Debt Consolidation Credit Counseling In Cleveland Debt Consolidation Credit Counseling In Cleveland

Find out more on Debt Consolidation Credit Counseling In Cleveland Now!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Things To Know About Chapter 7 bankruptcy laws

By John Steed

When a troubled business is badly in debt and unable to service that debt or pay its creditors, it may file (or be forced by its creditors to file) for bankruptcy in a federal court under Chapter 7. A Chapter 7 filing means that the business ceases operations unless continued by the Chapter 7 Trustee. A Chapter 7 Trustee is appointed almost immediately. The Trustee generally sells all the assets and distributes the proceeds to the creditors.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy provides an "order of relief" that triggers an "automatic stay" thus all creditors and collectors are prohibited from pursuing you or your property outside of the bankruptcy proceeding. This is especially important if you've received a foreclosure notice.

You are permitted to retain certain "exempt property" but all remaining assets are liquidated (sold) by the bankruptcy court Trustee. You should also understand that if you file a chapter 7 bankruptcy you could loose some or all or your property! This may be an advantage or disadvantage depending on how much equity you have in the asset.

The debts of the corporation or partnership theoretically continue to exist until applicable statutory periods of limitations expire. In the case of fraud, (for example, charging up credit cards with the intent to file a bankruptcy) the court may deny the discharge of the debt. For the court to take such drastic measures to limit or deny the discharge in a Chapter 7 proceeding, the creditor has the burden of proving that the debtor obtained credit by fraudulent practices or has engaged in other prohibited behavior. In a Chapter 7 case, a corporation or partnership does not receive a bankruptcy discharge-instead, the entity is dissolved. Only an individual can receive a Chapter 7 discharge. Once all assets of the corporate or partnership debtor have been fully administered, the case is closed.

Often these debts will be liquidated with the use of a CRO. This is a court appointed officer who is required to auction the properties of the concerned company. In the case of L.I.D. for example, the CRO was Consensus Advisors LLC. They performed an initial due diligence to find a suitable "stalking horse bidder." The stalking horse bidder was then required to provide a guarantee that at some minimum "reserve".

In a Chapter 7 case, a corporation or partnership does not receive a bankruptcy discharge-instead, the entity is dissolved. Only an individual can receive a Chapter 7 discharge. Once all assets of the corporate or partnership debtor have been fully administered, the case is closed. The debts of the corporation or partnership theoretically continue to exist until applicable statutory periods of limitations expire.

About the Author:

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home