Family Law Planning & Bankruptcy

As I have suggested, I believe there is a significant intersection between family law and bankruptcy law. One example of this link comes in the form of the homestead exemption. Kentucky now allows for debtors seeking bankruptcy to use the Federal exemptions. This greatly increased the homestead exemption from the low and static Kentucky exemption to the Federal exemption that is tied to inflation. Currently, an individual can claim $20,200.00 of the equity of their residence as exempt property. For a married couple, that means they can claim $40,400.00 equity in their residence as exempt. In other words, if you are married, have a home that is valued at $200,000.00 dollars and you owe $160,000.00 on the home that is secured by a mortgage, then you can likely reaffirm the debt of $160,00.00 and still keep your home even in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

This knowledge is priceless if you are either contemplating divorce or in the midst of a divorce action. Saving a home in the face of a bankruptcy can benefit your family regardless of whether the divorce occurs or not (though hopefully, as I stated here, the divorce could be avoided). Knowing the exemption and interplay of bankruptcy and family law can allow for wise planning on the timing of the filing or bankruptcy, how marital assets are divided, and where monies might come from to satisfy domestic obligations.

The Debt & Divorce Correlation

Common thought has long been that severe financial stress leads to divorce. Such ideas, when repeated often enough, are accepted as truth without much scrutiny. However, research exists to refute this conclusion (here is one example from 2006 though it focuses on only one culture). I suspect the answer is, as Suzy Brown (Director of Midlife Divorce Recovery Bootcamp) suggests, difficult financial situations bring some couples to renew their efforts to make their marriage work while pushing others over the edge to divorce and I doubt a strong correlation between debt and divorce would be found in the United States population.

What does appear clear is that mounting debt and dire economic expectations leads to increased stress for many folks and finances, in turn become a source of marital strife. For those whom such strife pushes toward divorce, I find it troubling that they would think of dissolving their marriage long before contemplating eradicating their debt. Somehow, in our society, it has become more acceptable to sever the marriage ties, but it remains unthinkable to file for bankruptcy and release the weight of debt. And yet, bankruptcy very well could be the thing that relieves enough stress for those looking to divorce as a solution to back up and give their marriage another chance. Anecdotally, it often appears to be either an issue of pride where they created the debt thus they will be responsible for repaying it come hell or high water. Logically then, those same sentiments of honoring a contract should apply even more to the contract of marriage which is usually ratified before God.

To be clear, I do respect people who desire to be responsible for the debts they created, but there are circumstances when the fresh start that bankruptcy can offer is the best course to pursue. The bankrupcty code, specifically Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, is meant to provide a safety valve for individuals who, by honest mistake or life circumstances, got into debt beyond what they can reasonably manage. In essence, it is legislative grace that not only helps those individuals, but greases the gears of our economy on the larger scale. Our modern day bankruptcy code can be traced to God’s original notions of bankruptcy. That’s right, God designed a bankruptcy code long ago and it can be found in Deuteronomy (begin your review in Chapter 15). In contrast to the year of jubilee and that system of debt relief, Holy Scripture offers only narrow circumstances where divorce is condoned.

So, I urge those folks who are experiencing marital strife due to mounting debt, especially to that subset of people who are considering divorce as a result of this strife, to go talk to someone who knows bankruptcy law and see if you could qualify for relief through a Chapter 7 or 13. If so, that may give you enough surcease from the economic tension to strengthen your marriage. You can find practitioners who are versed in both family law and bankruptcy for an even fuller picture of your options and the consequences of each. I, for one, would far rather represent a couple in a bankruptcy so they can enjoy a real fresh start financially than represent that same couple in a divorce. To that end, I return to posting on this blog and intend to provide information about consumer bankruptcy as well as family law because I see the two areas of law significantly linked.