Here’s an example of a preference—paying a favored debt before filing bankruptcy. If you know what it is, it’s usually not hard to avoid. Last week we explained why paying a creditor before filing bankruptcy could cause problems during bankruptcy. That’s especially true if the creditor you pay is one that you have personal reasons to favor. We explained the circumstances in which such a … Read More
Unexpected Benefit: Resolve Your Preference Problem through Chapter 13
You can avoid the risks involved with dealing with the Chapter 7 trustee if you resolve your preference problem through Chapter 13. Our last several blog posts have been about the problem of preference payments: 3 weeks ago we introduced the problem resulting from paying a favored creditor before you file bankruptcy 2 weeks ago we discussed avoiding the … Read More
Unexpected Benefit: Negotiate Out of a Preference Mess
Your lawyer can likely negotiate with your Chapter 7 trustee to prevent the forced repayment of your prior payment to a relative or friend. Our blog post two weeks ago introduced an uncomfortable problem: preference payments to a friendly creditor. (Please read that blog post before reading this one.) Then last week we discussed two possible solutions to this … Read More
Unexpected Benefit: Use Money from a “Preference” to Pay a Special Debt
Preference law allows you to use money that you paid a creditor before bankruptcy to pay another creditor, one that you want to be paid. Last week we introduced the law of preferences. This law says that if a creditor takes or receives money from you within the 90 days before you file your bankruptcy case, the creditor may need … Read More
Unexpected Benefit: Force a Creditor to Return Your Money
Filing bankruptcy stops garnishments and collections, but it also may be able to make a creditor return your money recently taken from you. Bankruptcy’s “automatic stay” is one of the most immediate and powerful benefits of filing bankruptcy. It immediately stops almost all creditor collection actions against you, your income, and your assets. See Section 362 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. … Read More
Avoid Preference Payments through Good Timing
Sometimes in bankruptcy doing the honestly right thing can cause you major problems. Making preference payments is a good example of this.