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Values, Values, Values

Determinations of values are central to virtually every aspect of a consumer bankruptcy case. How should debtors value assets on their schedules? What should they rely on for value, and what is their attorney’s role and responsibility? When are appraisals needed? What weight is given to BPOs and tax statements? What can creditors and trustees do to challenge the debtor’s values? What quotient of evidence do debtors, creditors and trustees need to litigate the value of a creditor’s collateral, a residence in a chapter 13 lien-strip, or a contested abandonment of property in a chapter 7 case, a contested redemption or a contested exemption?

Bankruptcy and Elder Law

This session will focus on the increasing number of senior citizens filing for bankruptcy. Why are so many elders now filing? What unique challenges do they present? Do their Social Security benefits and pension incomes become available to fund chapter 13 plans? How are reverse mortgages treated in chapters 7 and 13? What happens when an elderly debtor passes away during a chapter 7, 11 or 13 bankruptcy case? What if there is a surviving spouse who is also a joint debtor?

Representing Secured Creditors in Chapters 7 and 13

Even beginning creditors’ attorneys know that the automatic stay prevents them from enforcing their clients’ rights to their collateral. But what can they do in chapter 7 and 13 cases, and when should they do it? This session will focus on the basic legal issues facing secured creditors in these consumer cases and the development of effective and economical strategies for dealing with them. What are the legal standards to obtain relief from the automatic stay? What do the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and the local bankruptcy rules require as attachments? What must the motion allege, and who has the burden of proof if an objection is made? Do these standards differ in chapters 7 and 13? When is the right time to bring a motion to lift a stay in a chapter 7 or 13 case? Should you seek to have a chapter 7 debtor reaffirm your debt? If a chapter 7 debtor doesn’t reaffirm but just keeps making the payments, what should you tell your client to do? How does § 365(p) work, and do you need to have the court involved? Loan modifications are common in chapter 13, but is there such a thing as a loan modification in a chapter 7? Can the court reopen a case to approve a post-discharge reaffirmation or loan modification in chapter 7? Can a chapter 13 debtor force your client to take property they don’t want by surrendering the property or vesting it in your client?

Pre-Bankruptcy Planning Issues and Strategies for Debtors’ Attorneys Regarding Protection of Assets

This session will focus on debtors’ attorneys’ pre-bankruptcy advice and planning regarding the protection of a debtor’s assets, including maximizing exemptions without getting into trouble, analyzing and counseling the client on the vulnerability of transfers of property that the debtor already made to family members or trusts before seeking your counsel, permissible actions to mitigate liabilities on account of a debtor’s pre-petition transfers, what can legitimately and ethically be done to enable debtors to maximize their exemptions without jeopardizing their discharges, and the use of family trusts, self-settled trusts and the effect of the new Domestic Asset Protection Trust Act in Michigan.

e-Learning Topics

e-learning-topics

Administrative Expense Claims

Reviews processes and requirements for post-petition claims that get priority payment, including professional fees, utilities, and goods received within 20 days of filing.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Examines mediation, arbitration, and other non-litigation approaches to resolve bankruptcy disputes efficiently and cost-effectively.

Asset Sales

Analyzes issues practitioners may face when completing asset sales in and out of bankruptcy, and best practices for successful outcomes.

Automatic Stay

Explores scope and application of automatic stay protection, including exceptions, violations, and procedures for obtaining stay relief.

Claims

Discusses the evaluation, trading, and resolution of bankruptcy claims. Covers creditor rights and their impact on restructuring.

Bankruptcy Litigation

Studies recent case law and rules of practice, evidence and procedure, connecting professionals engaged in bankruptcy-related litigation.

Certification

Covers professional certification requirements and processes for bankruptcy practitioners, including specialized credentials and continuing education.

Corporate Governance

Analyzes fiduciary duties, management responsibilities, and board oversight during bankruptcy proceedings and restructuring.

Court Administration

Reviews court procedures, filing requirements, and administrative processes in bankruptcy cases.

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