All posts in Chapter 11

I had to refer to Article 9 to make sure I understood the difference.   We all know about cash collateral.  The most common business assets that are used for procuring a loan is inventory / equipment / accounts receivable.  Let’s break down the difference in order to understand what the secured creditor has a lien against.

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I had no idea what a dower and curtsy are.  Where did I find these words?  In Section 363 sale/use/lease of property.   Section 363(g) says the trustee may sell property free and clear of any right in nature of a dower or curtesy.    ::::go to google.com::::

A dower or curtesy is a surviving spouse’s right to receive a set portion of the deceased spouse’s estate (1/2 in California).  Dower (not dowry) refers to the portion to which a surviving wife is entitled, while curtesy refers to what a man may claim.  However, because discrimination on the basis of sex is now illegal in most cases, most states have abolished dower and curtesy and generally provide the same benefits regardless of sex — and this amount is often known simply as the statutory share.

Learn something new everyday.

Put this in the category of “stuff I didn’t know.”  I knew that vendors have a right to reclaim goods from an entity that files a bankruptcy petition.  I thought it was goods shipped within 20 days of the petition – typical sort of right.

There are two code sections that deal with this issue.

Section 503(b)(9):  A vendor has an administrative claim for “the value of any goods received by the debtor within 20 days before the date of commencement of a case under this title in which the goods have been sold to the debtor in the ordinary course of such debtor’s business.”  This is really nice.  Read more…

When the Law Offices of M. Jonathan Hayes merged with Simon & Resnik in 2012 (has it really been 5 years!?) I began to work exclusively on petitions filed under my beloved chapter of the Bankruptcy Code, 11.  I recently began to again work on Chp. 13 cases, albeit on a fairly limited basis, and I am continually amazed at the differences between these two most popular reorganizing chapters of the code.

Take a look at the “no-look” fee form we use here in the Central District, the Rights and Responsibilities Agreement between Chapter 13 Debtors and their Attorneys (“RARA”) [court form F3015-1.7.RARA], specifically pages 5-6 (I have added emphasis):

The guidelines in this district for payment of costs incurred in performing the services described in bold face type in this agreement (“Included Costs”) and attorneys’ fees in chapter 13 cases without a detailed fee application provide for the following maximum Included Costs and fees for the services described in this agreement in bold face type (that is, the services described on pages 3 through 5 of this agreement)…

Other than the initial retainer, the attorney may not receive fees directly from the Debtor prior to confirmation. All other fees due through confirmation shall be paid through the plan unless otherwise ordered by the court. Read more…