IRAs are exempt assets in bankruptcy proceedings, and are thus beyond the reach of the debtor’s creditors. The exemption in the Bankruptcy Code is based on the tax-exempt status of the IRA. 11 USC §522(d)(12) provides an exemption to “[r]etirement funds to the extent that those funds are in a fund or account that is exempt from taxation under section 408 of the Internal Revenue Code.”

Both the Bankruptcy Code and Minnesota State law prohibit certain types of transfers of money or property made by the debtor prior to the filing of their bankruptcy case. These prohibited transfers are “avoidable” by the bankruptcy trustee. This means that the Chapter 7 trustee can avoid or undo the transfer by demanding the return of the transferred property from the person or entity to whom the transfer was made, and the trustee can even bring a lawsuit against that person to enforce their legal right to the return of the property.

Your 341 Meeting or the Meeting of Creditors is the opportunity for your Trustee and creditors to ask you questions about your petition and schedules, while under oath.  

Many people frequently make regular donations to charities and religious organizations. Our laws generally promote and encourage these types of donations due to the positive impact it has on our social institutions and other members of society. For example, the IRS Tax Code allows for certain tax breaks for people and companies who make charitable donations.

    From the very first day a debtor files their bankruptcy case, they receive protection from the “automatic stay,” which is a court order that prevents most creditors from taking any debt collection efforts against the debtor. This protection lasts through the debtor’s bankruptcy case, unless a creditor receives court permission to “lift the automatic stay” and pursue the debt. This is typically only allowed in special circumstances such as where the debtor is using, or possessing, valuable property used to secure a debt owed to the creditor for which the debtor is not fairly compensating the creditor, to the detriment of the creditor’s rights (i.e. driving a car around with a loan against it and not making payments).  

There are two sets of exemptions you can use in Minnesota, state and federal exemptions. You can use whichever is the most beneficial to you. Below are a few examples of why you may pick one over the other.

Bankruptcy has a wide variety of interesting facts. A few are listed below:  

I constantly tell people who live in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, that the first step to filing bankruptcy is wrapping your head around the word, bankruptcy. Yes, there are better words in the English dictionary than the word, bankruptcy. But, once you actually wrap your head around the word bankruptcy and the thought of filing bankruptcy, do know the actual process of filing bankruptcy and getting your life back is easier.

If you are considering filing bankruptcy, you may be wondering whether you can keep your lease. 

A very common question I get when I speak to potential clients is – can I keep one credit card out of my bankruptcy?  In short, no.  This is due to the fact that you have to list all your debts.  This includes unsecured debt, so all your credit cards, and unsecured loans, your tax debt, domestic support obligations, such as child support, and all secured debt, including your home and cars. 

     At LifeBack Law Firm, we constantly honor the courage it takes for thousands of Minnesotans to reach out every year and ask for help with overwhelming debt. We honor that courage by having the most kind and helpful staff in Minnesota. Does this make a difference? You bet it does. If I am embarrassed about something I want a professional who is the most kind and helpful person ever. I mean it. I want my hand held the whole time.

You may think that your credit union is the same as a typical bank, and in many respects, it is; but, there are some differences. For example, your credit union is a nonprofit, whereas a bank like Huntington Bank, is for profit.

     If you find yourself living in or near St. Cloud, MN there is only one bankruptcy law firm I would recommend, and that is LifeBack Law Firm. LifeBack Law Firm is not like other law firms. At LifeBack Law Firm we hire, reward, and discipline our employees based on how well they treat co-workers and clients. Is this unique for a law firm? Trust me when I tell you that most law firm cultures are pure snake pits where the focus is on money and not people. At LifeBack Law Firm, we don’t grade our employees or attorneys on how much revenue they bring in but on how well they treat their co-workers and clients.

Two common questions I get when I speak to clients are – what happens to my credit and how do I repair it after I file my bankruptcy? Bad news first, your credit will suffer negatively when you file. Now the good news, filing bankruptcy is often the fastest way to repair credit and obtain better financing.

A common question I receive is whether there is a minimum debt requirement to file a bankruptcy? Good news! The answer, which may surprise you, is no.

You may be wondering whether your employer will find out about your bankruptcy filing. Below we explore possible ways your employer can be informed of your filing.