Blogs & Resources

There are numerous provisions built into the Bankruptcy Code which restrain a debtor from abusing the system by filing for bankruptcy over and over again. This includes periods of time in which filing is barred and an inability to obtain multiple discharges during a specified length of time, to name a few. Further, dismissal of a bankruptcy action may have a negative impact on the debtor and provide some relief for creditors in a future action.

Is a provision in a contract waiving a party’s right to file a bankruptcy action, or limiting that party’s rights in a future bankruptcy action, valid?  In short, it depends.  In general, contractual agreements which limit or deny a party’s ability to file a bankruptcy action have been held to […]

Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs) have remedies available, under Florida law, when its residents fail to pay their periodic HOA assessments in a timely manner. One such remedy is a statutory lien pursuant to Chapter 720, Florida Statutes. According to Florida law, when a community is subject to mandatory HOA fees, the HOA has the statutory authority to levy assessments and to secure its claim for any unpaid assessments by placing a lien on the debtor’s property within that community. Fla. Stat. § 720.3085(1).

In every bankruptcy action that is filed, a stay of any collection-type activities automatically comes into place for the duration of the pending action.  However, there are certain proceedings that are exempted from this automatic stay and allowed to proceed against the debtor during a pending bankruptcy action.  One such […]

Section 362 of Title 11 of the United States Code provides for the Automatic Stay in all bankruptcy proceedings, including Chapter 7, 11 and 13 filings. The Automatic Stay is invoked immediately upon a debtor filing for bankruptcy and once invoked it instantly halts all actions by creditors to collect on pre-bankruptcy debts.

By Hans Wahl, Esquire

The first consideration for creditors during bankruptcy proceedings is the Automatic Stay provision of the Bankruptcy Code. Section 362 of the United States Bankruptcy Code provides the provisions governing the Automatic Stay. The Automatic Stay works as an immediate “injunction” that halts all actions by creditors and potential creditors to collect on pre-bankruptcy debts from a debtor who has declared bankruptcy.

The Automatic Stay applies in all bankruptcy proceedings, including Chapters 7, 11 and 13, and this provision is invoked automatically and immediately upon the debtor filing for bankruptcy. The Automatic Stay is a benefit to debtors because once invoked it works to immediately stop all actions and proceedings to recover claims against the debtor. Conversely, it is a detriment to creditors as they can no longer continue with either collection efforts or legal action for their claims against the debtor.

However, there are exceptions to the Automatic Stay which provide relief to creditors. For creditors seeking to avoid the Automatic Stay, there are three subsections of Section 362, which can be invaluable if taken advantage of properly. These include §§§ 362(b), (d) & (f), which can be considered the creditor’s best allies within the Bankruptcy Code.

What happens to the rights of a member of a limited liability company when that member files bankruptcy?  In Florida, that member is automatically terminated from membership in the LLC and any remaining interests in the LLC become property of the bankruptcy Trustee.  But is it really that simple? Limited […]

For well over a century, Florida’s Constitution has made the homestead exempt from the claims of creditors. Public Health Trust v. Lopez, 531 So. 2d 946, 948 (Fla. 1988). Florida’s constitutional provisions provides one of the most debtor-friendly homestead exemptions in the country, and debtors are permitted to divert substantial assets to the purchase of new and extravagant homes that can be shielded from creditors. Florida’s Unlimited Homestead Exemption Does Have Some Limits: Part I, 77 Fla. Bar J. 60 (2003). There are, however, exceptions to the rule. This blog post will focus on one exception: the creditor’s ability to collect on homestead property located in a municipality that exceeds one-half acre.

Have you ever represented a creditor in a bankruptcy action where the debtor and/or the debtor’s attorney seem to be dragging their feet in moving the action forward?  In these situations, it may feel like your client will never see relief for its claim.  However, there are multiple methods of […]

Prior to 2005, bankruptcy courts across the nation were plagued by fraudulent bankruptcy filings by individuals who just wanted to get rid of their debt, but who did not necessarily qualify for such relief.  To deal with the overwhelming number of abusive bankruptcy actions, Congress passed into law an act […]