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California Bankruptcy Questions & Answers
3 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy for California on
Q: Filing ch 7 in California in a week current vehicle is inoperable should I get a car loan before filing?

Filing with husband our joint car loan is the car I use that’s inoperable I want to surrender that car and keep this new one. My credit is at 620 I already got approved for a zero down loan for a $18000 car

W. J. Winterstein Jr.
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W. J. Winterstein Jr.
answered on Jan 14, 2024

Whether you file a Ch. 7 or Ch. 13, you will not be able to modify/reduce the new car loan if you do it.

If you need the car for work or whatever, it's probably better to do it now than try after a bankruptcy filing (your credit score will drop to about 500, and every lender will...
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3 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy for California on
Q: Filing ch 7 in California in a week current vehicle is inoperable should I get a car loan before filing?

Filing with husband our joint car loan is the car I use that’s inoperable I want to surrender that car and keep this new one. My credit is at 620 I already got approved for a zero down loan for a $18000 car

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 23, 2024

Deciding to take out a new car loan just before filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in California requires careful consideration. When you file for bankruptcy, your financial transactions leading up to the filing will be closely examined. Acquiring a new debt right before filing could raise concerns... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy for California on
Q: Filing ch 7 in California in a week current vehicle is inoperable should I get a car loan before filing?

Filing with husband our joint car loan is the car I use that’s inoperable I want to surrender that car and keep this new one. My credit is at 620 I already got approved for a zero down loan for a $18000 car

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 14, 2024

Hi there! Happy Sunday. Here are a few key points to consider regarding getting a car loan before filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in California:

- Taking out a new car loan shortly before filing bankruptcy may be considered fraudulent, as it incurs new debt with the intention of discharging...
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4 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy and Tax Law for California on
Q: Homestead laws and tax liens, can tax lien be done on homestead home/property?

Can bankruptcy remove liens and protect my home/property

W. J. Winterstein Jr.
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W. J. Winterstein Jr.
answered on Jan 11, 2024

There is an interplay between federal bankruptcy law and statutory provisions, and the law of the State about property rights. Generally speaking, current State law determines the nature of property interests of the debtor and creditors. Bankruptcy Code statutes (e.g., Sec. 506) appear to provide... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy and Tax Law for California on
Q: Homestead laws and tax liens, can tax lien be done on homestead home/property?

Can bankruptcy remove liens and protect my home/property

Robert P. Taylor
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answered on Jan 11, 2024

Generally, you can remove a judgment lien in bankruptcy if it impairs your homestead exemption. Unless the lien results from a judgment, It generally can't be avoided in bankruptcy. For example, liens resulting from loans, tax liens, mechanics liens and other similar liens attached to the... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy and Tax Law for California on
Q: Homestead laws and tax liens, can tax lien be done on homestead home/property?

Can bankruptcy remove liens and protect my home/property

David S. Greenberg
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David S. Greenberg
answered on Jan 11, 2024

1. Liens are not impacted by a bankruptcy discharge and therefore remain in effect following a discharge.

2. As decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, a homestead exemption does not protect you from an IRS lien. In other words, the IRS can reach the equity in your home that other creditors...
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4 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy and Tax Law for California on
Q: Homestead laws and tax liens, can tax lien be done on homestead home/property?

Can bankruptcy remove liens and protect my home/property

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 12, 2024

Homestead laws, which vary by state, provide a degree of protection for a person's primary residence against certain types of creditors. However, these protections often do not extend to tax liens. If you have a tax lien on your home, homestead laws typically do not prevent the government from... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy for California on
Q: Is there a way I can find out if someone has started bankruptcy proceedings?
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 4, 2024

To find out if someone has initiated bankruptcy proceedings, you can search the public records. Bankruptcy filings are public records in the United States and are accessible through various means.

One common way to search for bankruptcy filings is to use the PACER (Public Access to Court...
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4 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy for California on
Q: Is there a way I can find out if someone has started bankruptcy proceedings?
Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Jan 5, 2024

If you are a creditor, the chances are good that you will receive notice.

However, the bankruptcy courts do maintain a register of case filing information. You can gain access to it here: https://pacer.uscourts.gov/

The Pacer system is not easy to use by a first-timer. You might be...
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2 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy for California on
Q: Is there some kind of relief I can receive if IRS never sent me a balance after chp7 discharge?

Back in 2021 I filed for chapter 7 BK and my attorney said past taxes for 2014 & 2015 are still due as they don't fall under the standard time frame for these to be included. I was told after my discharge the IRS should mail you a letter indidicating what you owe after discharged. Its now... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 4, 2024

If you haven't received a balance notification from the IRS following your Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge, it's essential to take proactive steps. First, directly contact the IRS to inquire about the status of your 2014 and 2015 tax debts. It's important to confirm whether these... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy for California on
Q: Is there some kind of relief I can receive if IRS never sent me a balance after chp7 discharge?

Back in 2021 I filed for chapter 7 BK and my attorney said past taxes for 2014 & 2015 are still due as they don't fall under the standard time frame for these to be included. I was told after my discharge the IRS should mail you a letter indidicating what you owe after discharged. Its now... View More

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Jan 4, 2024

Here's what nobody has ever bothered to tell you. If those returns for 2014 and 2015 were filed by you at least 2 years before you filed BK, the taxes are probably discharged.

And that is the best explanation for why you still haven't heard from the IRS about it - they don't...
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2 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy for California on
Q: Can credit card banks go after my ex wife if I've been divorced for 5 years but still have that cards debt in bankruptcy
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Dec 21, 2023

Under California law, the responsibility for credit card debt after a divorce can depend on several factors, including the terms of the divorce decree and whether California's community property laws apply to the debt. If the credit card debt was incurred during the marriage, it is generally... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy and Family Law for California on
Q: Why do I have to give my husband’s bankruptcy attorney my income and pension information? We live in California and name
Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Dec 14, 2023

Think about it. It's logical. (Also, the law requires it.) Here's why that is.

First, you live in a community property state. The law says that community property belongs to both spouses, even though you yourself don't practice doing that. The law overrides how you and your...
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3 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy and Family Law for California on
Q: Why do I have to give my husband’s bankruptcy attorney my income and pension information? We live in California and name
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Dec 14, 2023

Bankruptcy proceedings often require the disclosure of household income to accurately assess the financial situation. This is because the state uses a community property system, which means that assets and debts acquired during the marriage are generally considered jointly owned by both spouses.... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy and Family Law for California on
Q: Why do I have to give my husband’s bankruptcy attorney my income and pension information? We live in California and name
Martha Warriner Jarrett
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answered on Dec 14, 2023

California is a community property state which means that you probably own everything and owe everything jointly. Plus the bankruptcy forms require that he include your information for purposes of his filing bankruptcy. Ask to meet with his attorney so he or she can explain the process to you.

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5 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy and Car Accidents for California on
Q: I have a bill for an accident my daughter had in my car for $7000 if i file bankruptcy can they still charge my daughter

Both of our names are in the bill they had sent She drove my car and my insurance is full coverage but didn’t want to cover damages because she is not in the policy the other insurance called me asking for the whole amount of $4300 in damages of the truck i ask them to send me a bill because... View More

T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Dec 8, 2023

In California, declaring bankruptcy can help shield you from specific debts, like bills resulting from car accidents. If you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, most unsecured debts, such as a $7,000 bill, might be canceled. This means you wouldn't be legally required to pay it anymore.... View More

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5 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy and Car Accidents for California on
Q: I have a bill for an accident my daughter had in my car for $7000 if i file bankruptcy can they still charge my daughter

Both of our names are in the bill they had sent She drove my car and my insurance is full coverage but didn’t want to cover damages because she is not in the policy the other insurance called me asking for the whole amount of $4300 in damages of the truck i ask them to send me a bill because... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Dec 8, 2023

Under California law, whether or not your daughter can still be held responsible for the $7,000 bill depends on several factors. Firstly, your full coverage insurance should typically cover damages caused by permissive users of your vehicle, such as your daughter. However, if your insurance denied... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Bankruptcy and Consumer Law for California on
Q: State trial court order and judgment from extrinsic fraud on the court by officers of the court used by a BK Trustee?

A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Court Trustee used a a state trial court default judgment and order (both secured through extrinsic fraud on the court by attorneys as officers of the court) against a party, to take a lawsuit away from that same party. If that aggrieved party uses CA Civ. Code §473 (and his... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Dec 12, 2024

If you can successfully prove extrinsic fraud under CCP §473(d) and get the state court judgment vacated, this could potentially impact the Bankruptcy Trustee's actions that relied on that judgment. The key principle here is that void judgments can be attacked at any time, and actions taken... View More

3 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy for California on
Q: Do i need to attend a Case Management Conference from a lawsuit if I'm already filing for bankruptcy
Theodore Allan Greene
Theodore Allan Greene
answered on Dec 2, 2024

You need to let the Court know once you file your bankruptcy. The case then gets put on hold pending resolution of your bankruptcy. Make sure to let all current and potential creditors know that you have filed.

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1 Answer | Asked in Bankruptcy and Consumer Law for California on
Q: I scheduled a payment on LoadDepot portal on October 14, 2024. The portal did not post the payment and reported late

This is the first late reported by mortgage company in my 30+ years as a home owner

And the late is result of payment portal issue. I did a google search for LoanDepot and search result below.

"On January 5,2024, customers began experiencing issues when trying to log in to the... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Nov 16, 2024

You have strong grounds to dispute this late payment report given LoanDepot's documented cyber incident and portal issues. The timing of your attempted payment on October 14, 2024, falls within the period when many customers experienced problems with their payment system.

Your perfect...
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