New Ruling U.S. Supreme Court Harris v. Viegelahn, Could Benefit Filers Converting Chapter 13 to Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
The recent Supreme Court ruling in Harris v. Viegalahn had an immediate impact on pending Chapter 13 cases and future Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases.
Bankruptcy Trustees Throughout the Nation Revise Internal Procedures
After the Supreme Court issued the Harris v. Viegalahn ruling, trustees across the nation rushed to revise internal procedures to comply with the ruling about what a Chapter 13 trustee should do with the funds on hand when a bankruptcy case is converted from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7. Under the new ruling, the debtor is entitled to the return of any post-petition wages collected, but not yet distributed by the trustee.
Previous Handling of Post Petition Wages Collected When Chapter 13 Cases Converted to Chapter 7
Previously, it was assumed that part of a trustee’s duty when a Chapter 13 bankruptcy was converting to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy was to wrap things up by distributing all accessible funds to creditors. However, under the new ruling, the Chapter 13 trustee’s authority to service the estate terminates the moment the Chapter 13 converts to Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Bankruptcy code defines “making payments to creditors” as one of the core services handled by trustees, so the new ruling applies.
Other Findings of the Supreme Court in Harris v. Viegalahn:
- No provision in the bankruptcy code classifies any property, including post-petition wages, as belonging to creditors. Wages may be the property of the estate while the Chapter 13 proceeds, but estate property does not become creditors’ property until it is distributed to them.
- Any undistributed funds at the time a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case is converted to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case are not the property of any creditor. Since the authority of the Chapter 13 trustee to perform services terminates at the moment of conversion, they can only return the petitioner’s funds.
- Funds that are traceable to the liquidation of a pre-petition asset are the sole exception to the above determination. In this case, the Bankruptcy Code allows the trustee to turn the undistributed funds over to the Chapter 7 trustee. On the other hand, if the funds are traceable to a post-petition asset, this ruling prevents Chapter 13 trustees from distributing the funds to creditors unless there is evidence of bad faith or Section 541(a)(5) referencing specific property acquired within 180 days of filing bankruptcy applies to the case.
Where Should the Balance on Hand Be Sent When a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Case Converts to Chapter 7?
Wages on Hand: Return to the debtor (unless there is a showing of bad faith)
Liquidated Assets on Hand of Pre-Petition Asset: Turn over to Chapter 7 trustee
Liquidated Assets on Hand Post-Petition Asset: Return to the debtor (unless there is a showing of bad faith)
Attorney Fees Due per Confirmation Order: Funds returned to the debtor
Adequate Protection Payments Due Under the Chapter 13 Plan: Return to the debtor
Supreme Court rulings such as this one in Harris v. Viegalahn often result in ripples of decisions in the months and years to come, so we can expect additional questions, concerns, and issues to evolve.
If you have questions about converting a Chapter 13 bankruptcy to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Most bankruptcy offices in the Chattanooga area don’t have a single Consumer Bankruptcy Specialist on staff. Our office is the only one with two. You are in good hands with Kenneth C. Rannick P.C.
