Chapter 13 Flexibility: A parting of ways

Many of my posts espouse the flexibility of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Two of the ways that a Chapter 13 shows its flexibility are the absolute right to dismiss the bankruptcy under 11 U.S.C. Sect. 1307(b) and the somewhat limited right to convert the 13 to a Chapter 7 under 11 U.S.C. Sect. 1307(a). These two diverse directions of flex can actually happen concurrently in a Chapter 13.

Let us presume that a married couple files a joint Chapter 13. If one of the spouses comes into to funds that would be non-marital under State law and that are sufficient to resolve the debt issues leading to bankruptcy in the first place, then that spouse can voluntarily dismiss their Chapter 13. They essentially step out of the bankruptcy and it becomes an individual Chapter 13 even though the parties remain married.

Then, the lawyer needs to engage in a second level analysis as to whether the remaining spouse continue the Chapter 13 or convert based on various factors, including: that spouses assets and whether any are not exempted, if they have arrears for secured debts they still need to cure, and if they have any income tax debt they need to cure through the Chapter 13.

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