Interest Rates on Secured Claims in Chapter 13 Cases in the EDKY
The prime rate of interest increased a quarter of a point to 4% effective March 16, 2017. Read on for information on how this affects chapter 13 plans in the EDKY, and what other interest rates are applicable to secured claims.
Deadlines for Filing Prepetition Tax Returns in Chapter 13 Cases
Frequently, debtors who seek bankruptcy relief under chapter 13 have not yet filed some of their tax returns with the IRS or state taxing authority. Section 1308 of the Bankruptcy Code gives chapter 13 debtors an opportunity to get those returns filed so they can deal with their tax debts in the chapter 13 case, but there are deadlines to be met and consequences for failure to comply. Until all tax returns for the previous four years are filed, the plan cannot be confirmed, and if the returns are not timely filed, the debtor’s case could be dismissed. [More]
Delinquent Property Tax Claims in Chapter 13 Cases
Property taxes on real estate in Kentucky constitute a statutory lien on the property. Under state law (KRS Chapter 134), the lien has priority over any other debt on the property. If the property were to be sold, property tax claimants are paid ahead of any mortgages or other liens. How should delinquent property tax claims be treated in a chapter 13 case? Practitioners first need to understand what happens to delinquent property taxes under state law.
Lessons Learned the Hard Way
When debtors cannot comply with terms of a confirmed plan due to unexpected circumstances, the noncompliance cannot always be fixed by modifying the plan or seeking court approval after the fact. This post is about two cases that were dismissed for reasons you might find surprising (but shouldn’t).
Miscellaneous Hot Topics in the EDKY
This post briefly discusses the following topics: Amended Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure eff. 12/1/16; Motions to Incur Debt for Purchase of Vehicle; Motions to Compel Debtors to File Notices of Address Changes; and the 2017 Judge Joe Lee Bankruptcy Institute.
Retainer Agreements, Fee Disclosures, and the EDKY Rights and Responsibilities of Debtors’ Attorneys
Are you adequately and accurately disclosing to your clients and to the court what your fee agreement is for representing debtors in chapter 13 cases in the EDKY? Many attorneys, I fear, are not.
