is a director, officer, or person in control.¹³ With respect to corporations, insiders are directors, officers, persons in control, partnerships in which the debtor is a general partner, and relatives of any of these parties.¹⁴ These "stay bonuses" will only be approved if the court finds, based on the evidence in the record, that:

1) the stay bonus is essential to retain the person because the person has a bona fide job offer from another business for the same or greater compensation;

2) services provided by the person are essential to the business's survival; and

3) the transfer amount to be made or the obligation to be incurred is not greater than 10 times the amount of the mean transfer of a similar kind given to nonmanagement employees for any purpose. If no such payments were made to nonmanagement employees, the transfer amount cannot be greater than or equal to 25 percent of the amount of any similar transfer or obligation made to the insider for any purpose during the calendar year before the transfer was made. This means that the court can find such bonuses to be administrative expenses if it makes the required findings.

A severance payment will not be accorded administrative expense priority unless the payment is part of a program generally applicable to all full-time employees, and the amount is not greater than 10 times the amount of the mean severance pay awarded to nonmanagement employees during the calendar year in which the payment is made. These provisions severely limit a troubled company's ability to provide financial incentives to its management personnel to remain during the bankruptcy proceeding.

Changes to Chapter 11

Congress has adopted many changes that are intended to streamline the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, expedite cases to their conclusion, and grant additional authority to the Office of the United States Trustee.

The court may dispense with the meeting of creditors in a Chapter 11 case in which a prepackaged plan has been approved pre-petition.¹⁵ A prepackaged plan is one for which the debtor solicited acceptances before commencing the bankruptcy case.¹⁶

The membership of a creditors' committee may be changed at the request of a party in interest. In addition, the court may order the U.S. Trustee to change the committee's membership to ensure adequate representation of creditors or equity security holders.¹⁷ Moreover, the court may increase the number of members to include a small business concern if the committee represents claims that are disproportionately large in relation to gross revenues.¹⁸ The intent here is to allow smaller entities to serve on the creditors' committee so that large bond and other claimants cannot dominate the reorganization process.

The duties of the creditors' committee have been expanded and the committee now has the responsibility to provide access to creditors whose claims are of the kind represented by the committee but who are not committee members.¹⁹ Additionally, the committee has the responsibility to solicit and receive comments from creditors and may be compelled, by court order, to provide reports and disclosures.²⁰

In Chapter 11 cases filed by individuals, the definition of "property of the estate" has been expanded to include property acquired from personal services income earned post-petition.²¹ This change requires that the debtor's post-petition earnings in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy be used as part of the plan assets.

Modifications have been made to expedite the plan confirmation process. The debtor's 120-day exclusive period for filing a plan may not be extended beyond a date that is 18 months after the date of the order for relief.²² The debtor's 180-day exclusive period for plan confirmation may not be extended beyond a date that is 20 months after the date of the order for relief.²³

Plan confirmation provisions have been modified to provide that tax claims must be paid in regular cash installments within five years from the date of the petition or in a manner not less favorable than the most favored unsecured nonpriority claim.²⁴ In cases filed by individuals, all domestic support obligations payable pursuant to judicial or administrative order, or by statute, which first become payable after the date the petition is filed, must be paid in full.²⁵ Cram-down provisions for individual debtors filing under Chapter 11 (pursuant to which a plan can be confirmed over creditors' objections in certain circumstances) have been modified to be consistent with similar provisions in Chapter 13.²⁶

The debtor's disclosure statement must include an analysis of potential tax consequences under any Chapter 11 plan.²⁷

The grounds for conversion to a case under Chapter 7 or for dismissal of the debtor's pending Chapter 11 bankruptcy case have been expanded. In the absence of unusual circumstances the court specifically identifies, the court must grant the request of a party in interest to dismiss or convert the debtor's case if the court finds any of a list of factors. The factors include: substantial or continuing loss to or diminution of the estate and the absence of a reasonable likelihood of rehabilitation; gross mismanagement of the debtor's estate by the debtor in possession or trustee; failure to maintain appropriate insurance, the lack of which poses a risk to the estate or to the public; unauthorized use of cash collateral, the use of which is substantially harmful to one or more creditors; failure to comply with any court order; untimely failure to satisfy any reporting requirement; failure to attend the meeting of creditors or any examination or other meeting as requested by the trustee; failure to timely pay post-petition taxes or to file tax returns; or, in individual cases, failure to pay domestic support obligations.²⁸

Addition of Chapter 11 Small Business Provisions

Congress also has adopted new Chapter 11 bankruptcy small business provisions to move small business cases more quickly through the Chapter 11 process. A small business case is one in which the aggregate of noncontingent liquidated debts both secured and unsecured, excluding debts to affiliates and insiders, does not exceed $2 million.²⁹ For purposes of this provision, small businesses do not include entities whose primary activity is owning or operating real property or businesses incidental thereto.

In addition to performing the other duties set forth in Chapter 11, a small business debtor must append to the petition - or furnish within seven days of the filing of the bankruptcy petition - copies of its most recent balance sheet, statement of operations, cash flow statements, and tax returns.³⁰ Senior management of and counsel for a small business debtor also must attend all meetings scheduled by the court. A small business debtor must timely file all schedules and statements, file all post-petition financial and other required reports, maintain insurance that is customary and appropriate for its particular industry, timely file tax returns and pay taxes and, most importantly, permit the trustee to inspect the business premises, books, and records.

The trustee in a small business case is responsible for investigating the debtor's viability, inquiring about the debtor's business plan, and explaining the debtor's duties about monthly operating reports and other required reports.³¹ The trustee will try to obtain the debtor's agreement with respect to a scheduling order for the case, inform the debtor of its other obligations, and take all reasonable steps to move the case along efficiently. The trustee also will determine if the debtor is able to confirm a reorganization plan. Additional periodic financial reporting is required in small business cases.

The debtor must file its reorganization plan within 300 days of the case's commencement,³² and the plan must be confirmed within 45 days after it is filed.³³ These time limits may be extended at the debtor's request, but the burden on the debtor to obtain such an extension is a preponderance of the evidence and the court may only extend such time limits if: the debtor demonstrates that it is more likely than not that the court will confirm a plan within a reasonable time; a new deadline is imposed when the extension is granted; and the order extending the time is signed before the existing deadline has expired. In a small business case, the court may conditionally approve a disclosure statement without a hearing and may give final approval to the disclosure statement at the confirmation hearing.³⁴

Major Changes to Chapter 7 Consumer Provisions

Mandatory Credit Counseling and Debtor Education. To be eligible for relief under any chapter of the Bankruptcy Code, individuals must, within 180 days before filing, receive an individual or group briefing from an "approved nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency."³⁵ This briefing, which may take place by telephone or the Internet, must outline the opportunities for credit counseling and "assist ... in performing a related budget analysis."³⁶ Exceptions are provided for debtors who: 1) reside in a district in which the trustee has determined that the approved agencies are inadequate to provide counseling services; 2) face emergency situations and who sought the required counseling but were unable to receive it within five days; or 3) are incapacitated, disabled, or on active military duty in a war zone.³⁷ In addition, the debtor must file a certificate from the credit counseling agency describing the services provided and any debt repayment plan that may have been developed.³⁸

Presumption of Abuse / "Means Testing" for Chapter 7 Eligibility. One of the most publicized changes in the Act is the imposition of "means testing."³⁹ Means testing is a fundamental change in the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process, because, for the first time, the court must consider the debtor's future earnings before according the debtor relief under Chapter 7. If the debtor's future earnings (as determined by reviewing the debtor's past earnings) are sufficient to permit the debtor to pay the debtor's pre-petition creditors, then the debtor's case will be dismissed, unless the debtor elects to proceed under Chapter 11 or Chapter 13, which are reorganization and wage-earner chapters.

The court presumes that the debtor's Chapter 7 filing is abusive, or for an improper purpose, if the debtor's current monthly income (less allowed expenses), multiplied by 60, exceeds the lesser of the following: $10,000; or the greater of 25 percent of unsecured nonpriority claims or $6,000.⁴⁰ If the debtor can repay the lesser of $10,000 or 25 percent of the debtor's unsecured nonpriority debt (but not less than $6,000) over five years, then abuse will be presumed.

The trustee must review all of the debtor's submissions (schedules, tax returns, and so on) and submit a report to the court within 10 days of the creditors' meeting at which it is determined whether abuse should be presumed.⁴¹ Within 30 days thereafter, the trustee must file a motion to dismiss or convert the case,⁴² and the clerk of the bankruptcy court must give notice that a presumption of abuse has arisen.⁴³

A debtor's "current monthly income" is equal to the average monthly income the debtor (and the debtor's spouse, if filing jointly) receives from all sources during the six months preceding the filing of the petition, excluding Social Security payments and payments received by victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or terrorism.⁴⁴ Allowable expenses are determined under national standards and include: the debtor's actual expenses in categories the IRS recognizes but for which no specific allowance has been specified; expenses for protection from family violence; continued contributions for care of nondependent family members; actual expenses of administering a Chapter 13 plan; expenses for elementary through high school education (up to $1,500 annually per minor child); home energy costs in excess of the allowance specified by the local standards for housing and utilities issued by the Internal Revenue Service based on actual expenses for home energy costs, if the debtor provides documentation of such actual expenses and demonstrates that the actual expenses are reasonable and necessary; 1/60th of all secured debt that will become due in the five years after filing; 1/60th of all priority debt; and continued contributions to tax-exempt charities, up to 15 percent of gross income.⁴⁵

The debtor may rebut the presumption of abuse only by establishing exceptional circumstances, such as a serious medical condition or active duty military experience.⁴⁶ However, the abuse presumption does not apply to a disabled veteran whose indebtedness was incurred while the veteran was on active duty or performing a homeland defense activity.⁴⁷

A safe harbor is granted to debtors by applying the median family income test. Median family income is reported by the U.S. Census Bureau for each year.⁴⁸ In Wisconsin, the state median varies depending on family size, but is between $52,411 and $56,559 for 2003 (based on the 2003 American Community Survey taken by the U.S. Census Bureau).⁴⁹ If the debtor's current monthly income is less than the median family income for a family of the same or smaller size, then the motion to dismiss for substantial abuse may not be brought.

Debtor's Attorney's Signature. In Chapter 7 cases, the debtor's attorney's signature on a petition, pleading, or motion is a certification that the attorney has: performed a reasonable investigation into the circumstances giving rise to the petition, pleading, or motion; determined that the petition, pleading, or motion is well grounded in fact or is warranted by existing law or a good-faith extension, modification, or reversal of existing law; and does not constitute an abuse. Additionally, the signature affirms that the attorney has no knowledge, after an inquiry, that any information in the schedules filed with the petition is incorrect.⁵⁰

The court may award the trustee reasonable costs, including attorney fees, in bringing a motion to dismiss under 11 U.S.C. § 707(b), if the court grants the trustee's motion, and finds that the debtor's attorney violated Rule 9011 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.⁵¹

Limits on Homestead Exemption. Another major change under the Act is the residency requirements that must be met to take advantage of state or local homestead exemptions. Under the Act, a debtor may elect state exemptions only in the state in which he or she has been domiciled for the 730 days before the bankruptcy filing.⁵² If the debtor cannot meet the 730-day requirement because he or she did not live in a single state for the entire period, then the debtor may use the exemptions for the state in which the debtor resided most of the 180 days preceding the 730-day period (that is, between two and two-and-a-half years before the filing). If these residency requirements render a debtor ineligible for any state exemption, then the debtor may choose the federal exemptions.

The debtor's use of the homestead exemption may be further limited by a provision that reduces the applicable state law exemption to the value of the homestead that is attributable to any portion of any nonexempt property that the debtor disposed of within 10 years of filing the petition with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud creditors.⁵³

Moreover, a debtor may exempt only up to $125,000 of the debtor's interest in a homestead that was acquired within 1,215 days (40 months) before the bankruptcy filing.⁵⁴ This limitation does not apply, however, to equity rolled over before the 1,215-day period from one house to another in the same state.⁵⁵

Further, an absolute cap of $125,000 exists with respect to debtors who have been convicted of a felony, the circumstances of which demonstrate that bankruptcy filing would constitute an abuse, who have violated certain securities laws, or who have committed intentional torts that caused serious bodily injury or death in the five years preceding the bankruptcy filing.⁵⁶ However, this limitation is inapplicable if the homestead property is "reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor and any dependent of the debtor."⁵⁷

Finally, the discharge provisions under Chapters 7, 11, and 13 are all amended to provide that the court may only enter a discharge order if the court determines that no action or proceeding is pending under the new homestead limitation provisions discussed above. The discharge may be delayed until such an action or proceeding is concluded.⁵⁸

Limit on Automatic Stay. The impact of the automatic stay on creditors' collection action is substantially modified in cases of repeat filers or if the court finds a filing to be abusive. The automatic stay, applicable to all entities, stays certain actions against the debtor or property of the estate. The automatic stay is effective immediately when a bankruptcy petition is filed.⁵⁹ If a debtor files a case under any chapter (other than Chapters 12 or 15) within one year of the dismissal of a preceding case filed by the same debtor (other than a Chapter 11 or 13 case filed after dismissal under 11 U.S.C. § 707(b)), the automatic stay in the second case will terminate 30 days after the filing.⁶⁰ However the automatic stay may be continued if, after a hearing on motion, the court finds that the second filing was made in good faith with respect to the creditors to whom the stay was intended to apply. If a third case is filed within one year, then no automatic stay goes into effect unless the court actually imposes the stay after holding a hearing and making a finding that the filing was made in good faith.⁶¹

With respect to both the second and third filings within one year, a presumption arises that the filings are not in good faith. The debtor must rebut this presumption with clear and convincing evidence.⁶²

Ride-through. Another significant change in Chapter 7 is the elimination of the debtor's ability to retain collateral without redemption (paying the holder of a lien on the collateral the full amount of the secured claim)⁶³ or reaffirmation (agreeing to repay a pre-petition debt that otherwise would be discharged through bankruptcy) by simply maintaining current payments on the secured debt (known as "riding through"). While it seems clear that Congress intended to eliminate this practice, the provisions related to this issue are inconsistent.

In one amendment, an individual debtor in Chapter 7 is prohibited from retaining possession of any personal property that is subject to an allowed claim for the purchase price that is secured in whole or in part by an interest in the property (a "purchase money security interest"), unless the debtor "not later than 45 days after the first meeting of creditors" either redeems the property or enters into a reaffirmation agreement with respect to the debt secured by the property.⁶⁴ If the debtor "fails to so act within the 45-day period," the automatic stay is terminated with respect to such property, the property is no longer included as property of the debtor's bankruptcy estate, and the creditor may take action to collect its debt or repossess the property under applicable nonbankruptcy law. ⁶⁵ Before the expiration of the 45-day period, the trustee may request that the stay be continued by showing the court that the property is of consequential value or benefit to the estate, and by providing appropriate protection of the creditor's interest.⁶⁶ If such a motion is granted, the court will order the debtor to deliver any such collateral that the debtor possesses to the trustee.⁶⁷

Despite these apparently clear provisions, another section of the Act provides for the termination of the automatic stay and removal from the estate of any personal property under slightly different circumstances. In this provision, any property that is collateral for any secured claim (not just property subject to purchase money security interests), or that is subject to an unexpired lease, may be removed from the estate if the debtor: 1) fails to file a statement of intent to reaffirm the obligation within 30 days of the case filing; or 2) files a statement of intent to reaffirm but fails to take the action specified in such a statement, unless the reason for failing to act is the creditor's refusal to agree to the reaffirmation on the terms set forth in the original contract.⁶⁸ Thus, the debtor is required to file the statement of intent within 30 days of the first date set for the meeting of creditors. This conflicts with the 45-day period set forth above.⁶⁹ Additional legislation likely will be necessary to resolve this apparent conflict.

Scope of Discharge. The scope of the discharge available in a case under any bankruptcy chapter will be further limited as follows: 1) the presumption of nondischargeability for fraud in the use of a credit card is expanded; 2) debts in excess of $500 (reduced from $1,225) for luxury goods incurred within 90 days before filing (increased from 60 days before filing) are presumed nondischargeable; 3) cash advances in excess of $750 (reduced from $1,225) taken within 70 days before filing (increased from 60 days before filing) are presumed nondischargeable; and 4) all student loans are nondischargeable, in the absence of undue hardship, regardless of the nature of the lender (loans from nongovernmental and profit-making organizations previously were not covered by the nondischargeability provisions).⁷⁰

In addition, the scope of the "superdischarge" under Chapter 13 (which generally was granted after the completion of a Chapter 13 plan, and which was much wider in scope than the discharge available under Chapter 7) is reduced.⁷¹ The following obligations are now nondischargeable under Chapter 13: 1) trust fund taxes; 2) taxes for which returns were never filed or were filed late (within two years of the petition date); 3) taxes that the debtor evaded or for which the debtor made a fraudulent return; 4) debts arising from fraud or false statements under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2); 5) unscheduled debts under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(3); 6) debts arising from defalcation by a fiduciary under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(4); 7) domestic support payments; 8) student loans; 9) debts arising from injuries caused by the debtor's drunk driving; 10) criminal restitution or criminal fines included in a sentence on the debtor's conviction of a crime; and 11) civil restitution or damages awarded in a civil action against the debtor as a result of willful or malicious injury by the debtor that caused personal injury or death.⁷²

Finally, the length of time between discharges has been lengthened in most cases.⁷³ A debtor may not receive a Chapter 7 discharge if he or she has received a Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 discharge in a case filed within eight years of the current case filing.⁷⁴ In addition, under amended Chapter 13, a debtor may not receive a Chapter 13 discharge if the debtor received a discharge "in a case filed under Chapter 7, 11 or 12 of this title during the four-year period preceding the date of the order for relief under this chapter, or in a case filed under Chapter 13 of this title during the two-year period preceding the date of such order."⁷⁵

Production of Tax Returns and Other Documents. Finally, although not an obviously significant amendment, the new requirement that the debtor file tax returns and other financial statements and reports early on in every case is likely to have some substantial effects.⁷⁶ Early on in every new case, individual debtors must file a copy or transcript of the federal income tax return for the most recent tax reporting period.⁷⁷ Failure to produce the tax return requires dismissal of the bankruptcy case.⁷⁸ In an involuntary case, in which the debtor did not intend to be a debtor in a bankruptcy case and therefore did not voluntarily file the bankruptcy petition, this requirement may provide an opportunity to get the involuntary petition dismissed from the outset. This may seriously impact the effectiveness of involuntary Chapter 7 filings, because without the debtor's cooperation in filing the tax returns, the case may not proceed.

Conclusion

This article addresses some of the many changes in the practice of bankruptcy law caused by the Act. Practitioners will need to carefully study the new legislation and review its effect on long-standing practices and procedures in the bankruptcy courts. Historically, bankruptcy practitioners and courts have maintained some degree of flexibility to meet the needs of the various constituencies who appear in the court. While there undoubtedly will be a period of adjustment, the ultimate result will be the continued flexibility of the courts and the successful resolution of serious economic difficulties.

Endnotes

¹See Pub. L. No. 109-8, § 1501 (2005), 119 Stat. 23.

²See id. § 1501(b).

³See id. § 1406(b)(2).

⁴See id. § 1213.

⁵See id. § 1404.

⁶11 U.S.C. § 507(a)(1); see also 11 U.S.C. § 101(14A).

⁷11 U.S.C. § 503(b)(1)(A).

⁸See Wis. Stat. § 109.07; 29 U.S.C. § 2102(a).

⁹11 U.S.C. § 503(b)(1)(A)(ii).

¹⁰11 U.S.C. § 508(b)(8); see also 11 U.S.C. § 101(27A).

¹¹11 U.S.C. § 503(b)(9).

¹²11 U.S.C. § 503(c).

¹³11 U.S.C. § 101(31).

¹⁴Id.

¹⁵11 U.S.C. § 341(e).

¹⁶Id.

¹⁷11 U.S.C. § 1102(a)(4).

¹⁸Id.

¹⁹11 U.S.C. § 1102(b)(3).

²⁰Id.

²¹11 U.S.C. § 1115.

²²11 U.S.C. § 1121(d).

²³Id.

²⁴11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(9).

²⁵11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(14).

²⁶11 U.S.C. § 1129(b)(2)(B).

²⁷11 U.S.C. § 1125(a).

²⁸11 U.S.C. § 1112(b).

²⁹11 U.S.C. §§ 101(51C), (51D), 1102(a)(3).

³⁰11 U.S.C. § 1116.

³¹28 U.S.C. § 586(a).

³²11 U.S.C. §§ 308, 1121.

³³11 U.S.C. § 1129.

³⁴11 U.S.C. § 1125(f).

³⁵11 U.S.C. §§ 109(h), 521(b).

³⁶11 U.S.C. § 109(h).

³⁷Id.

³⁸11 U.S.C. § 521(b).

³⁹11 U.S.C. § 707(b).

⁴⁰11 U.S.C. § 707(b)(2)(A)(i).

⁴¹11 U.S.C. § 704(b)(1).

⁴²Id.

⁴³11 U.S.C. § 704(b)(1)(B).

⁴⁴11 U.S.C. § 101(10A).

⁴⁵11 U.S.C. § 707(b)(2)(A).

⁴⁶11 U.S.C. § 707(b)(2)(B).

⁴⁷11 U.S.C. § 707(b)(3).

⁴⁸11 U.S.C. § 101(39A).

⁴⁹See http://factfinder.census.gov/.

⁵⁰11 U.S.C. § 707(b)(4)(C), (D).

⁵¹11 U.S.C. § 707(b)(4)(A), (B).

⁵²11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(3).

⁵³11 U.S.C. § 522(o).

⁵⁴11 U.S.C. § 522(p).

⁵⁵Id.

⁵⁶11 U.S.C. § 522(q).

⁵⁷Id.

⁵⁸11 U.S.C. §§ 727(a)(12), 1141(d)(5)(C), 1328(h).

⁵⁹11 U.S.C. § 362(a).

⁶⁰11 U.S.C. § 362(c)(3).

⁶¹Id.

⁶²11 U.S.C. § 362(c)(3)(C).

⁶³11 U.S.C. § 722.

⁶⁴11 U.S.C. § 521(a)(6).

⁶⁵Id.

⁶⁶Id.

⁶⁷Id.

⁶⁸11 U.S.C. § 362.

⁶⁹11 U.S.C. §362(h); compare 11 U.S.C. § 521(a)(6).

⁷⁰11 U.S.C. § 523.

⁷¹11 U.S.C. § 1328.

⁷²Id.

⁷³11 U.S.C. §§ 727(a)(8), 1328(f).

⁷⁴11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(8).

⁷⁵11 U.S.C. § 1328.

⁷⁶11 U.S.C. § 521(e)(2), (f), (g)(2).

⁷⁷11 U.S.C. § 521(e)(2), (f), (g)(2).

⁷⁸11 U.S.C. § 521(e)(2)(B).

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