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Showing 2 posts from February 2011.

6th Circuit B.A.P.: Michigan's bankruptcy-specific exemption statute is unconstitutional.

In re Schafer, 6th Cir. B.A.P., Feb. 17, 2011 (2011 WL 534752, authored by Hon. Marci B. McIvor).

Under the Bankruptcy Code, debtors may choose between the federal exemptions listed in 11 U.S.C. ยง 522(d) or exemptions available under state law, unless their state has "opted out" of the federal exemption scheme. Michigan has not opted out, so debtors may choose between federal and state exemptions. Since 2005, Michigan law has provided two alternative state-law exemption schemes: Read More ›

Categories: 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, Western District of Michigan

Bankruptcy Court Clarifies Scope of Exemptions for Life Insurance Policies

In re Zerbi, Bankr. W.D. Mich., Jan. 6, 2011 (Case No. 09-14649, Hon. Scott W. Dales)

A recent decision from the Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan provides some practical guidance for debtors and their attorneys about exempting unmatured life insurance policies.

In In re Zerbi, the debtor owned and was the insured under a life insurance policy. The policy had both a "cash value" or investment component and an insurance component. When the debtor filed his Chapter 7 case, the insurance policy had a cash surrender value of approximately $19,248.02. The debtor claimed exemptions in the policy under sections 522(d)(5) (the "wildcard" exemption), 522(d)(7), and 522(d)(8): Read More ›

Categories: Chapter 7, Western District of Michigan