Bankruptcy: Answering Your Legal Questions

Bankruptcy is a federal court-mandated procedure to relieve individuals and businesses from debts while protecting and preserving the rights of secured creditors and providing unsecured creditors with equal treatment of their claims.

There are four types of bankruptcy that individuals may select, depending on their particular financial circumstances. Most individuals file under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code (the Code), sometimes known as a “liquidation” bankruptcy. Chapter 11 is used by corporations and individuals to reorganize their business affairs. It is a more complex proceeding, usually involving higher amounts of assets and debts. Chapter 12 is a similar reorganization method, but is limited to use by family farmers. Chapter 13, also referred to as a “wage-earner” or “debt-adjustment” plan, is available to individuals, including sole proprietor businesses, that intend to use future income to pay some or all of one’s debts according to a plan proposed by the individual (within certain statutory limitations) to meet his or her needs.

This pamphlet concentrates on Chapters 7 and 13, which are more frequently sued by individuals with mostly consumer debts.​

There are relatively few limitations on who can file bankruptcy. The decision of whether to file, and under what Chapter, is based on each individual’s need for relief from debts, their ability to pay, and their capacity and willingness to undertake a procedure that will have long-term consequences on their financial life. Prospective debtors whose debts are primarily consumer debts (debts which are incurred for a household purpose), must also complete the Means Test to determine whether they are eligible to file under Chapter 7. If the results of the Means Test indicate that you are ineligible to file under Chapter 7, a debt-counselor or attorney can help you consider other forms of bankruptcy and alternatives to bankruptcy.​

In general, bankruptcy proceedings under any Chapter involve:

• The debtor – the person who files bankruptcy;
• The creditors – any persons, firms, or entities that claim the debtor owes them money;
• The trustee – a court-appointed person who administers the bankruptcy proceedings and any property available for distribution to creditors (called the bankruptcy estate). The trustee represents the interests of the unsecured creditors, and sometimes liquidate nonexempt assets, investigate the debtor’s financial affairs, examine creditors’ proofs of claim, provide information to parties in interest, file reports and estate tax returns, and recommend, when appropriate, criminal or civil proceedings against the debtor who has committed fraud or other crimes in connection with the case; and​
  
• The bankruptcy judge – the person who presides over any hearings on disputed matters in connection with the case

In general, the bankruptcy estate consists of all property owned by the debtor or in which the debtor has an interest whether individually or as a co-owner with any other person. In a Chapter 13 case, this also includes post-filing income from all sources, including the income of a non-filing spouse. The estate includes property the debtor acquired by inheritance, divorce settlements, and life insurance proceeds which the debtor becomes entitled to within 180 days after the filing of this case. It also includes property recovered by the trustee under certain Code provisions. The estate does not include exempt assets. If there is property that a debtor cannot exempt, that property may be available for administration by the trustee.

The most commonly used form of bankruptcy, Chapter 7, provides debtors who have limited financial means with a fresh start by eliminating many of a debtor’s most common financial obligations through the discharge granted at the end of the case. In return for the discharge, the debtor must fully and accurately disclose all of his or her assets, the current fair market value of those assets, and all his or her liabilities. If a debtor has nonexempt assets, the nonexempt assets are sold by the Chapter 7 panel trustee assigned to the case with the proceeds distributed to creditors according to priorities set forth in the Code. Generally, priority expenses of administering the estate, unpaid wages, domestic support obligations, and taxes are paid ahead of ordinary unsecured claims. ​Creditors must file formal proofs of claim within the time fixed by the court to share proportionately in any proceeds remaining after payment by the panel trustee of priority claims. Property that is subject to an otherwise unavoidable lien, or a “secured” claim, is generally not administered by the panel trustee. Such property is covered by the contract between the parties and the rights and remedies available under state law.

Advantages:

• With a few notable exceptions, bankruptcy stops ongoing legal actions against the debtor, prevents a creditor from beginning new legal actions against the debtor for debts incurred by the debtor before filing, and prohibits creditors from contacting the debtor, or anyone else besides the debtor’s attorney, to discuss or seek collection of a debt;
• Most unsecured debts relating to credit card debts, medical bills, civil judgments, past-due accounts, and judgments due or repossessions and foreclosures may be discharged;
• Most debtors are able to keep all or most of their property through federal or state exemptions; and
• ​Certain liens and certain involuntary transfers (such as garnishments), can be avoided if timely action is taken.

Disadvantages:

• Debts relating to certain taxes, government fines, forfeitures and restitution, criminal or fraudulent conduct, drunk driving, most student loans, willful and malicious injury claims, and debts assigned in a divorce, including child and spousal support, might not be dischargeable;
• Creditors having a mortgage or security interest in a home or in motor vehicles might be able to repossess their collateral after the bankruptcy unless the debtor reaffirms the debt or redeems the collateral;
• Bankruptcy filings are matters of public record and are generally noted on a debtor’s credit history for 10 years, making it more difficult to obtain credit in the future. A stigma of being viewed as financially or socially irresponsible may be associated with bankruptcy. Some debtors find the proceeds embarrassing since they must submit to a public examination about their financial affairs and must provide detailed financial disclosures, which are open to the public;
• There are limits on how often a debtor may receive a discharge. Debtors contemplating bankruptcy must consider their future financial stability and ability to avoid the problems resulting in the bankruptcy; and
• There may be some tax consequences from the filing of a bankruptcy. ​Although a discharge in bankruptcy is not considered a forgiveness of debt, there may be tax consequences for a debt in the years following the receipt of a bankruptcy discharge. Debtors contemplating bankruptcy should also seek advice from their attorney, or from an accountant or tax preparer, regarding potential tax consequences.

It is important to understand that not all debts are subject to discharge under Chapter 7. Among the common debts unaffected by bankruptcy are certain income and business taxes, alimony, child support, and property divisions pursuant to a divorce decree or marital settlement agreement. Governmentally imposed fines, forfeitures or restitution, most student loans, and liabilities resulting from drunken driving are also generally not dischargeable.

Certain abuses of each advances and credit cards on the eve of bankruptcy are presumed to be nondischargeable. Debts arising from fraud, misrepresentation, theft, and willful and malicious injuries to a person or property might not be discharged. For those forms of debts to be held nondischargeable, the creditor must bring a lawsuit against the debtor in the bankruptcy court within 90 days of the filing, and obtain a judgment declaring the debt, or some portion thereof, to be nondischargeable. In such a proceeding, the debtor has the same rights as in any other civil proceeding in federal court, except the right to a jury trial.

The entire discharge may be denied or revoked if the debtor engaged in fraud (such as making false statements, concealing assets, or fraudulently transferring assets) before, in, or in connection with the case. Proceedings to deny or revoke a discharge are subject to the right to a nonjury trial on the merits.

Finally, while a debtor’s personal liability for debts secured by a home, car, boat, furnishings, and the like may be discharged in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the creditor’s right to enforce its lien against collateral pledged for a loan (such as the right of repossession) is generally unaffected by bankruptcy. ​To retain the collateral, the debtor may have to reaffirm the debt or redeem the collateral.

Wisconsin law provides certain protections, called exemptions, that restrict the types of property a creditor holding a judgment may seize and sell to satisfy the creditor’s claim. The federal bankruptcy laws also contain certain property exemptions that protect similar assets, but in different amounts. Specific dollar-value of these exemptions are not listed here because they are subject to legislative change. The types of property for which exemptions are permitted include a specified amount of equity in, among other things, one’s personal residence, vehicles, household goods and personal effects, tools of trade, life insurance, and even deposit accounts. Generally, qualified retirement benefits may be excluded from the bankruptcy estate in whole or n part.

When a debtor’s property (called collateral) is secured by a lien (such as a home mortgage, vehicle purchase loan, some furniture purchases, and so on), the debtor must decide whether to retain it or surrender it to the secured creditor. If the decision is to surrender the collateral, the unpaid portion of the loan (or any deficiency after sale of the collateral) generally is subject to discharge along with the unsecured debts.

If a debtor wishes to retain the collateral, the debtor must choose either to reaffirm the debt (sign a written document agreeing to continue making regular or agreed-upon payments on the debt and grant the creditor all pre-bankruptcy rights upon a subsequent default) or redeem the collateral (pay the creditor the present fair market value of the collateral in one lump sum). Only items used for personal, household, and family use (including vehicles, but not real estate) are subject to redemption. A motor vehicle cannot be redeemed for less than the balance due if the loan is less than 2.5 years old.

Finally, a debtor may be able to avoid certain liens on items held for personal or household use and for business assets (but not vehicles or real estate) and retain the items without either reaffirming the debt or redeeming the collateral. ​This can help provide the debtor with a fresh start.

Chapter 13 is a proceeding under which a debtor proposes, to his or her creditors and the court, a plan that enables the debtor to repay as much debt as is feasible given the debtor’s financial circumstances. To be confirmed by the court, a plan must provide that the debtor’s future disposable income (the debtor’s remaining income after reasonable monthly expenses are subtracted) be subject to court administration. After determining a reasonable budget, the debtor’s disposable income is paid (generally monthly) either directly by the debtor, or by a debtor’s employer pursuant to a wage assignment order, to the trustee. After taking a commission, the trustee pays the creditors according to the plan provisions. Generally, a plan must last a minimum of three years, but can and often does last up to five years. At the end of the plan, the debtor is entitled to receive a discharge of any remaining unpaid unsecured debts.

Chapter 13 is limited to individuals and sole proprietors of unincorporated businesses who have a regular source of income, and whose secured debts are less than $1,257,850 with unsecured debts of less than $419,275. These debt limits in Chapter 13 are adjusted annually. The term “regular source of income” has been interpreted to mean income that is sufficiently definite and certain to enable the debtor to assign it to the trustee on a regular basis for payment by the trustee to creditors.

Advantages:

• Bars post-filing creditor actions against some co-debtors of consumer debt;
• Debtor retains all desired property, provided creditors obtain at least as much under the plan as they would under Chapter 7;
• Debtor may have the ability to “cram down” secured debts (secured by collateral other than the debtor’s homestead) to the value of the collateral;
• Debtor may be able to modify interst rates on some loans and extend the payment term on secured debts (secured by collateral other than the debtor’s homestead) to make them more affordable;
• Debtor may cure loan defaults by making installment payments, and reinstate accelerated mortgage and other notes;
• The Chapter 13 discharge is broader than under Chapter 7, so that more types of debts are dischargeable, the most common of which is likely debts assigned in a divorce; and
• Debtor may be able to force affordable payments on secured and tax creditors that cannot be done under Chapter 7.

Disadvantages:

• Debtor’s future disposable income is subject to administration by the trustee for 3 t0 5 years;
• Under the plan, the debtor must establish and live under a firm, but potentially adjustable, budget during the repayment period;
• The trustee is entitled to a commission on payments paid to creditors, which reduces the value of what is paid to creditors; and
• ​Still appears as a bankruptcy on credit reports.

Bankruptcy involves a series of steps that usually include the following actions.

1. The debtor gathers financial information for use in preparing the petition for bankruptcy and the schedules of assets, debts, income and expenses, the statement of financial affairs, and statement of intentions concerning secured debts;
2. The debtor obtains the required pre-filing credit counseling;
3. The debtor files the petition, schedules, statement of financial affairs, and pays the filing fee to the bankruptcy court;
4. The court notifies scheduled creditors of the case filing, the meeting of creditors, the automatic injunctive stay against creditor actions, the last date for creditors to file challenges to the debtor’s discharge or the dischargeability of a particular debt, the initial status of assets available in the case, and other pertinent information;
5. The debtor appears under oath and on record to be examined at the meeting of creditors and answers questions from the trustee and any creditors;
6. The debtor completes the reaffirmation, redemption, or surrender of secured collateral according to the statement of intentions filed with the case; and
7. All parties receive the discharge notice approximately 90 days after filing a Chapter 7 case or at the conclusion of payments in a Chapter 13 case.
8. A discharge will not be issued unless the debtor has completed a prescribed course in financial management.

As with most other legal matters, any person may represent himself or herself before the bankruptcy court. Bankruptcy, however, is a highly refined procedure that is full of detail and interpretations based on prior case law. For example, between 2010 and 2016 only 2.3% of Chapter 13 cases without an attorney had a completed plan. Each case is different as are the consequences to the debtor. Proper planning in anticipation of bankruptcy may save a debtor money or property and countless hours of revising improperly completed documents. After a thorough analysis, bankruptcy may be unnecessary. A lawyer skilled in bankruptcy law can assist a debtor so that the process is as effective for the debtor as the specific circumstances allow.