The Basics of Bankruptcy in SC

A. Relief available under the Bankruptcy Code

1. Chapter 7: Sometimes called a liquidating chapter but losing property should rarely happen.

a. Available to individuals and businesses (corporations, LLC’s, partnerships)

b. Chapter 7 Trustee is assigned and reviews the financial situation of the debtor, conducts the 341 meeting, and determines if there are any assets to liquidate or sell.

c. Individual Debtor’s usually retain all their property. If there is equity in the property then careful attention must be paid to exemptions. Unsecured creditors are entitled to equity beyond the exemptions. (See Section G. Exemptions: What can be kept in a bankruptcy case)

d. If there is no equity beyond the exemptions, the debtor may retain collateral.

e. Most Chapter 7 cases are “no asset cases” which means the debtor loses no assets as a result of filing for relief.

f. Unsecured creditors typically get paid nothing.

2. Chapter 13: Reorganization for individual consumers and unincorporated business owners.

a. Available to individual or joint debtors but is not available to corporations.

b. Monetary limitations of a Chapter 13:

i. Non-contingent, liquidated unsecured debts: $383,175.00

ii. Non-contingent, liquidated secured debts: $1,149,525.00

c. Provides for payment of secured and priority debts and usually a percent repayment to unsecured creditors.

d. If household income is over the median income for South Carolina, the law provides for a method of calculating disposable income. IRS standards and a list of allowed expenses are deducted from a calculated ‘current monthly income’ to provide an amount that must be paid to unsecured creditors.

e. Length of repayment plan:

1. If over median income, plan must last 60 months.

2. If under median income, plan will last 36-60 months, depending on needs of debtor.

f. Chapter 13 Trustee is assigned. They receive monthly payments from the debtor and distribute payments to the creditors. Regular mortgage payments and leases are paid by the debtor outside the bankruptcy plan.

g. Liquidation analysis: Assets that have equity in excess of the exemptions can be protected in a Chapter 13 but the unsecured creditors must be paid at least as much as they would have received had the debtor filed a Chapter 7 where the Trustee would have liquidated the asset to pay creditors.

h. Confirmation is based upon compliance with rules set forth in the Bankruptcy Code. Creditors do not have the ability to vote on the Chapter 13 Plan of
Reorganization

3. Chapter 11: Reorganization for corporations and the very wealthy.

a. Very few cases filed in South Carolina.

b. It is the most expensive chapter to file.

c. Creditors vote on the reorganization plan.

d. Confirmation based upon consensus and agreement between debtor(s) and creditors.

4. Chapter 12: This chapter is for family farmers including some fishermen.

5. Chapter 9: This chapter is for municipalities.

B. What does a bankruptcy do?

1. It gives the debtor a fresh financial start.

2. It provides for fairness among creditors.

3. It provides an automatic stay which protects the debtor.

C. The Means Test

In order to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the debtor must prove his/her need by passing the means test. The means test looks at debts and income. A major part of the Chapter 7 means test involves comparing a debtor’s average current monthly income to the median income in their state.

Current monthly income is determined by averaging all income that came into the household over the most recent 6 full months prior to filing. If the average monthly income from all sources is less than the applicable median income, the test stops there and the debtor may be eligible to file a Chapter 7.

Even if the income is greater than the applicable median, a person may
still be able to file Chapter 7 but that case will receive more scrutiny. Chapter 13 is also an option for the debtor and the means test must then be used to determine the household’s disposable monthly income.

Disposable monthly income is determined by reducing the average monthly income by certain allowed expenses and this figure that is used to determine the repayment plan in a Chapter 13.

South Carolina median income as of November 1, 2015. The median income
figure is adjusted every 6 months.

Family Size	Income Level
1.	$41,990
2.	$52,659
3.	$57,295
4.	$66,807

($8,100 for each person in excess of 4)

D. Automatic Stay

The automatic stay stops all attempts by creditors listed in the bankruptcy petition to collect payments from the debtor. The automatic stay will not stop police powers, criminal prosecutions, and some aspects of family court cases.

E. Property of the Estate

Property of the estate includes everything the debtor now has an interest in. It also includes everything the debtor once had an interest in and disposed of for less than the fair market value. Assets can also include inheritance; bequests or devises; property settlement agreements or divorce decrees; or life insurance proceeds received up to 180 days after the date of the bankruptcy filing.

F. The parties to a bankruptcy are:

1 . Debtor( s)

1. Individuals: This includes individuals and married couples
2. Entities: Corporations, Limited Liability Companies and Partnerships

2. Creditors

a. Secured

b. Unsecured

c. Priority Unsecured

3. Trustee: Trustees are always appointed in Chapter 11, 12 and 13 cases and occasionally in Chapter 11 cases.

4. US Trustee: The police for the bankruptcy system

5. Judge

G. Exemptions are tangible and intangible items that can be kept by the debtor.

1. The exemptions used in South Carolina are a matter of State law and are found primarily at SC Code 15-41-30

a. Homestead	$58,225 per debtor (or cash)
b. Motor vehicle	$5,825 per debtor
c. Household goods	$4,650 per debtor
d. Jewelry	$1,175 per debtor
e. Cash/ liquid assets	$5,825 per debtor (or homestead)
f. Tools of trade	$1,750 per debtor
g. Life Insurance (CSV)	$4,650 per debtor
h. 401k	unlimited per BAPCPA
i. IRA	unlimited per BAPCPA
j. Wild card	$5,825 per debtor

2. Life insurance exemption is governed by two different codes:

a. SC Code 38-63-40

1. All proceeds and the cash surrender value of policy that are payable to beneficiary other than insured estate, and expressed to be for primary benefit of the insured spouse, children or dependents are exempt with the following limitations:

i) Funding within 2 years of filing; and/or

ii) No intent to defraud creditors.

b. SC Code 38-63-90

1. $50,000 of proceeds and cash surrender value of policy payable to beneficiary other than insured estate, and expressed to be for primary benefit of the insured spouse, children or dependents are exempt with the following limitations:

i) No intent to commit fraud on creditors; and/or

ii) No time limitation prior to filing bankruptcy.

3. An earned income credit is exempt.

H. Residency & exemptions

1. Section 522 of the Bankruptcy Code actually governs exemptions. Section 522(b)(3) sets out the requirements based on domicile using the following guidelines:

a. Where was debtor’s domicile for 730 days (2 years) prior to filing?

b. If not a single place, then where was the debtor’s domicile for the 180-day period preceding the 730 day period.

c. Federal exemptions can be used if domicile renders debtor ineligible for state exemptions.

d. Some states, such as Florida and South Carolina, only permit current residents to claim their state’s exemptions.

2. Sections 522(0), (p) & (q) also set some restrictions on exemptions, especially relating to the debtor’s residence.

I. Prior Bankruptcy Filing

1. Debtors can file bankruptcy more than once but certain rules and time limitations apply.

If the time limitation between filings shown below is not adhered to, there can be no discharge of debts but filing a Chapter 13 can often be a useful tool to stop a foreclosure sale and provide for payment of arrearages. There are other considerations that will be discussed with you by your certified bankruptcy specialist.

From filing of	To filing of	Debtor must wait	Code Section
a. Chapter 7	Chapter 7	8 years	727(a)(8)
b. Chapter 13	Chapter 7	6* years	727(a)(9)
c. Chapter 13	Chapter 13	2 years	1328(f)(2)
d. Chapter 7	Chapter 13	4 years	1328(f)(1)

*Unless 100% was paid to unsecured creditors or 70% was paid, and that was the debtor’s best effort.

J. Credit Counseling and Debtor Education

1. Pre-Petition Credit Counseling

Required before bankruptcy petition can be filed on behalf of the debtor. Counseling must be completed within 180 days prior to filing and can be gotten from an approved non-profit budget and credit counseling agency. Your certified bankruptcy specialist will provide a list of approved agencies.

2. Post-Petition Debtor Education

Must be completed before case can be discharged and in the case of a Chapter 7 filing, debtor must complete this course within 45 days after the first meeting of the creditors (FMOC).

L. 341 meeting or first meeting of creditors (FMOC)

Debtor is required to attend this hearing which usually takes place about 30 days after the date the case is filed. Typically, this is where the trustee has an opportunity to question the debtor about specific issues of interest in his/her petition. Debtor’s attorney or his/her representative will be there as well but the meeting is really a question/answer session between the debtor and the assigned trustee. Occasionally, creditors and representatives of the office of the United States Trustee will attend the hearing and ask questions of the debtor.

M. Exceptions to Discharge – A bankruptcy filing will discharge
virtually all debts. Some debts are not discharged

1. Income Taxes – can be discharged if:

a. The tax has been due and payable for more than 3 years. This period is extended by any extensions that were requested.

b. The tax return was filed more than 2 years before the bankruptcy filing.

c. 240 days has passed since the tax was assessed.

d. There are also exceptions to the rules:

i. Tax Liens secured by property of the debtor will cause at least some portion of the otherwise dischargeable debt to not be discharged, unless the value of the lien
is paid in a Chapter 11,12 or 13.

ii. An Offer in Compromise will extend the time lines.

iii. Bad conduct and fraud will also be considered.

iv. This can be a tricky area and the advice of a Tax Attorney may be
needed.

2. Consumer debt “run-ups” made immediately prior to filing may not be discharged:

a. $500 for luxury goods or services incurred by an individual debtor on or within 90 days before filing.

b. Cash advances aggregating more than $750 within 70 days before filing.

3. Fraud or defalcation while acting in a fiduciary capacity, embezzlement, or larceny.

4. Domestic support obligation such as alimony, child support, other support obligations cannot be discharged in a bankruptcy filing.

5. Willful and malicious injury by the debtor to another entity or to the property of another entity.

6. Many student loans, even those not federally guaranteed are nondischargeable.

7. Debt (other than a domestic support obligation to a spouse, former spouse, or child) that is incurred by the debtor in the course of a divorce or separation or in connection with a separation agreement, divorce decree, or other order of a court of record, or a determination made in accordance with state or territorial law by a governmental unit is not dischargeable in Chapter 7. For this reason, many divorced people file for Chapter 13 relief.

9. Regime and condo fees that arise after a bankruptcy filing for as long as the debtor has a legal, equitable, or possessory ownership interest in such unit cannot be discharged.

N. Bankruptcy and the Family Court

1. The automatic stay will prevent further harassment from creditors but its impact on a Family Court case is limited. The automatic stay does not prevent the following actions from moving forward:

a. Establishing or modifying order for support

b. Establishing paternity

c. Collecting support, alimony or maintenance

d. Litigation concerning child custody or visitation

e. Dissolution of a marriage

f. Dealing with allegations of domestic violence

g. The following actions to collect support obligations are permitted without violating the automatic stay:

i. Withholding, suspension, or restriction of a driver’s license, a professional or occupational license, or a recreational license under state law, as specified in Section 466(a)(7) of the Social Security Act;

ii. Reporting to a credit reporting agency.

iii. Interception of tax refund under 464 or 466(a)(3) of SSA or under analogous State law;

iv. Enforcement of a medical obligation as specified under Title IV of the Social Security Act (Sections 401-479A).

2. Obligations to pay domestic support obligation such as alimony, child support, other support obligations are not discharged in any bankruptcy filing.

3. Discharge of property settlements

a. Property settlements are not dischargeable in a Chapter 7.

b. A Chapter 13 filing may discharge a property settlement.

4. Chapter 13 & support obligations

a. Failure to stay current on support obligations are grounds for dismissal or conversion on request of a party of interest or the US Trustee.

b. Plan must provide for payment in full of all past due support obligations that are payable to the custodial parent. If plan includes all disposable income for five (5) years, debtor can pay less than full payment of pre-petition support obligations directly owed or assigned to a governmental unit.

c. Chapter 13 plan cannot be confirmed unless debtor is current in post-petition domestic support obligations.

d. Debtor cannot receive a discharge until debtor certifies that support obligation is current.

If you’re considering bankruptcy and reside in South Carolina then bankruptcy attorney Michael Culler may be able to help. Please call (803) 536-5055 or use this contact form to send him an email.

Culler Law Firm serves all of South Carolina including but not limited to Orangeburg, Columbia, Charleston, and  Mrytle Beach.