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What a mess...got dismissal papers today :(

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    What a mess...got dismissal papers today :(

    Please forgive the length...I tried to only list relevant details here.

    My now ex-husband and I filed chapter 13 in October 2006. We had a setback in early 06 and got behind on our mortgage payments by 3 months x $917. I was 4K in debt. He as at over 100K.

    Our plan was set up on a 60 month term at $260/week (with $917 a month being paid towards the mortgage). As I was self employed with no "payroll", his wages were garnished. Three years into the 13, he wanted a divorce. I left him the house, moved back home 200 miles away and he filed. In the divorce decree he was ordered to make timely payments on the bankruptcy until it's discharge and then obtain re-financing on the home at which point I would sign a quit claim deed. Everyone felt this was fair as my 4K credit card had been paid at 29.16% already and I was leaving the home to him. Seemed simple.

    Next month is the end of our 60 month term. I hadn't followed the payments online for months...when I did check in for the first year or so he was seeing that they were paid...but today I get a notice of dismissal. "Debtor is in material default." I check online and see that he missed a couple of payments and 4 or 5 were less than $260 however it didn't amount to much...nevertheless, When I add up the remaining balance owed on unsecured debt (at 29.16%) it is around 8800.00. Somehow we were not adding this up properly.

    I contacted our bankruptcy attorney which we still share (they had no problem representing us both as long as we were amicable.) Attorney says he needs to send me a modification of plan form to sign which he will send to in, and creditors will have the opportunity to either accept a lower percentage (attorney proposed 10%) or claim they want it all in which case we are apparently dismissed.

    Questions I couldn't get a straight answer from from my attorney and I'm afraid to push too hard on because I don't want a conflict of interest at this point:

    1) The trustee sent my income tax refund to me this year when we were told we would not get refunds for 5 years...I didn't expect it but got a check for 1461.00. I assumed this meant the money as unnecessary to fulfill our obligations. I see now my ex got a check for around 6600.00. Why? Why did the trustee not keep our returns to pay on unsecured debt which we are now defaulted on?

    2) What are the chances normally that a modification of a plan are accepted? Sure they can come after us for 100% of the balance afterwards but would they normally see it as a "I'll take what I can" situation?

    3) As he was ordered in the divorce in a county general sessions court, do I have any legal repercussions to take him to court for defaulting, demanding he pay? I'm assuming, as I've known for over 2 years now, that if he defaulted the house is up for grabs again...

    4) Is it too late to convert to a 7?

    If you can answer even one question please do...I'm so disappointed right now...

    #2
    Welcome mandinmay - this is a very sad thing indeed - a triple whammy if you will. There are MANY MANY great and smart and caring people here who will reply to you...

    Regarding your question on the 7...have you talked to Bk atty's where you are now??

    Comment


      #3
      Yikes, so sorry to hear.
      I will wait for the pros to weigh in on this, but in the meantime sending ether hugs and a warm welcome. You have found a great place. Hang in there.

      Keep On Smilin'

      Comment


        #4
        (((Hugs))))

        I wonder if you could scrape together enough to pay another good attorney & talk to them for an hour (would they take $150, e.g.?) Just as a consult. Or look for a free consult. It might give you piece of mind and they might tell you something useful.

        Comment


          #5
          Thanks all. I called several bankruptcy attorneys today in an attempt to pay for some legal advice...the moment they hear I am represented currently they tell me they cannot advise me until I fire my current attorney...I don't have another 2500 for another attorney and our dismissal hearing is set for Oct 17. My current bankruptcy attorney is rather vague and questions regarding "my best interest" in the matter aren't possible. He will drop us both. Upon further inspection it seems my ex got a 7800.00 debtor refund last year as well as the 6600.00 this year. I did not get my refund last year...the whole matter makes no sense at all.

          My ex and I are not on speaking terms. He really did a number on me in the divorce regarding property and dividing assets. Did I mention that his mistress is our bankruptcy attorneys cousin? LOL Such a mess. I am considering taking him to general sessions court for defaulting on the bankruptcy payments and trying to get an order that he pay.

          One huge question I am hoping to have answered is: "After a dismissal, what is the waiting period to file chapter 7?" The home was bought on land contract but with a legal agreement. The owner of the property has already indicated he has no intention of removing me from the obligation without complete refinancing by my ex.

          Comment


            #6
            If the 13 is dismissed, you can file a Chap 7 immediately. Were you represented by an attorney in the divorce? If the Chap 13 isn't discharged because your husband failed to make payments, you need to talk to a divorce attorney about what recourse you have. I have no knowledge in this area, but if he violated the divorce court order, maybe the court would order him to pay your attorney fees for a Chap 7 to compensate you for your damages.
            LadyInTheRed is in the black!
            Filed Chap 13 April 2010. Discharged May 2015.
            $143,000 in debt discharged for $36,500, including attorneys fees. Money well spent!

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by LadyInTheRed View Post
              If the 13 is dismissed, you can file a Chap 7 immediately. Were you represented by an attorney in the divorce? If the Chap 13 isn't discharged because your husband failed to make payments, you need to talk to a divorce attorney about what recourse you have. I have no knowledge in this area, but if he violated the divorce court order, maybe the court would order him to pay your attorney fees for a Chap 7 to compensate you for your damages.
              Thank you, ladyinthered (LOVE the name lol.) Immediately? That's GREAT. When we began divorce proceedings our bankruptcy attorneys told me that they could not understand why I was not converting immediately to a 7. For one, we were 3 years in and I had seen to it that every payment had been met. My ex intended to keep those payments going however I knew there was a chance he would not (i.e. he was 100K in debt at least prior to meeting me and I didn't know this until we were engaged.) I considered a chapter 7 to be worse case scenario. If he failed to meet the obligation I would file a 7 then...not before.

              No, I did not have a divorce attorney. I was pro se in a contested divorce. (After we came to agreements, I left the home and he defaulted on nearly everything. Details are horrible but I'll just say it was a fight and I could not afford an attorney...but in the end I put him on the stand, under oath, succeeded in proving my case and the original agreement stood. The judge told me it was a shame I hadn't gone into the legal profession LOL). I understand a lot of divorce laws in Tennessee but NOT when it pertains to general sessions court versus bankruptcy court. To this day I do not even know for certain that this small county general sessions judge had the approval to order my ex-husband to make the bankruptcy payments. Nevertheless, it's in the papers...

              If I do take him to court it will NOT be alone...not again. 2009 was a very difficult year and I WILL hire an attorney in that matter.

              Comment

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