Posts Tagged ‘Lein Stripping’
February 13, 2011
How To Strip Your Second Mortgage From Your Home In Bankruptcy – Lien Stripping
The benefit for filing a Chapter 13 is that you may be able to strip your second mortgage. This is called a “lien strip” or “lien avoidance”. This can make a difference between being able to save your home or having it go through foreclosure. Lien Stripping does not necessarily mean your second mortgage is eliminated, but it is converted from a secured debt to an unsecured debt – and, it only occurs in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Once your Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan is completed (3 to 5 years), your second mortgage is eliminated much like your credit card debts. By changing its status to unsecured debt, it is treated the same as if it were to be a credit card or medical debt. The unsecured debt (including your second mortgage) will be discharged after your bankruptcy plan is complete, whereas your secured debt must be continued to be paid on (i.e., your first mortgage).
Example for Lien Stripping:
A home in California was purchased for $250,000. The debtor obtained a first mortgage for $200,000 (1st mortgage) secured by a deed of trust, and a 2nd mortgage of $50,000, also secured by a deed of trust. The value of the property has declined because of the economy and it is now only worth $180,000. Because the value of the property is now less then what the 1st mortgage is, the 2nd mortgage has no value, which then becomes unsecured.
In a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, the owner may now have the second mortgage lien stripped off from the property. This means, it could be treated in the bankruptcy plan as ordinary unsecured debt.
How Lien Stripping Occurs:
During a foreclosure process, the property owner may declare bankruptcy (either a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13). However, in order for a Lien Strip to work, the debtor must file for Chapter 13. Filing bankruptcy freezes a foreclosure (also called an automatic stay). The bankruptcy court than reviews your case. In most Chapter 13 bankruptcies where the second mortgage has no equity, the court may rule the second mortgage as unsecured debt, which is called “lien stripping”.
This is What May Occur:
• The property owner purchases a home by obtaining a first and second mortgage.
• Due to the economy, the property value falls below what the debtor owes on the first mortgage.
• If there is insufficient equity left in the property to cover the second mortgage, the court may strip the second mortgage lien off the property. This means that the debt becomes unsecured debt.
• Filing for bankruptcy may stop a foreclosure from happening.
The process of lien stripping may occur during the bankruptcy process. This not only helps the debtor keep the home, but also eliminates some of the debt owed on the property.
A lien strip is not a typical occurrence in a bankruptcy. It requires extensive research and drafting of court documents. It should be performed by an experienced bankruptcy attorney. Hiring an attorney for this type of case is very important. You may need all the legal advice for this situation to help and ensure the process moves forward efficiently and successfully.
Tags: Assets, Bankruptcy Attorney, bankruptcy lawyers, Chapter 13, Foreclosure, Lein Stripping, mortgage, secured debt
Posted in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy / Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Los Angeles Bankruptcy Attorney and Bankruptcy Lawyer, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Hiring a Los Angeles Bankruptcy Attorney
Are you are considering filing for bankruptcy and are overwhelmed with financial stress caused by creditors , or, your bills are piling up and making you lose sleep over what your options are? California leads the nation in the amount of bankruptcies filed each year according to the AACER (Automated Access to Court Electronic Records.) Hiring a professional who has the tools to assist you in your rough times with highly trained individuals and compassion for what you are going through is an important step in the recovering process. Our team at the Law Offices of Alon Darvish can help you with making the right choices and steer you back into the path of financial stability. For some, the embarrassment of facing such challenges will result in the decision to go about doing it alone which is a mistake in the long run as such a big decision plays an important part in your future. The chances of making errors during the bankruptcy process can mean you not being awarded the discharge of your debts and can become another hassle in your life. Here are some examples of why hiring a qualified individual can make the process stress free and beneficial.
Knowledge of the Law
California attorneys are knowledgeable about the California Bankruptcy process and will know the laws that need to be applied for each case. New Laws under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention & Consumer Prevention Act make it more difficult for individuals to file for bankruptcy by themselves. Bankruptcy laws vary depending on the state they reside in, therefore having a qualified bankruptcy attorney helps the process along. One of the advantages of having an attorney is that they understand your situation and can advise you on what is going on so you are not left in the dark during your troubling times.
Paperwork
The process to file for bankruptcy in Los Angeles is time consuming, as the amount of paperwork that needs to be completed is significant. Making sure the bankruptcy petition has a the correct information is crucial to your bankruptcy as it is the foundation of what needs to be done.
The process can be cumbersome. You may have a mountain of paperwork, which you will need in order to file bankruptcy with the court. Gathering these documents can take time and preparing the petition with incorrect information can cost you more money. A Los Angeles bankruptcy attorney can assist you with gathering all the proper information needed and they will help you file them accordingly.
Representation
Once you have hired a bankruptcy attorney, they will represent you during your case. This includes letters sent out to creditors that you have and they will help eliminate the phone calls and collections of property as they are required to contact the attorney, not you. Your attorney will accompany you to your creditors meeting which is a vital part of the process to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy . This meeting will determine which property can be taken and sold to repay the debts. Usually, bankruptcy trustee’s do not take property from the debtor because they are entitled to keep certain assets. However, in order to determine whether your assets are safe (i.e., your home, car, cash in the bank, etc…), you should speak to a knowledgeable bankruptcy attorney. The trustee will be asking questions which can be intimidating and with an attorney present, they can help you answer them so you avoid costly mistakes in the long run.
Attorneys are legally bound by a code of ethics when representing you and will work diligently on your behalf to either negotiate your debts or advise you whether a bankruptcy is the right choice for your circumstances. Our firm will not make empty promises as to what we can do for you. Rather, we will carefully discuss your best options and purse the objective of getting your debts under control, either through bankruptcy or other debt handling means.
Tags: attorney, Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Attorney, Bankruptcy Attorney In Los Angeles, bankruptcy attorneys, bankruptcy lawyers, bankruptcy petition, Chapter 13, Chapter 7, Creditors Meeting, discharge, file for bankruptcy, Lein Stripping, los angeles bankruptcy attorney, los angeles bankruptcy lawyer, petition
Posted in California Attorney, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy / Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Code of Ethics, Law, Los Angeles Bankruptcy Attorney and Bankruptcy Lawyer | No Comments »
