Los Angeles Bankruptcy Blog

People think that being a bankruptcy lawyer is easy, just about filling in forms. Here is how I spent part of my day on Friday:

• Preparing an Objection to Proof of Claim for a Chapter 13 case where the pro se creditor thinks they should be a priority debt compared to a general unsecured non-priority claim. Of course, I needed a Declaration to go along with this for my client, the debtor.
• Researching and negotiating a claim for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy where the Los Angeles Chapter 13 Trustee thinks that it might be unfair discrimination between claims in the same class to pay one nondischargeble claim 100% compared to the others.
• Responding to a letter from the United States Trustee questioning whether a client should be entitled to a Chapter 7 discharge based on prior income.
• Replying to a creditor who is very curious about massive credit card spending the debtor in another Chapter 7 case did prior to filing bankruptcy. There may be an adversary proceeding here on 11 USC 523.
• Answering a bunch of questions from existing clients who, after hiring me to let ther house go in foreclosure during the bankruptcy, are now suddenly prey to realtors and real estate agents who want to “help them” with a quick sale and why bankruptcy is better than a short sale.
• Personally reviewed a bankruptcy petition (you know, the simple bankruptcy forms) with a client before we both signed it and I file bankruptcy for him.
• Preparing for court on Tuesday where I’m helping three clients get their cases “confirmed” at their Confirmation Hearings at the bankruptcy court in Woodland Hills. (do we have the mortgage declarations? the plan payments? did we satisfy the Chapter 13 trustee’s requests for business expenses and short form?).

And I didn’t even fill in one free bankruptcy form.

People don’t realize that practicing bankruptcy law is a bit more involved than, say, filing taxes. I love it, and I wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world.