what if my attorney won't file a motion for hardship discharge

by Prof. Tyson Rosenbaum 9 min read

If your attorney fails to file the motion for discharge, then your case will be closed without a discharge. Which means that it's like the bankruptcy never happened, you'd still owe your creditors the full amount, etc.

Full Answer

What happens if I don't qualify for a hardship discharge?

The hardship discharge is more limited than the standard discharge and does not apply to any debts that are non-dischargeable in a chapter 7 case. In the event that a debtor is deceased, this event should follow the filing of a Suggestion of Death. Oftentimes, this filing is accompanied by a Motion to Waive Financial Management Course and/or a Motion to Waive Filing of Section …

What is a hardship discharge in bankruptcy?

Dec 15, 2014 · If your attorney fails to file the motion for discharge, then your case will be closed without a discharge. Which means that it's like the bankruptcy never happened, you'd still owe your creditors the full amount, etc.

How do I get a chapter 13 hardship discharge?

Select [ Bankruptcy > Motions/Applications ]. Enter the case number (e.g, xx-xxxxx). Select [ Hardship Discharge] from the event list. Skip the Joint Filing screen. Select the party filer. Browse to select the motion (.pdf file). Modify the text as appropriate.

Can Chapter 13 bankruptcy be discharged early?

To meet this requirement, you don't have to file and lose a motion for modification. You just need to show the bankruptcy court that you don't have enough money to pay into a modified plan. If you don't qualify for a hardship discharge, it's likely because you need to pay money to your unsecured creditors.

What do you need for hardship discharge?

To qualify for a hardship discharge, the change in your circumstances must not be your fault. Also, you must typically show that a serious and permanent reason or condition prevents you from completing your plan, such as a life-changing medical condition that arose after filing your case.

What does hardship discharge mean?

For some, the answer is a Chapter 13 hardship discharge. A hardship discharge is granted by the bankruptcy court to a debtor unable to complete her Chapter 13 repayment plan, and will end the case before the plan termination date.

What is a Notice of Chapter 7 case closed without discharge?

If a bankruptcy case is closed without a discharge because an individual debtor did not timely file a Certificate of Completion of Instructional Course Concerning Personal Financial Management, a debtor must file a Motion to Reopen the Case. Closing does not necessarily mean that all adversary proceedings are finished.

How long does a Chapter 13 discharge take?

Since a chapter 12 or chapter 13 plan may provide for payments to be made over three to five years, the discharge typically occurs about four years after the date of filing.

Is a hardship discharge honorable?

Applying for a hardship or dependency separation can result in either discharge or transfer to the inactive (non-drilling) reserves. Characterization of service will normally be Honorable or, when the service record has issues, General (under Honorable Conditions).

Is Chapter 13 a good idea?

While technically any individual can file for bankruptcy on his/her or own, i.e. without an attorney, there is almost universal agreement that filing Chapter 13 without an attorney is a bad idea. A very bad idea. The attorney is an added bankruptcy cost, but not doing so may wind up costing more in the long run.Jul 20, 2021

Why do bankruptcies get dismissed?

Bankruptcy cases get dismissed for a variety of reasons ranging from intentional misconduct (such as fraud) to simply failing to file the correct forms with the court.

Can you stop a Chapter 7?

You Don't Have the Right to Dismiss a Chapter 7 Case If you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must be prepared to complete it because, unlike Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you don't have the right to back out. Generally, you can only dismiss your Chapter 7 bankruptcy if you have a good reason (good cause).

What is the difference between Chapter 13 dismissal and discharge?

A discharge is a win! The bankruptcy discharge order wipes out your personal legal liability to pay a debt. A dismissal is usually a loss. It means the bankruptcy case was closed before a discharge was entered.

Does Chapter 13 trustee check your bank account?

Does Chapter 13 Trustee Check Your Bank Account? Yes, it's highly likely that your appointed trustee will check both your personal bank accounts and any business-related bank accounts which you may have under your name.Jan 23, 2022

What happens when my Chapter 13 is discharged?

The discharge releases the debtor from all debts provided for by the plan or disallowed (under section 502), with limited exceptions. Creditors provided for in full or in part under the chapter 13 plan may no longer initiate or continue any legal or other action against the debtor to collect the discharged obligations.

What happens after a Chapter 13 is discharged?

A Chapter 13 Plan may modify an automobile lien and if the plan completes and you receive a discharge the debt will be gone and the car lienholder is obligated to release its lien upon discharge. In certain circumstances a Chapter 13 Plan and subsequent discharge may avoid a second or third mortgage lien.Dec 11, 2020

How to get a hardship discharge?

The court will grant your request for a hardship discharge if you can prove three conditions: 1 Circumstances beyond your control. You failed to complete your plan payments due to circumstances "for which you should not justly be held accountable." Your burden is to show more than just a temporary job loss or physical disability. The key to proving the permanence of your condition will likely be medical evidence. 2 Unsecured creditors received adequate payment. Based on what you have already paid into the plan, your unsecured creditors have received at least what they would have received if you had filed for Chapter 7. (This is typically a hard condition to meet unless you have little or no nonexempt property.) 3 Modification of your plan is not practical. To meet this requirement, you don't have to file and lose a motion for modification. You just need to show the bankruptcy court that you don't have enough money to pay into a modified plan.

What are student loans?

student loans. most federal, state, and local taxes, as well as any amounts you borrowed or charged on a credit card to pay those taxes. child support, alimony, and debts resulting from a divorce or separation decree. fines or restitution imposed in a criminal-type proceeding.

Can you convert a Chapter 13 bankruptcy to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy?

If you don't qualify for a hardship discharge, it's likely because you need to pay money to your unsecured creditors. If that's the case, you can convert from a Chapter 13 to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The Chapter 7 trustee will sell your nonexempt property (assets you can't protect with a bankruptcy exemption) and distribute ...

What is hardship discharge?

A hardship discharge is a discharge the court grants you before you complete all of the required payments under your Chapter 13 repayment plan. To receive a hardship discharge, you must file a motion with the bankruptcy court and satisfy all three of the following conditions: You failed to complete your payments because ...

What is Chapter 13 hardship discharge?

A Chapter 13 hardship discharge is similar to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge, and some debts survive Chapter 7 because it wipes out only dischargeable nonpriority unsecured debts. A Chapter 13 hardship discharge won't eliminate the following types of debts: priority debt. student loans, and.

How long does a Chapter 13 bankruptcy last?

But a Chapter 13 plan typically lasts three to five years, so it's not uncommon to experience a significant change in financial circumstances. If you can't continue to make your payments, you can ask the court for ...

What happens to unsecured creditors in Chapter 7?

The amount of money your unsecured creditors would have received in Chapter 7 bankruptcy depends on the amount of nonexempt property you own. Nonexempt property gets sold in Chapter 7. By contrast, you pay your creditors for nonexempt property as part of your Chapter 13 repayment plan—which is why you get to keep it.

Can you change your income in Chapter 13?

It's not uncommon for a debtor to have an income change during a Chapter 13 case. If you can't pay your current payment, you'll want to see if it can be adjusted before you drop out of your plan altogether. Your bankruptcy lawyer will review your matter and advise you of the best course of action.

Can you modify your Chapter 13 plan?

When Is a Chapter 13 Plan Modification Not Feasible? If your circumstances change after filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, bankruptcy laws allow you to modify your plan accordingly. For example, if your income goes down during bankruptcy, you might be able to modify your plan to reduce your payment amount.

What is the difference between bankruptcy discharge and hardship discharge?

The first and most obvious difference is that while the hardship discharge may relieve the debtor of many remaining unsecured debts, a bankruptcy discharge does not eliminate liens. In a successful Chapter 13 plan, the debtor catches up payments on or entirely pays off secured debt, eliminating or significantly forestalling the risk of foreclosure or repossession. However, when the debtor is unable to complete the plan, some or all of the property serving as collateral for secured debts may be at risk once again.

How long do you have to pay Chapter 13?

In Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you agree to pay your disposable income to the bankruptcy trustee appointed to administer your case for three to five years. On successful completion of the plan, any remaining balance on non-priority unsecured debt (credit card balances, personal loans, medical bills, and the like, but not student loans), gets discharged. Your income determines the minimum length of time you must make payments, called the applicable commitment period. Here’s how it works.#N#• Below your state’s median income. If your income is less than the median income in your state and you want to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy instead of Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must pay all of your disposable income into the plan for at least three years. However, your disposable income is figured differently. The court will consider your actual expenses.#N#• Above your state’s median income. If your income is above the median in your state, the applicable commitment period is five years. Throughout this period, you must pay either your disposable income or the value of the property the Chapter 7 trustee would have sold for the benefit your creditors (your non-exempt property), whichever amount is greater.#N#Why You Usually Can’t Pay Off Your Plan Early#N#It’s unlikely that the court will grant you a discharge wiping out a debt balance if you don’t pay your disposable income for your entire commitment period. Much like a contract, you must do certain things before you’re entitled to the discharge. Here are the terms you agreed to:#N#• to pay all of your disposable income to your creditors (or the value of your non-exempt property, whichever is greater)#N#• for three to five years, and

What happens if you don't pay 100% of your debt?

If you suffer a financial setback, and your plan pays less than 100% of what you owe, the court might end your plan early if your situation doesn’t look like it will improve. Here are the requirements for a hardship discharge:#N#• You’ve paid your creditors at least as much as they would have received in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.#N#• You’ve suffered a change of circumstances due to no fault of your own.#N#• There’s no reason to believe your financial condition will improve.#N#• A payment modification isn’t practical because you don’t have enough discretionary income to support a plan.#N#If you successfully prove these criteria, the court will end your plan early, grant you a hardship discharge, and wipe out your non-priority, unsecured debt (except student loans).

Can a Chapter 13 discharge be modified?

While some circumstances, such as a permanent disability or a terminal illness, may make it impossible for the debtor to make payments under even a modified plan, modification is preferable when possible. A debtor who meets all three criteria may be granted a discharge without having completed payments under the Chapter 13 plan. But, the discharge won’t necessarily resolve all debts.

Can you discharge debt in Chapter 7?

Not all unsecured debts are dischargeable in Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In Chapter 13 bankruptcy, some debts–or a portion thereof–that would not be eligible for discharge in Chapter 7 may be eliminated. For example, in a Chapter 13 case the debtor may be able to discharge some or all debt arising from:#N#• Willful or malicious damage to property (but not to a person)#N#• Debt incurred to pay non-dischargeable tax debt#N#• Property settlements in divorce or separation proceedings#N#Ultimately, a hardship discharge in a Chapter 13 case won’t provide all of the benefits that successful plan completion followed by discharge could. However, for those who qualify, a hardship discharge can provide some relief to debtors whose changing circumstances have made successful plan completion impossible. If you can’t complete your Chapter 13 repayment plan because of an unexpected event, such as a job loss, you might be able to ask the bankruptcy court to discharge your debt early. In this article, you’ll learn what you’ll need to show to qualify for a hardship discharge in Chapter 13 bankruptcy.#N#The court will grant your request for a hardship discharge if you can prove three conditions:#N#• Circumstances beyond your control. You failed to complete your plan payments due to circumstances “for which you should not justly be held accountable.” Your burden is to show more than just a temporary job loss or physical disability. The key to proving the permanence of your condition will likely be medical evidence.#N#• Unsecured creditors received adequate payment. Based on what you have already paid into the plan, your unsecured creditors have received at least what they would have received if you had filed for Chapter 7.#N#• Modification of your plan is not practical. To meet this requirement, you don’t have to file and lose a motion for modification. You just need to show the bankruptcy court that you don’t have enough money to pay into a modified plan.#N#If you don’t qualify for a hardship discharge, it’s likely because you need to pay money to your unsecured creditors. If that’s the case, you can convert from a Chapter 13 to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The Chapter 7 trustee will sell your non-exempt property (assets you can’t protect with a bankruptcy exemption) and distribute the funds to your creditors.

Can a Chapter 13 bankruptcy be discharged?

Under Section 1328 (b) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, a discharge may be granted to a Chapter 13 debtor who has not completed the plan if and only if:#N#• The debtor’s failure to complete payments under the plan is attributable to “circumstances for which the debtor should not justly be held accountable”

What happens if you can't complete a plan payment?

If you cannot complete plan payments because of a layoff or illness, you will have to show that the situation is unlikely to improve shortly.

Can you change your hardship discharge to Chapter 7?

If the court finds that you are not eligible for a hardship discharge, and you aren’t able to modify your plan, you might be able to convert your case to Chapter 7 (although you risk losing property), or dismiss your case altogether.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Discharge and Non Completion of a Payment Plan

When you file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy you’ll be given a payment arrangement. You are responsible for making payments for three to five years and at the end of that time, your remaining debts can be discharged.

Hardship Discharge of Debts in Chapter 13

It is possible to get a Chapter 13 discharge without completing the planned payments, but it’s going to take effort on your part and it is something that is best done with the guidance of an experienced bankruptcy attorney.

Should You Convert Chapter 13 to Chapter 7?

For some people experiencing hardship with their Chapter 13 bankruptcy plans, the better option is to convert their existing plan to Chapter 7. The case remains the same and you won’t need to pay a new filing fee.