| Secured Claims and Liens |
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| Secured claims include liens, security interests, security agreements, and secured claims. An allowed claim secured by a lien on property in which the estate has an interest, or that is subject to setoff, is a secured claim to the extent of the value of the creditor's interest in the estate's interest in the property or the amount subject to setoff. A secured claim carries the right to adequate protection of collateral. Unavoided liens survive bankruptcy but circumstances may demand action by a secured creditor to protect the lien. More... |
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| Chapter 7 Eligibility |
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| A petitioner must reside in or have a domicile, a place of business, or property in the United States in order to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The petitioner must not have been granted a Chapter 7 discharge within the last six years or completed a Chapter 13 plan. More... |
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| Estate Property |
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| The commencement of a voluntary, joint, or involuntary bankruptcy petition automatically creates an "estate." The estate is comprised of all the property that is described in section 541 of the Bankruptcy Code. It includes all legal or equitable interests of the debtor in property, wherever located, as of the commencement of the case. To determine a debtor's rights in property, a court examines state law. More... |
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| Employment Termination Based on Debtor Status |
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| The law provides express prohibitions against discriminatory treatment of debtors by both governmental units and private employers. A governmental unit or private employer may not discriminate against a person solely because the person was a debtor, was insolvent before or during the case, or has not paid a debt that was discharged in the case. More... |
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| Employment of Professionals |
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| The Bankruptcy Code governs a trustee's or debtor in possession's employment of attorneys, accountants, appraisers, auctioneers, and other professional persons to represent or assist in carrying out duties under the Bankruptcy Code. Generally, the trustee or debtor in possession had broad latitude in the selection of professional persons to be employed. The Bankruptcy Code authorizes the employment of professional persons only to the extent that such persons do not hold or represent an interest adverse to the estate. More... |
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