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ABI Journal

New Mexico

A Chapter 11 Debtor May Sometimes Prosecute an Appeal After Conversion to Chapter 7

After conversion, the debtor was entitled to prosecute an appeal at the debtor’s expense when the appeal involved the debtor’s personal liability.

Although Exempt, Social Security Benefits Must Be Reported in Subchapter V

While neither Social Security benefits nor post-petition income are estate property in Subchapter V, they must be included in an individual’s monthly operating reports, Bankruptcy Judge Jacobvitz says.

Having Committed Fraud Doesn’t Prevent a Debtor from Vacating a Judicial Lien

If a creditor’s judicial lien is avoided, how can the creditor collect the underlying debt if it’s excepted from discharge?

Rooker-Feldman Doesn’t Bar Review of an Erroneous Decision About the Automatic Stay

The Supremacy Clause allows bankruptcy courts to set aside erroneous decisions by state courts about the applicability of the automatic stay.

What Are ‘7’ Trustees Paid When the Case Converts to ‘13’ Before Distributions?

Courts have at least six theories about compensation for chapter 7 trustees for valuable services rendered when the case converts to chapter 13 before the trustee has made any distributions.

IRS Standard Deduction for Housing Can Be Taken Without Mortgage or Rent Expense

Official Form 122C-2 could be read to deprive a chapter 13 debtor of the IRS standard housing deduction when the statute permits the deduction.

Properly Written, a Divorce Decree Doesn’t Create a Debtor/Creditor Relationship

A properly written divorce decree can create a separate property interest that won’t be part of the bankruptcy estate of a bankrupt spouse.

The Standard for Enlarging the Time to File a Subchapter V Plan

Judge Jacobvitz of New Mexico follows Judge Harner of Maryland in developing a standard for deciding whether a Subchapter V debtor may extend the time for filing a plan.

State Court Is the ‘More Appropriate Forum’ to Divide Marital Property

The bankruptcy court can divide marital property, but just because it can doesn’t mean it should, Judge Thuma says.

Survivor’s Benefits Under a Pension Plan Might Not Become Estate Property

Unlike Clark v. Rameker, where an inherited IRA wasn’t exempt, the inheritance of benefits under a pension plan might not become estate property under Section 541(c)(2).