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FAQs: For Debtor

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  • What are my options to obtain copies of case documents, including certified copies? What are my options to review a case that was sent to the National Archives?
  • How do I obtain court or case information?

    I. COURT LOCATIONS AND PHONE NUMBERS

    1. The District of Oregon Bankruptcy Court has offices in the following two locations, and they are both open from 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. every Monday through Friday except for federal holidays:

    PORTLAND OFFICE
    1050 SW 6th Ave #700
    Portland, OR 97204
    All Access: From the 7th Floor
    Phone Numbers:Main: (503) 326-1500

    EUGENE OFFICE
    405 E 8th Ave #2600
    Eugene, OR 97401
    All Access: From the 2nd Floor
    Phone Numbers:Main: (541) 431-4000

    Bankruptcy case and adversary proceeding files are public records and available for viewing in the Clerk's Office until 4:15 pm in either Portland or Eugene, depending on where the case was filed. If the debtor resides in Benton, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion or Polk counties, filings must be made in the Eugene office. If the debtor's address is in any other county, filings must be made in the Portland office. NOTE: Eugene cases are designated by either a "6", "7", or "8" as the first digit of the five digit portion of the case number. Portland cases are designated by either a "3", "4", or "5" as the first digit of the five digit portion of the case number.

    II. ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO CASE AND COURT INFORMATION

    The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon maintains two (2) systems for electronic access to information relating to Oregon bankruptcy cases filed since October 9, 1984, and adversary proceedings filed since August 1988. These systems are described below. You must try one of these systems before calling the court as there is a very good chance it will have your information. The systems are:

    1. PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) - Extensive access to case records via the Internet. See details immediately below.

    2. VCIS (Voice Case Information System)- A free service using a touch-tone telephone that provides basic case information.


    PACER: Public Access to Court Electronic Records

    The court provides real-time access to electronic case records via PACER services over the internet. You may access PACER here. There is a slight fee charged for access to each page viewed or printed, but with a maximum fee per document. Please refer to the opening page of the court's PACER site for important information regarding the site. It also provides a valuable link to the court's free website containing other extensive and frequently updated general court information at: www.orb.uscourts.gov If you've ever had a PACER account, it remains active for your use. The access fees are charged to your account.

    If you don't presently have an account, or have questions such as regarding fees or access to the federal courts' PACER services (including other court's PACER sites and/or the US Party/Case Index system), contact the PACER Service Center at 1-800-676-6856 or at www.pacer.gov.


    VCIS: Voice Case Information Service

    VCIS is a free service that uses a touch-tone telephone. It provides basic case information. To connect, dial 1-866-222-8029. VCIS uses a computer-generated synthesized voice device to automatically read case information in the court's database such as the case number, chapter, date the case was filed, debtor's name (and, if applicable, names of principal adversaries), debtor's attorney's name, trustee's name, judge's name, date and location of the 341(a) meeting of creditors, any claims filing bar date, case status, and any discharge and/or closing dates of the case.

    INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO USE THE VCIS SYSTEM

    1. To connect, dial 1-866-222-8029.

    2. You may either say "Oregon" or you may press pound [#], then "27" for Oregon.

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  • Do I need an attorney to file bankruptcy?

    While it is possible for an individual to file a bankruptcy case "pro se", that is, without the assistance of an attorney, it may be difficult to do so successfully. Click here for some important general information about filing for bankruptcy without an attorney.

    As noted in the general information, it is recommended that a person considering bankruptcy consult with a competent attorney prior to filing a case. For information about lawyer referral programs, contact the Oregon State Bar at (503) 684-3763 in the Portland metropolitan area or 1-800-452-7636 if calling from other areas.

    NOTE: Any entity other than an individual (i.e., corporation, partnership, trust, LLC, LLP, conservatorship, guardianship, etc.) must be represented by an attorney.

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  • Is there any place I can get free or low cost legal advice before I file?

    Here are a few possibilities to consider:

    1. The Oregon State Bar has a lawyer referral program which will direct you to an attorney who has agreed to provide limited consultation at reduced rates. The Oregon State Bar Lawyer Referral Program can be contacted by calling 503-684-3763 in the Portland metropolitan area or 1-800-452-7636 if calling from other areas.

    2. If you are low income and live in one of the counties listed below, you can call the legal aid office for your county. If you meet the income and asset guidelines, you will receive an appointment to meet with a volunteer lawyer.

    • Clackamas, Columbia, Hood River, Multnomah, Wasco, Washington, and Yamhill counties: Call (503) 224-4086 or (800) 228-6958 (Portland Regional Office of Legal Aid Services of Oregon)
    • Lane County: Call (541) 485-1017 ext. 340 (Lane County Legal Aid/Oregon Law Center)
    • Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties: Call (541) 385-6950 or (800) 678-6944 (Central Oregon Office of Legal Aid Services of Oregon)
    • Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, and Wheeler counties: Call (541) 276-6685 or (800) 843-1115 (Pendleton Regional Office of Legal Aid Services of Oregon)

    3. The Debtor-Creditor Section of the Oregon State Bar, in cooperation with Legal Aid Services of Oregon, has a Bankruptcy Clinic. Anyone who is thinking about filing a consumer chapter 7 case can come to the class, but only those low income people who have separately made an appointment through the legal aid office will receive individual help from their volunteer attorney after the class. For further information on the Bankruptcy Clinic, click here.

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  • When may I file bankruptcy again?

    As a general rule, there is no statutory prohibition against an individual filing another bankruptcy at any time. However, the court could enter such an order (for example if you are found to be abusing the system by repeatedly filing cases solely for purposes of delay). Additionally, 11 U.S.C. §109(g) provides  that you may have to wait 180 days (6 months) to refile if either: (a) your previous case was dismissed for willful failure to abide by orders of the court (possible examples could include the failure to pay filing fees, to file required documents, or to complete the first meeting of creditors), or (b) if your case was dismissed on your request after a creditor filed a motion for relief from the automatic stay. In addition, there are certain prohibitions against receiving another chapter 7 discharge in specific circumstances. See 11 U.S.C. § 727(8) and (9).

    Subsection (8) prohibits entry of a chapter 7 discharge if you received a discharge in a chapter 7 or 11 case filed within 8 years of the filing of the new case.

    Subsection (9) prohibits entry of a chapter 7 discharge if you received a discharge in a chapter 12 or 13 case commenced within 6 years of the chapter 7 filing unless payments under the plan totaled either 100% of allowed unsecured claims or at least 70% of the unsecured claims if the plan was proposed in good faith and was the debtor's best effort.

    Moreover, under 11 U.S.C. § 1328(f)(1) and (2), a discharge cannot be entered in a chapter 13 case if the debtor (1) has received a discharge in a chapter 7, 11, or 12 case filed within four years of the chapter 13 filing, or (2) has received a discharge in a chapter 13 case filed within 2 years of the new chapter 13 case.

    For other things that should be considered before actually filing another bankruptcy petition, see Who Can Start a Bankruptcy? and What are the Consequences of Filing for Bankruptcy?

    Only an individual may file a chapter 13 petition. As with chapter 12 cases, there are debt limitations in a chapter 13 case. See 11 U.S.C. § 109(e).

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  • How much are the court fees to file a bankruptcy case?

    Click here for the current list of bankruptcy filing fees.

    If the debtor is an individual and cannot pay the full fee at the time of filing, the fee may be paid in installments. To request to pay the fee in installments, file an Individual Debtor's Application to Pay Filing Fee in Installments (LBF 110) with the petition.

    • In an individual chapter 7 case, the fees may be paid in up to three monthly installments.
    • In an individual chapter 11 case, the fees may be paid in up to two monthly installments.
    • In a chapter 13 case, the fees must be paid within 45 days of filing. The plan cannot be confirmed if the filing fees are not paid.
    • If an application for payment of fees in installments is approved, the debtor may not pay an attorney or petition preparer any further money for services rendered until all fees are paid.

    The court also has the discretion to waive the filing fee for an individual chapter 7 debtor if the debtor's income is less than 150% of the official poverty line (as defined by the federal government) applicable to a family of the size involved and the debtor is unable to pay that fee in installments. A fee waiver is requested by filing an Application to Have the Chapter 7 Filing Fee Waived (Official Form 103B) with the petition. If the judge denies an application for a fee waiver, an order requiring the payment of the filing fee in installments will be entered. 

    Failure to pay filing fees will result in dismissal of the bankruptcy case.

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  • Where can I obtain forms, and which ones do I need for filing?

    If hiring an attorney is not possible, download Local Bankruptcy Form 100 (for individuals) or Local Bankruptcy Form 200 (for partnerships, corporations, etc.) which provides a list of all the forms necessary for each chapter and detailed instructions on how to assemble the petition packets.

    A petition packet is made up of two kinds of required forms, Official Forms (OFs) and Local Bankruptcy Forms (LBFs).

    • Official Forms (Voluntary Petition, Schedules A - J, Statement of Financial Affairs, etc.) can be obtained electronically from the U.S. Courts website. Click here to access Official Forms.
    • Local Bankruptcy Forms (Individual Debtor’s Application to Pay Fees in Installments, Chapter 12 and 13 Plans, etc.). Click here to access Local Bankruptcy Forms.

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  • Where do I file?

    The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon has two clerk's offices. The location for filing bankruptcy petitions and other documents is determined by the county in which the debtor resides or has its principal place of business or principal assets.

    If the debtor lives in Benton, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion or Polk county, filings are made in the Eugene office at 405 E 8th Ave #2600, Eugene, OR 97401.

    If the debtor lives in any other county, filings are made in the Portland office at 1050 SW 6th Ave #700, Portland OR 97204.

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  • How many copies do I need to file at the court?

    Petitions - The court does not require any additional copies of a petition filed with the court. However, you are encouraged to keep a copy for your records. If you want a copy of the petition stamped with the date of filing for your records, you need to provide an additional copy, as well as a self-addressed envelope with adequate postage if you are filing by mail.

    Motions and other pleadings - The court does not require any additional copies of any document filed with the court.  However, if any document related to a hearing is filed within three business days of the hearing, the filer of the document must notify the appropriate judge's chambers by telephone immediately after the filing of the document. Failure to notify chambers of the filing may result in the document not being read or considered. See LBR 9004-1(b).

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  • How do I remove inaccurate information from my credit report, even if I have never filed bankruptcy?

    Bankruptcy courts do not report or furnish information to any consumer reporting agencies. Moreover, the bankruptcy court is not responsible for verifying or validating information contained in consumers' credit reports.

    The bankruptcy petition, schedules and other documents are public record and are available at the clerk's office and online through PACER with an account (see www.pacer.gov for more information). Credit reporting agencies regularly collect information from the petitions filed, and report the information on their credit reporting services.

    You can request your credit report at no charge from each of the three reporting bureaus by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com (however, you will have to pay to see your credit score).

    The three credit reporting agencies are:

    Equifax Information Services LLC
    (800) 829-4577
    www.equifax.com

    TransUnion LLC
    (800) 888-4213
    www.transunion.com

    Experian
    (800) 311-4769
    www.experian.com

    If your credit report indicates that you have filed bankruptcy but you have never filed bankruptcy in Oregon, you can request a document that states you have never filed a bankruptcy case in Oregon. This document is called a Certificate of Negative Filing. (You may want to contact the credit reporting agency first to determine if this is a document that they will accept from you.)

    To request a Certificate of Negative Filing, mail a letter to the court requesting the certificate and include the following:

    • - Your full name,
    • - Your social security number,
    • - A certification fee of $12.00,
    • - A range of dates to be searched (note that a $34.00 records search may apply if the range of dates is not provided or if the range includes dates before 2004), and 
    • - A self-addressed stamped envelope.

    If no record of a bankruptcy is found for you and the necessary fees are paid, the court will mail the Certificate of Negative Filing back to you.

    For more information on how to disupte data on your credit report, you may visint the Federal Trade Commission's website (www.ftc.gov) or contact the FTC toll-free number at 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357).

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  • What happens after I file bankruptcy?

    After a bankruptcy petition is filed with the clerk’s office, the automatic stay immediately takes effect and prohibits virtually all creditors from taking any collection action against the debtor or the debtor’s property. Although the stay is automatic, creditors need to be advised of the stay. The court issues a notice to all creditors advising them of the filing of the bankruptcy, the case number, the automatic stay, the name of the trustee assigned to the case (if filed under chapter 7, 12, 13, or subchapter V of chapter 11), the date set for the meeting of creditors, the deadline (if any) set for filing objections to the discharge of the debtor and/or the dischargeability of specified debts, and whether and where to file claims. The exact information in the notice depends on the chapter under which the case is filed.

    A meeting of creditors is usually held within 25 to 40 days of filing if the debtor lives near Portland or Eugene, or within 25 to 60 days if the meeting is held in other areas of the state. At the meeting the debtor is required to respond under oath to questions from the case trustee and to any questions that creditors may have relating to the financial condition of the debtor and the debtor’s assets. Attending this meeting is mandatory for the debtor but creditors need not attend.

    In a chapter 7 case involving an individual debtor, the creditors generally have 60 days from the first date set for the meeting of creditors to object to the discharge of all the debtor’s debts and/or the dischargeability of a specific debt. If the deadline passes without any objections to the debtor’s discharge of all debts being filed, the court will issue a discharge order. If any objections to the dischargeability of specific debts are filed, they will be heard by the court, but will not delay the granting of a discharge with respect to other debts. An objection to discharge or to the dischargeability of certain debts is considered a separate lawsuit (an adversary proceeding) within the bankruptcy case and may result in a trial before the judge assigned to the case. Chapter 7 corporate and partnership debtors do not receive discharges.

    If there are no estate assets from which a dividend can be paid to the creditors, the trustee prepares a report of no distribution and the case is closed. If there are assets that are not exempt, funds are available for distribution. The court sets claims deadlines and notifies all creditors to file their proofs of claim. The trustee proceeds to collect the assets, liquidate them and distribute the proceeds to creditors. When the assets have been completely administered, the court closes the case.

    In a chapter 13 case, creditors are given an opportunity to object to the plan. If no objection is filed by creditors or the trustee, the plan may be confirmed as filed. Once the plan is confirmed, the trustee will distribute the proceeds of the debtor’s plan payments to the creditors until the debtor completes the plan or the court dismisses or converts the case. Upon completion of the chapter 13 plan payments, the court issues a discharge order, the trustee prepares a final report, and the case is closed. If debtors are unable to complete the plan through no fault of their own, and request a “hardship discharge”, a discharge may be granted if certain criteria are met.

    In a chapter 12 case, the confirmation hearing must be concluded within 45 days of filing the plan. The court may consider dismissal of the case if a plan is not confirmed. Once the plan is confirmed, the trustee disburses the payments received from the debtor and makes sure the farming operation is running according to plan. Upon completion of the chapter 12 plan payments, the court issues a discharge order, the trustee prepares a final report, and the case is closed. If debtors are unable to complete the plan through no fault of their own, and request a “hardship discharge”, a discharge may be granted if certain criteria are met.

    In a chapter 11 case, the debtor meets with the U.S. Trustee’s staff before the creditors’ meeting. At the meeting, the U.S. Trustee reviews the responsibilities and restrictions of the debtor-in-possession, explains the quarterly fees and monthly operating reports, and generally discusses the financial situation of the debtor and the scope of the anticipated plan of reorganization. Interested unsecured creditors are encouraged by the U.S. Trustee to form a creditors’ committee and to take an active part in moving the case along. In most chapter 11 cases, a disclosure statement must be filed with the plan and approved by the court before votes for and against the plan can be solicited. After the estate has been fully administered, the court enters a final decree closing the case. A chapter 11 estate may be considered fully administered and closed before the payments required by the plan have been completed.

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  • How do I change or correct information in the petition, schedules and statements I have already filed with the Clerk's Office?

    The information contained in your petition, schedules and statement of financial affairs is submitted under penalty of perjury. Therefore, you must be certain that it is correct when you sign these documents. If, however, you later discover that something is inaccurate, the documents may be corrected by the filing, typically well before the case is closed, of an amendment with the Clerk’s Office where the petition was filed.

    Petition information: If only changing the debtor’s address, use local form LBF 101D. If changing any other information, mark the petition “Amended”, highlight what is being changed, completely fill out the petition, and add all required signatures (for example, debtor and any joint debtor). Copies of the amended document must be sent to the case trustee and the U.S. Trustee.  If debtor information on page one of the petition was changed, copies must also be sent to all creditors. The reason for this is the incorrect information was sent to the creditors when the notice of the meeting of creditors was mailed so they need to be informed if any of that information was incorrect or incomplete.

    Schedules or Statement of Affairs: To change information contained in the schedules or Statement of Financial Affairs, the document must be labeled “Amended” and be accompanied by a signed declaration under penalty of perjury.

    Schedules D, E/F, G or H: LBF 728 accompanied by a fee per the Court Fees List, must be submitted to amend Schedules D, E/F, G or H after notice to creditors has been sent out in the case. LBF 728 contains certain instructions which must be strictly followed in order for the amendment to be processed properly. For instance, if adding creditors to Schedule E/F, clearly mark the schedule “Amended”, put Add Creditors so it is clear exactly what you are doing, and then list only the creditors being added. A supplemental creditor mailing list showing only the creditors whose information is being changed by the amendment is required.

    Service: Copies of all amendments must be sent to the United States Trustee and the case trustee. Some amendments (to Schedules D, E, F, E/F, G or H) must be served upon the creditors affected by the amendment as set out in LBF 728. A signed certificate of service showing to whom the amendment was mailed and the date of mailing is to be included.

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  • How do I get a copy of all or part of the record of a court proceeding or get a written transcript of it?

    The court uses digital recording equipment to electronically create a record of a court proceeding in the Portland and Eugene locations. For hearings outside of these locations, for example hearings held in Bend and Pendleton, a contract court reporter is employed to create a verbatim record of proceedings.

    1. Digitally recorded proceedings:

    a. Transcript of Hearing - Click here for a list of transcriptionists from whom a hearing transcript may be ordered.

    b. Copy of Hearing on CD - Complete local form LBF 335.5, Hearing CD Order Form, and submit the form, along with a check for the required deposit made payable to the “Clerk, US Bankruptcy Court” and a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the CD (which holds approximately 45-60 minutes of hearing time) to the appropriate Clerk’s office. The court will make a duplicate CD and send it to you in the envelope provided.

    2. Court reporter recorded proceedings:

    a. For any Eugene hearings prior to 1/1/09, contact the court at (541) 431-4000 to obtain court reporter contact information.  Hearings after that date are digitally recorded.

    b. For Medford hearings prior to 4/4/2010 and Klamath Falls hearings, contact Eileen Leddy at (541) 479-7277.  Hearings after that date are digitally recorded.

    c. For Bend and Pendleton hearings, call the courtroom deputy at (503) 326-1500 to obtain court reporter contact information. Bend hearings held via telephone are digitally recorded.

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  • What does it mean if a case is dismissed?

    A Dismissal Order ends the case. Upon dismissal the “automatic stay” ends and creditors may start to collect debts unless a discharge is entered before the dismissal and the discharge is not revoked by the court. An Order of Dismissal does not free the debtor from any debt. Often, a case is dismissed when the debtor fails to do something he/she must do: show up for the creditors’ meeting, pay the filing fees, answer the trustee’s questions honestly, produce books and records the trustee requests, file required documents, or when the dismissal is in the best interest of the creditors. The clerk will close the case upon dismissal.

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  • What can I do if a creditor keeps trying to collect money after I have filed bankruptcy?

    A creditor that continues to attempt to collect a debt after the bankruptcy is filed may be in violation of the automatic stay. You should immediately notify the creditor in writing that you have filed bankruptcy, and provide them with either the case number and filing date or a copy of the petition that shows it was filed. If the creditor still continues to try to collect, the debtor may be entitled to take legal action against the creditor to obtain a specific order from the court prohibiting the creditor from taking further collection action and, if the creditor is willfully violating the automatic stay, the court can award the debtor actual damages (including costs and attorney fees) and, in appropriate circumstances, punitive damages.  Any such legal action brought against the creditor will be complex and will normally require representation by a qualified bankruptcy attorney.

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  • Do I need to send a copy of the petition to anyone else?

    It is your responsibility to do what you think is necessary to notify the appropriate people. A few days after the date of filing, the clerk’s office will send a notice of your filing to all the creditors you have listed on the “creditor mailing list” (the list of creditor names and addresses that you must submit with your petition). You are responsible for being sure you have listed all your creditors and that their mailing addresses are accurate.

    Local Bankruptcy Form #104 sets out all the requirements for preparation of your creditor mailing list in a format that can be accurately entered into the court’s system.

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  • What is a §341(a) meeting or meeting of creditors? What can I expect will happen there?

    The “341(a) meeting” is sometimes called the “meeting of creditors” and gets its name from the Section of Title 11 of the United States Code where the requirements for the first meeting of creditors and equity security holders are found. Section 341 of the Bankruptcy Code requires every debtor to personally attend a meeting of creditors and to submit to an examination under oath. The meeting is held outside the presence of the judge. In Chapter 7, 12 and 13 cases, the trustee assigned by the United States Trustee conducts the hearing. In chapter 11 cases where the debtor remains in possession of all the assets and no trustee is immediately assigned, a representative of the Office of the U.S. Trustee conducts the hearing.

    The case may be dismissed if the debtor fails to appear at, and complete, this meeting. It is usually scheduled between 21 and 40 days after the new petition is filed and is usually held at the Office of the U.S. Trustee which is located at 1220 SW 3rd Ave #315 in Portland and at 405 E 8th Ave #1100 in Eugene, but may be scheduled at other locations throughout the state to accommodate debtors from outside these metropolitan areas.

    The hearing permits the trustee or representative of the U.S. Trustee’s Office to review the debtor’s petition and schedules with the debtor face-to-face. The debtor is required to answer questions under penalty of perjury concerning the debtor’s acts, conduct, property, liabilities, financial condition and any matter that may affect administration of the estate or the debtor’s right to discharge. This information enables the trustee or representative of the U.S. Trustee’s Office to understand the debtor’s circumstances and facilitates efficient administration of the case. Additionally, the trustee or representative of the U.S. Trustee’s Office will ask questions to ensure that the debtor understands the positive and negative aspects of filing for bankruptcy.

    The hearing is referred to as the “meeting of creditors” because creditors are notified that they may attend and question the debtor about the location and disposition of assets and any other matter relevant to the administration of the case. However, creditors rarely attend these hearings and are not considered to have waived any of their rights by failing to appear. The hearing usually lasts only a few minutes and may be continued if the trustee or representative of the U.S. Trustee’s Office is not satisfied with the information provided by the debtor. If the debtor fails to appear and provide the information requested at the hearing, the trustee or representative of the U.S. Trustee’s Office may request that the bankruptcy case be dismissed or that the debtor be ordered by the court to cooperate or be held in contempt of court for willful failure to cooperate.

    To view a video of a trustee conducting a 341(a) meeting of creditors, click here.

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  • What are exemptions?

    If you are a debtor, you are entitled to protect your equity in certain property, known as "assets,” from becoming part of your bankruptcy estate. In other words, it will not be used to pay creditors through your bankruptcy case.

    The types of exemptions and how much of the property is exempt are determined by federal law (the Bankruptcy Code) or state law.

    Note that if the unsecured value of an asset exceeds the value of your exemption, then it can be sold by the trustee and only the exempt amount returned to you.

    Additionally, if an item is otherwise exempt, it does not eliminate the interests of a secured creditor. For example, if you own a car or a house that was purchased with a loan from a bank or credit union and the debt is not paid off, your equity (market value less the balance owing) is exempt up to the amount allowed by law, but you will still have to continue to pay for the car or house or the creditor can repossess it.

    Debtors filing in Oregon may elect to use the exemptions provided by federal law or those provided by state law, but not both.  In other words, all of a debtor's claims of exemption must come entirely from either the state or federal list.

    For more information, please read the section entitled "Property You Can Keep (Exemptions)" in the document below.

    Helpful Information for Filing Without an Attorney
     

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  • How do I get a hearing date?

    Each judge maintains an individual hearings calendar. The procedure for obtaining a hearing date depends upon the nature of the hearing.

    1. The §341(a) hearing ("meeting of creditors") is automatically scheduled by the Court shortly after the filing of the bankruptcy petition. The date and time of such hearing is contained in the notice sent by the Court to the debtor and to all creditors. The date and time of a confirmation hearing in a Chapter 13 case is likewise contained in that notice.

    2. To schedule a hearing resisting a motion for relief from stay in a Chapter 7 or 13 case, or to schedule a hearing resisting a motion for relief from co-debtor stay in a Chapter 13 case, review the requirements set forth in LBF 720 (Notice of Motion).

    3. To schedule a hearing regarding a motion to extend or impose the automatic stay, to object to a debtor's attempt to obtain an extension of the automatic stay to cure a pre-petition residential rental deficiency, or to object to a landlord's attempt to obtain a termination of the automatic stay to continue with eviction proceedings, review the requirements of LBF 721.3 (Procedures Re Motions/Objections To Extend/Impose 11 USC §362 Automatic Stay Pursuant To §362(c),§362(l),§362(m) or §362(n)).

    4. To obtain hearing dates for any other purpose (including hearings on relief from stay motions in Chapter 11 or 12 cases and relief from co-debtor stay motions in Chapter 12 cases), contact the courtroom deputy for the judge assigned to the case.

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  • How do I obtain the required credit counseling before I file?

    For a list of approved agencies, see the U.S. Trustee's website here. The briefing must be given within 180 days before the bankruptcy filing. You must also complete an instructional course concerning personal financial management after your case is filed, and file a certificate of completion with the court.

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  • What is an adversary proceeding and how do I file a complaint?

    What is an adversary proceeding?

    An adversary proceeding is the bankruptcy court’s version of a civil action (a lawsuit). An adversary proceeding is opened by filing a complaint asking the court to rule on an issue related to a bankruptcy case. The adversary proceeding is given a new case number that is separate from the number of the associated bankruptcy case. Further filings in the adversary proceeding are filed under the adversary proceeding number.

    Adversary proceedings are governed by Part VII of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (FRBP). FRBP 7001 lists types of proceedings that must be filed as adversary proceeding complaints, rather than as motions or notices in the bankruptcy case.  Click here to see the rule.

    The following is a list of some, but not all, actions that must be brought by adversary proceeding:

    • Proceeding to object to or revoke the debtor’s discharge under 11 U.S.C. §§ 727 or 1328, except for a motion objecting to discharge under §§ 727(a)(8), 727(a)(9), or 1328(f). See FRBP 4004(a) for filing an objection to discharge.

    • Proceeding to determine the dischargeability of a particular debt under § 523.

    • Proceeding to revoke  confirmation of a plan in chapters 11, 12, or 13 under §§ 1144, 1230, or 1330.

    • Proceeding to subordinate a claim or interest (other than as part of a plan) under § 510.

    How do I file a complaint?

    An adversary proceeding complaint is filed with the clerk’s office. Unless the complaint is electronically filed, it must be filed with a completed Adversary Proceeding Coversheet on Local Bankruptcy Form 1040 (which is identical to Official Form 1040).

    See LBF ADV for more information.

    Seeking legal advice is recommended

    It is highly recommended that legal advice be obtained from an attorney before filing an adversary proceeding complaint.

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  • How do I serve an adversary proceeding summons and complaint, motion, or chapter 12 or 13 plan?

    I. Disclaimer

    This FAQ is general information, not legal advice. It does not address all elements of the rules or all fact situations. It has not been updated since May 14, 2021, and there is no guaranty that its content is current. The people in the clerk’s office can provide you with general information, but neither they nor the bankruptcy judge can give you legal advice.

    II. Who should read this FAQ?

    Read this FAQ if you have filed or are considering filing a complaint starting an adversary proceeding, a motion, or a plan in a case under chapter 12 or chapter 13. This FAQ tells you how to serve the documents that start those types of litigation in the Oregon bankruptcy court.

    III. What is service?

    “Service” is the way that you must send other people certain litigation documents in a bankruptcy case. Documents that start litigation must be served in the way that is required by Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure (FRBP or Rule) 7004.

    If you fail to serve documents that start litigation in the way required by Rule 7004, the bankruptcy judge could be unable to rule for you. And if a service error is discovered after the judge has ruled for you, the judge could be required to set aside the ruling.

    IV. What bankruptcy documents must be served under Rule 7004?

    There are two categories of bankruptcy litigation in which the documents that start the litigation must be served under Rule 7004. The first category is called an adversary proceeding. An adversary proceeding is started by the filing of a complaint, and it has its own number separate from the number of the main bankruptcy case.

    The second category of litigation in which documents starting the litigation must be served under Rule 7004 occurs in the main bankruptcy case. That litigation starts and ends as part of the main bankruptcy case, and it addresses a specific dispute within the main bankruptcy case for the court to resolve. The dispute is called a contested matter, and there can be several contested matters within one main bankruptcy case. The document that starts a contested matter is usually a motion, but it can also be another type of document, such as a chapter 12 or 13 plan.

    Rule 7004 service is required for documents starting all contested matters. In addition, certain documents are specifically required to be served under Rule 7004: an involuntary petition; an objection to the claim of the United States or of any of its officers or agencies or of an insured depository institution; a chapter 12 or 13 plan that seeks to determine the amount of a secured claim; a debtor’s motion, either by itself or in a plan, to avoid a lien on or other transfer of exempt property; a debtor’s motion in a chapter 12 or 13 case for an order declaring a lien satisfied and released under a confirmed plan; a motion for sanctions; a motion for appointment of a next friend or guardian ad litem for the debtor; and a chapter 12 or 13 plan in which the debtor provides for assumption, rejection, or assignment of an executory contract or unexpired lease.

    This FAQ uses the term “motion” to mean motions and other documents that start contested matters or are required to be served under Rule 7004.

    V. What documents must be served?

    A. Summons

    After you start an adversary proceeding by filing a complaint, the clerk will issue and send you a summons. The summons tells the defendant when and where to file an answer or motion responding to the complaint, and it includes the time and place of the first hearing. The summons and complaint must be served together under Rule 7004.

    With one exception, no summon is issued in a contested matter. The exception is for the summons issued when an involuntary petition is filed.

    B. Notice of motion

    With certain exceptions, a motion that starts a contested matter must include a notice of motion before the substantive part of the motion (where you say what you want and why you are entitled to it). The notice of motion serves a function similar to the summons in an adversary proceeding, telling the target of the motion when and where to file an objection to the motion.

    The notice of motion must follow this template:

    Notice. If you oppose the proposed course of action or relief sought in this motion, you must file a written objection with the bankruptcy court no later than [insert number of days in objection period, excluding any additional time provided by FRBP 9006] days after the date listed in the certificate of service below. If you do not file an objection, the court may grant the motion without further notice. Your objection must set forth the specific grounds for objection and your relation to the case. The objection must be received by the clerk of court at 1050 SW 6th Ave #700, Portland, OR 97204 or 405 E 8th Ave #2600, Eugene, OR 97401 by the deadline specified above or it may not be considered. You must also serve the objection on [insert name, address, and phone number of movant] within that same time. If the court sets a hearing, you will receive a separate notice listing the hearing date, time, and other relevant information.

    If no specific objection deadline applies to the motion, the deadline is 14 days, so use “14” in place of the language in the first bracket. “Movant” means you if you are filing the motion, so use your name, address, and phone number in the last bracket.

    The notice isn’t required in several circumstances, including if the motion is filed using a local bankruptcy form (LBF) or official bankruptcy form; the motion seeks to convert or dismiss the case (unless the motion is by a chapter 13 trustee); the motion is unopposed, joint, or stipulated; the motion seeks certain relief that the court can grant without notice and a hearing; or the motion requests expedited consideration.

    VI. How must documents be served under Rule 7004?

    Although Rule 7004 describes ways in which service is permitted, service using a permitted method is mandatory. In other words, it’s possible that more than one method of service could be available to you, depending on the circumstances, but you must follow at least one of them for service to comply with Rule 7004.

    A. Service by mail

    You may serve documents under Rule 7004 by mailing them, postage prepaid, to an address within the United States—but only in the specific ways described below. The ways that service is permitted depend on the type of defendant who will be served. The following explanation of the service rules applies to litigation started in the Oregon bankruptcy court and uses the term “defendant” to refer not only to the defendant in an adversary proceeding, but also to the target of a motion.

    With certain exceptions listed below, mail service must be by first-class mail.

    1. Individual

    If the defendant is an individual, other than an infant or incompetent person, the mailing may be to the defendant’s dwelling or usual place of abode or to the place where the defendant regularly conducts a business or profession. A post office box isn’t a dwelling or usual place of abode or a place where a business or profession can be conducted.

    2. Infant or incompetent person

    If the defendant is an infant or incompetent person, the mailing may be to the person upon whom process is prescribed to be served by the law of the state in which service is made when a lawsuit is brought against such a defendant in the courts of general jurisdiction of that state. In both cases, you must mail to the defendant and each other person who must be served by a mailing addressed to the person’s dwelling house or usual place of abode or where the person regularly conducts a business or profession.

    A minor defendant under age 14 may be served in Oregon by serving the defendant and the defendant’s father, mother, conservator of the defendant’s estate, or guardian, or if there is none, then to any person having the care or control of the defendant, or with whom the defendant resides, or in whose service the defendant is employed, or upon a guardian ad litem appointed under Oregon Rule of Civil Procedure (ORCP) 27 B.

    A defendant who is incapacitated or financially incapable, as those terms are defined in Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 125.005, may be served in Oregon by serving the defendant and the conservator of the defendant’s estate or guardian or, if there is none, upon a guardian ad litem appointed under ORCP 27 B.

    3. Corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association

    If the defendant is a domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, or other unincorporated association, the mailing may be to the attention of an officer, a managing or general agent, or any other agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process (such as a registered agent) on behalf of the defendant and, if the agent is one authorized by statute to receive service and the statute so requires, by also mailing to the defendant. The term “corporation” includes a limited liability company. For entities formed under Oregon law or registered to do business in Oregon and whose registration hasn’t lapsed, information about the entity, including the name and address of its registered agent, may be available on the website of the Oregon Secretary of State.

    4. United States

    If the defendant is the United States, the mailing may be to both (separately) the Civil Process Clerk at the office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon and the Attorney General of the United States at Washington, D.C. If the adversary proceeding or contested matter attacks the validity of an order of an officer of an agency of the U.S. but the officer or agency hasn’t been made a party to the adversary proceeding or contested matter, the mailing must also be to the officer or agency.

    5. Officer or agency of U.S.

    If the defendant is an officer or agency of the U.S., the mailing may be to both (separately) the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon and the Attorney General at Washington, D.C., and also to the officer or agency. If the agency is a corporation, such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the mailing must also comply with part VI.A.3 above governing service on a corporation.

    6. State or municipal corporation or other governmental organization

    If the defendant is a state or municipal corporation or other governmental organization, the mailing may be to the person or office upon whom process is prescribed to be served by the law of the state in which service is made when an action is brought against the defendant in the courts of general jurisdiction of that state, or, in the absence of the designation of any such person or office by state law, then to the chief executive officer of the defendant.

    If the defendant is the State of Oregon, the mailing may be to the Attorney General, Oregon Department of Justice.

    If the defendant is an Oregon county, incorporated city, or other public corporation, commission, board, or agency, the mailing may be to an officer, director, managing agent, or attorney of the defendant.

    7. Debtor

    If the defendant is the debtor in the bankruptcy case in which the adversary proceeding or contested matter is filed and the bankruptcy case hasn’t been dismissed or closed, the mailing may be to the debtor at the address shown in the petition or any other address that the debtor designates in a filed writing. The current address for the debtor is shown at the top of the online PACER docket for the main bankruptcy case. If the debtor’s designated address is a post office box, mail service may be addressed there even though that address wouldn’t be proper for mail service on an individual defendant who isn’t the debtor.

    If the debtor is represented by an attorney, you must also mail to the attorney at the attorney’s mailing address. The name and address of any debtor’s attorney appears near the top of the online PACER docket for the main bankruptcy case.

    8. U.S. trustee

    If the defendant is the United States trustee, the mailing may be to an office of the U.S. trustee or another place designated by the U.S. trustee in Oregon.

    9. Other mailing addresses for individual, corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association

    In addition to the mailing addresses for a defendant who is an individual (described in part VI.A.1 above) or a corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association (described in part VI.A.3 above), the mailing may be to the person or entity on whom service is prescribed to be served by any federal statute or statute of the state in which service is made when an action is brought against the defendant in the court of general jurisdiction of that state.

    10. Agent of defendant

    For any type of defendant, the mailing may be to an agent of the defendant authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process—such as the registered agent of a corporation, limited partnership, or limited liability company—at the agent’s dwelling house or usual place of abode or where the agent regularly carries on a business or profession and, if the authorization so required, to the defendant as otherwise required by Rule 7004(b).

    11. Insured depository institution

    “Insured depository institution” includes most banks (including all with Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation deposit insurance), but it doesn’t include credit unions. If the defendant is an insured depository institution, you may mail by certified mail addressed to an officer of the institution unless one of the following three exceptions applies.

    • If the institution has appeared in the bankruptcy case by its attorney, mail service on the institution must be by mailing to the attorney by first-class mail.
    • If the court so orders after a prescribed notice to the institution, service on the institution must be made by first-class mail.
    • If the institution has waived in writing its entitlement to service by certified mail and has designated an officer to receive service, mail service on the institution must be by first-class mail to the designated officer.

    If you are uncertain whether mailing must be first-class or certified, you may mail both ways.

    B. Other service methods

    Because service by mail within the U.S. is the most common type of service in bankruptcy cases, this FAQ does not address all the other ways that you may make service, including within the U.S. other than by mail and outside the U.S. Those other ways are described in Rule 7004(c) and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (FRCP) 4(e)-(j).

    If you decide to have documents personally served (delivered), rather than mailed, to the persons required to be served, neither you nor any other party can be the server. The server must be a nonparty at least 18 years old. In an adversary proceeding, the parties are the plaintiff (you) and the defendants. In a contested matter, the parties are the movant and the targets of the motion.

    If you need to serve someone outside the U.S., see FRCP 4(f).

    VII. When must I complete service?

    Two deadlines apply to service in an adversary proceeding. One runs from the date the summons is issued, and the other runs from the date the complaint was filed. You have seven days after the summons was issued to complete service in the U.S. If you don’t meet that deadline, ask the clerk to issue a replacement summons (sometimes called an alias summons). You must serve the replacement summons within seven days after it is issued.

    The second deadline runs from the date the complaint was filed. If you don’t complete service in the U.S. within 90 days after the complaint was filed, the court can dismiss the adversary proceeding unless you show good cause for the failure to meet the deadline.

    You must serve a motion or other document that starts a contested matter when you file it.

    VIII. How must I prove service?

    A. Who must sign the certificate of service?

    A certificate of service must be completed and signed by the person who did the service. If you served by mail, you are the server and you must sign the certificate. If you had someone else do the service, whether by mail or otherwise, that person must sign the certificate. The balance of this FAQ assumes that you were the server.

    B. Adversary proceeding

    In an adversary proceeding, the summons includes a blank certificate of service. After you have served the summons and complaint, you must complete the certificate and file the summons with the completed certificate.  Alternately, you may use LBF 305 for the certificate of service, to be filed with the completed summons.

    C. Contested matter

    In a motion that is not prepared on an LBF, a certificate of service must be incorporated in, attached to, or accompany the document. The certificate must include a clearly identified list of the names, addresses, and methods for service on all parties served using paper, including by mail.

    1. Chapter 12 plan

    Several provisions of the chapter 12 and 13 plan forms permit the debtor to propose treatment of a creditor or other party that, if sought outside a plan, would require service under Rule 7004. For that reason, creditors treated in those plan paragraphs must be served under Rule 7004.

    In a chapter 12 case, creditors or parties treated in the following plan paragraphs must be served under Rule 7004: paragraphs 2(b)(1) or 2(b)(2), in either case if the creditor or party is listed under “Collateral Value if Not Paying in Full,” and paragraph 3. The debtor must file a certificate of service listing the names and addresses of all persons and entities served by mail or any other method other than via notice of electronic filing, including all served by certified mail or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, and the date and manner of service for each person or entity.

    2. Chapter 13 plan

    In a chapter 13 case, a certificate of service appears on page 7 of the plan form. Creditors or parties treated in the following plan paragraphs must be served under Rule 7004: paragraphs 4(b)(1) (if the creditor is listed under “Collateral Value if Not Paying in Full),” 4(b)(2) (if the creditor is listed under “Amount of Claim as Modified),” and 6. The names and addresses to which the debtor served the plan by first-class mail on creditors or parties who aren’t insured depository institutions must be added to the part "a)" blank in the certificate. The names and addresses to which the debtor served the plan by certified mail on creditors or other parties who are insured depository institutions (if certified mail was proper; see part VI.A.11 above) must be added to the part "b)" blank.

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  • What is a "trustee"?

    The trustee in a bankruptcy case is the representative of the estate.

    In chapter 12 or 13 cases, the appointed trustee receives the payments from the debtor and disburses those funds to the debtor’s creditors according to the debtor’s plan which has been approved by the court.

    In a chapter 7 case, the appointed trustee examines the debtor at the § 341(a) Meeting of Creditors in an effort to locate and take charge of the debtor’s nonexempt assets, if there are any. The trustee will then take whatever steps are necessary to reduce those assets to cash. Since there generally is not enough money to pay all the creditors in full, the trustee, under the supervision of the office of the US Trustee, disburses the funds according to the priorities set out in 11 USC § 507.

    To be eligible to serve as a trustee, the individual or corporation must be competent to perform the duties of trustee and, in chapter 7, 12, or 13, must reside or have an office in the judicial district or adjacent to the district in which the case is pending. The trustee must also maintain an insurance bond which guarantees faithful performance of the trustee’s official duties.

    Promptly after a case is filed with the court, the United States Trustee appoints a disinterested person who is a member of the panel of trustees established pursuant to 28 USC § 586.

    The compensation of a trustee is set by statute [11 USC § 326].

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  • What documents do I need to provide to the trustee administering the case?

    You are required to provide certain documents to the trustee assigned to your case. The trustee will send you the list of required documents. Click here for contact information for trustees.

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  • How do I find out who the trustee is in a case?

    The trustee's name and address is printed on the first notice the court sends out, the Notice of the 341(a) Meeting of Creditors. That information is also available from the following sources:

    1. VCIS (Voice Case Information Service) - an automated information service available 24 hours a day from any touch-tone telephone by calling 866-222-8029. You can obtain case information following the instructions given by speaking or by using the numbers on the keypad of your telephone. You may either say "Oregon" or you may press pound [#], then "27" for Oregon.

    2. PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) - Access to a mirror image of the court's database from your personal computer which is available 24 hours a day via the internet at https://ecf.orb.uscourts.gov. You must sign up for this service and there is a small fee. For more information call the PACER Service Center at 1-800-676-6856 or visit their website at www.pacer.gov.

    3. Computer Terminals in the lobby of each office of the Clerk.

    4. By calling the court and speaking to the operator during the court's office hours. For the Portland office call (503) 326-1500, and for the Eugene office call (541) 431-4000, and then press "O" for the operator.

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  • What is a reaffirmation agreement?

    A reaffirmation agreement is an agreement by which a bankruptcy debtor becomes legally obligated to pay all or a portion of an otherwise dischargeable debt. A reaffirmation agreement must be filed on Official Form 2400A (preferred by the court) or Official Form 2400A/B Alt and, in either case, the form must be attached to the cover sheet, Official Form 427.

    A reaffirmation agreement is strictly voluntary. It is not required by the Bankruptcy Code or other state or federal law. A debtor can voluntarily repay any debt instead of signing a reaffirmation agreement, but there may be valid reasons for wanting to reaffirm a particular debt. Because a reaffirmation agreement makes the debtor's discharge ineffective as to the reaffirmed debt, a debtor should seek the advice of an attorney before agreeing to reaffirm a debt.

    All blanks in a reaffirmation agreement must be completed accurately as of the date the debtor signs the agreement. Frequently, reaffirmation agreements do not correctly report the debtor’s income and expenses. If a blank in the agreement asks for the debtor’s expenses excluding payment on the debt to be reaffirmed (in part II.C.1.b. of OF 2400A or part D.1. in OF 2400A/B Alt), do not include payments on the debt to be reaffirmed as part of the expenses. If a creditor sends the debtor a proposed reaffirmation agreement, the debtor is responsible for confirming that all information in blanks completed by the creditor is correct. The court can either postpone a reaffirmation hearing or disapprove a reaffirmation agreement if it does include any incorrect information.

    A reaffirmation agreement must be filed within 60 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors unless the court enlarges that time. The court will not take any action to approve a reaffirmation agreement that is filed after a discharge order has been entered or in a closed case unless the case is reopened.

    If the debtor was not represented by an attorney during the course of negotiating the agreementor if a presumption of undue hardship has been established with respect to the agreement which has not been rebutted to the satisfaction of the courtand the debt is not a consumer debt secured by real property, the court will hold a hearing to consider approval of the agreement. The debtor must attend the hearing. To become enforceable, the agreement must be approved by the judge. To approve the agreement, the judge must decide that approval would be in the debtor’s best interest and would not impose an undue hardship on the debtor or the debtor’s dependents. An agreement is presumed to be an undue hardship if it shows that the debtor has insufficient income to make payments on the reaffirmed debt and the debtor’s other expenses. If undue hardship is presumed, the court can approve the agreement only if the debtor rebuts the presumption.

    The court will not hold a hearing on and will neither approve nor disapprove any reaffirmation agreement for which the debt is a consumer debt secured by real property because court approval is not necessary for these types of reaffirmation agreements to be enforceable. The court will also not hold a hearing on a reaffirmation agreement for which the debtor was represented and the attorney did not sign the agreementsuch agreements are unenforceable.

    Even if the debtor signs a reaffirmation agreement, the debtor has 60 days after the agreement is filed with the court (or the date of entry of discharge, whichever is later) to change the debtor’s mind and rescind the agreement. To rescind the agreement, the debtor must send notice to the creditor that the reaffirmation agreement is being rescinded and should file it with the court.

    If the debtor reaffirms a debt, does not timely rescind the agreement, and fails to make the payments or otherwise perform the obligation as agreed, the creditor can recover any property that was given as security for the debt, and the debtor may remain personally liable for any remaining debt after the collateral is sold.

    For more information, click here to view a video on the court's website in which former Chief Judge Brown discusses reaffirmation agreements.

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  • What is the function of the U.S. Trustee and where is their office located?

    The Office of the U.S. Trustee (often referred to as the UST) is an Executive Branch agency that is part of the Department of Justice. Its function is to oversee the administration of bankruptcy cases. The U.S. Trustee establishes and supervises a panel of private trustees in chapter 7 cases, appoints standing trustees in chapter 12 and 13 cases, and appoints case trustees in chapter 11 cases. The U.S. Trustee monitors the administration of chapter 11 cases by, among other things, reviewing disclosure statements and plans of reorganization, and monitoring post-confirmation plan performance. The U.S. Trustee also monitors bankruptcy cases for possible fraud which may be reported to the United States Attorney for investigation and prosecution.

    If you wish additional information regarding either the trustee program in general or individual trustees, you should contact the Office of the U.S. Trustee at:

    For cases filed in Portland: 1220 SW 3rd Ave #315, Portland OR 97204 (503) 326-4000

    For cases filed in Eugene: 405 E 8th Ave #1100, Eugene OR 97401-2706 (541) 465-6331

    You may also visit their web pages by clicking here for Eugene or clicking here for Portland.

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  • What is the wording for a certificate of service?

    The standard certificate of service states:

    I certify that on (insert date) copies of (insert name of documents you are serving) were mailed to: * (list names and addresses of parties on whom the documents are being served and be sure to include the trustee, and U.S. Trustee).

    _______________________________ Signature of person doing the mailing

    *Note: in this space you may state: “the parties whose names and addresses are listed on the attached.” and attach a copy of the mailing list you used.

    Mailing list: A mailing list which shows the names and addresses of all creditors and interested parties in the case is available from the clerk’s office upon request. It is formatted so that it can be copied onto labels.

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  • What is a bankruptcy "estate"?

    A bankruptcy “estate” is defined in Title 11 of the United States Code § 541. It is a very broad definition and includes all legal or equitable interests of the debtor in property, wherever located, as of the commencement of the case. It also includes any property in which the debtor has an ownership interest that is recovered by the trustee if it was merely out of the possession of the debtor. In certain circumstances, property acquired by the debtor within 180 days after the filing of the case may also be considered part of the bankruptcy “estate”.

    An attorney should be consulted if there is any question as to whether specific property will be included in the bankruptcy “estate” and the exemptions available to the debtor which may exclude certain property.

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  • What are the consequences of filing for bankruptcy?

    Depending on a debtor's financial condition and reasons for filing, the consequences of filing for bankruptcy protection may outweigh the benefits. The timing of the filing may be very important, and those considering bankruptcy should be aware of the following:

    1. Filing for bankruptcy protection is not free.  How much are the court fees to file a bankruptcy?

    2. Not all debts are dischargeable. For example, most domestic support obligations, most tax debts, and most student loan debts are not dischargeable. See response to the FAQ "What is a bankruptcy discharge and what is the difference between denial of discharge and denial of the dischargeability of an individual debt?"

    3. Within 14 days of the filing of a bankruptcy petition, schedules of the debtor's assets and liabilities must be filed with the court. Failure to timely file the appropriate schedules will result in a dismissal of the bankruptcy case, and may bar the debtor from filing again for 180 days (6 months).

    4. The Bankruptcy Code imposes time limitations on successive discharges as follows:

    • If a chapter 7 or 11 discharge is entered by the court, the debtor is prohibited from being granted another discharge in a later-filed chapter 7 case filed within 8 years of the filing of the first case. 
    • If a chapter 7, 11, or 12 discharge is entered by the court, the debtor is prohibited from being granted another discharge in a later-filed chapter 13 case filed within 4 years of the filing of the first case.
    • If a chapter 13 discharge is entered by the court, the debtor is prohibited from being granted a discharge in a later-filed chapter 13 case filed within 2 years of the filing of the first case.
    • If a chapter 12 or 13 discharge is entered by the court, the debtor is prohibited from being granted a discharge in a later-filed chapter 7 case filed within 6 years of the filing of the first case, unless (a) the debtor paid 100% of allowed unsecured claims in the chapter 12 or 13 case, or (b) the debtor paid at least 70% of the allowed unsecured claims in the chapter 12 or 13 case, the plan was proposed in good faith, and was the debtor's best effort.

    5. Submission of fraudulent information, or commission of certain acts by the debtor can also be grounds for the denial of discharge of an individual debt, or for the denial of the discharge of all debts, and can also give rise to criminal charges. See response to the FAQ "What is a bankruptcy discharge and what is the difference between denial of discharge and denial of the dischargeability of an individual debt?".

    6. In some instances, transfers of property and/or payments made to (1) general creditors within ninety days prior to the filing of a bankruptcy petition, and/or (2) relatives within one year prior to the filing of a bankruptcy petition, are subject to being recovered by the bankruptcy trustee.

    7. If the debtor is seeking to discharge utility bills from a utility company currently providing service to the debtor, the utility company may terminate services if the debtor does not pay a reasonable security deposit or provide other adequate assurance of payment within 20 days of the filing of the bankruptcy petition.

    8. Depending on the timing of the filing of the bankruptcy petition, and what chapter of bankruptcy is filed, the debtor can be required to turn over state and federal tax refunds to the bankruptcy trustee.

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  • Who can start a bankruptcy?

    Any person, and almost any partnership, corporation, or business trust, may file a bankruptcy petition. Certain types of entities, such as banks and insurance companies, may not be eligible for bankruptcy protection, but almost all other entities who are not individuals can file under either chapter 7, chapter 11, or chapter 12. A business that is not a partnership, corporation, or business trust cannot file a separate bankruptcy petition on its own, but must be filed as an individual bankruptcy under the name(s) of the owner(s).

    If the person or entity who owes the debts (the debtor) files the petition, it is called a voluntary petition. A voluntary petition can be filed under chapter 7, 9, 11, 12, or 13.

    The people or entities that are owed money (the creditors) may also have the right to file a petition against a person or entity which owes them money and is not paying. This is called an involuntary petition. There are certain restrictions upon the creditors' ability to file an involuntary petition. In an involuntary case, the debtor is allowed to contest the petition and contend that it should not be in bankruptcy. The court can impose penalties against the creditors who filed the case if the debtor proves that the involuntary petition should not have been filed. An involuntary petition cannot be filed against joint debtors, and can be filed only under chapter 7 or chapter 11 (11 U.S.C. § 303).

    Only a family farmer or family fisherman may file a chapter 12 petition. In addition, there are certain debt limitations in a chapter 12 case. See 11 U.S.C. § 101(18) and (19A).

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  • I received a notice that I have a "deficient" pleading, what does that mean?

    A deficient pleading is one that is incomplete or incorrectly done in some way. The notice you received should tell you specifically what needs to be done to correct the document so that it can be filed and also gives the deadline for filing. When you make the corrections, you will need to attach a copy of the “deficiency” notice to the documents and resubmit them for filing before the filing deadline.

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  • How can I learn more about bankruptcy?

    Bankruptcy Basics provides basic information to debtors, creditors, court personnel, the media, and the general public on different aspects of the federal bankruptcy laws. It also provides individuals who may be considering bankruptcy with a basic explanation of the different chapters under which a bankruptcy case may be filed and answers some of the most commonly asked questions about the bankruptcy process.

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  • I received two notices for the meeting of creditors. Do I have to attend both meetings?

    For various reasons a meeting of creditors may occasionally be rescheduled. If so, it may be rescheduled in the hearing room with notice only to those present, or another notice may go out to some or all the creditors notifying them of the new date. The notice will usually say the meeting is being reset or rescheduled. Creditors may, but do not need to, attend the meeting. Debtors must attend a meeting of creditors and under oath respond to the questions put to them by the trustee or creditors. The debtor must attend any reset or rescheduled meeting unless the trustee clearly states that the debtor’s presence is no longer needed.

    A meeting of creditors will usually be held within 20 to 40 days of filing, unless the debtor lives in an outlying area, in which case it may be a little longer. The meetings set for Portland and Eugene will be held at the office of the U.S. Trustee. At the meeting the debtor is required to respond, under oath, to questions from the case trustee and to any questions that creditors may have relating to the financial condition of the debtor and the debtor’s assets. Attending this meeting is mandatory for the debtor but creditors need not attend.

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  • What is a redemption?

    Redemption allows an individual debtor (not a partnership or a corporation) to keep tangible, personal property intended primarily for personal, family, or household use by paying the holder of a lien on the property the amount of the allowed secured claim on the property, which typically means the replacement value of the property (the price a retail merchant would charge for property of such kind, considering the age and condition of the property at the time the value is determined) without deduction for costs of sale or marketing. Otherwise, in order to retain the property, the debtor would have to pay the entire amount of the secured creditor’s debt, or enter into a reaffirmation agreement and become legally obligated on the debt again. The property redeemed must be claimed as exempt or abandoned by the trustee.

    With redemption, a debtor may be able to, depending on the replacement value of the property, get liens released on personal household possessions for much less than the underlying debt on those secured possessions.

    Redemption must be made in one lump sum payment to the creditor. If the debtor and the creditor agree to the redemption, a stipulated order of redemption is required. If the redemption is opposed, a motion for redemption must be filed using LBF #717.20 within 45 days following the first date set for the meeting of creditors.

    See LBF #717.10 for procedures.

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  • What if I don't agree with an Order entered in a case?

    A Notice of Appeal may be filed after an Order or Judgment has been entered in a case. In a Notice of Appeal, the party filing the Appeal, the appellant, wishes to reverse the Order or Judgment granted in favor of the other party, the appellee. When an Appeal is filed in the District of Oregon, the matter is automatically referred to the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (BAP) unless a party timely objects to having the matter heard by the BAP. In that case the matter will be heard by the District Court.  Note that when an appeal is filed, the order or judgment appealed from remains in effect unless the court that issued the order or judgment, or the court that is reviewing it, orders that it be stayed.

    THERE ARE STRICT DEADLINES AND RULES TO FOLLOW WHEN FILING AN APPEAL. These rules are found in the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure 8000 - 8028, District Court Local Rule (LR) 2200, Local Bankruptcy Rule (LBR) 8009-1, and the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. The filing fee for a Notice of Appeal is found on the Court Fees List.

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  • What is the Chapter 7 "Means Test"?

    As part of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 which became effective on October 17, 2005, a "means test" was instituted to determine whether or not a debtor is entitled to a chapter 7 discharge, or whether such debtor must convert the case to one under another chapter of the Bankruptcy Code. The basic purpose of the means test is to compare monthly income and expenses to determine whether or not a chapter 7 discharge would constitute an "abuse" of the provisions related to chapter 7 in the Bankruptcy Code.

    Official Form 122A-1, Chapter 7 Statement of Your Current Monthly Income, requests information regarding your gross monthly income for six months prior to the filing of your bankruptcy case.  However, some types of income (social security benefits, etc.) are not included for the means test calculation.  Generally, if your average gross monthly income is below the median income in Oregon for your family size, or if your debts are not primarily consumer debts, your case will not be presumed to be an abuse.  Even if your case is not a presumed abuse, your case could be dismissed if the court finds that it was filed in bad faith, or if your financial situation demonstrates abuse.

    If your income is above the median for your family size and your debts are primarily consumer debts, you will need to complete Official Form 122A-2, Chapter 7 Means Test Calculation.  Allowable expenses are primarily determined by IRS guidelines as opposed to actual spending.  Your case may be presumed to be an abuse if you have a specified amount of income left over after expenses are deducted.

    You may still be entitled to a chapter 7 discharge even if your case is presumed to be an abuse, particularly if the figures in the "means test" form do not accurately represent your current circumstances (e.g., you lost your job or have a lower paying job).  If a presumption of abuse exists, some party (usually the U.S. Trustee or a creditor) may file a motion seeking a dismissal of your case.  If a motion is filed, and you are unable to rebut the presumption of abuse, the court generally will enter an order allowing you a certain amount of time to convert your case to chapter 13, or the case will be dismissed.

    If your debts are not primarily consumer debts or you are exempt from the means test due to qualifying military service, you will need to complete Official Form 122A-1Supp, Statement of Exemption from Presumption of Abuse Under § 707(b)(2).

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  • What does the case number tell me?

    The first two digits of the seven digit bankruptcy case number indicate the year of filing. The first digit after the dash is the location code (“3", “4", or “5" for Portland, and “6", “7", or “8" for Eugene), and the next four digits are the designation given to that case. The letters following the second dash are the initials of the judge assigned to the case, and the final digit(s) indicate the chapter number under which the case is being administered.

    In an adversary proceeding, the first two digits of the six digit case number indicate the year of filing. The first digit after the dash is the location code (“3" or “4" for Portland, and “6" or “7" for Eugene), and the next four digits are the designation given to that case. The letters following the second dash are the initials of the judge assigned to the case.

    Examples:

    99-32054-rld12 would be a case filed in Portland in 1999, which is assigned to Judge Dunn. It is a chapter 12.

    14-61254-tmr7 would be a case filed in Eugene in 2014, which is assigned to Judge Renn. It is a chapter 7.

    99-6012-fra would be an adversary proceeding filed in Eugene in 1999, which is assigned to Judge Alley.

    00-3345-elp would be an adversary proceeding filed in Portland in 2000, which is assigned to Judge Perris.

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  • Notice to Individual Consumer Debtor(s) Under Section 342(b) of the Bankruptcy Code

    In accordance with § 342(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, this notice to individuals with primarily consumer debts: (1) Describes briefly the services available from credit counseling services; (2) Describes briefly the purposes, benefits and costs of the four types of bankruptcy proceedings you may commence; and (3) Informs you about bankruptcy crimes and notifies you that the Attorney General may examine all information you supply in connection with a bankruptcy case. You are cautioned that bankruptcy law is complicated and not easily described. Therefore, you should seek the advice of an attorney to learn of your rights and responsibilities under the law should you decide to file a petition with the court. If you need an attorney, the Oregon State Bar's Lawyer Referral Service number is 1-800-452-7636. Court employees are prohibited from giving you legal advice.

    Notices from the bankruptcy court are sent to the mailing address you list on your bankruptcy petition.  In order to ensure that you receive information about events concerning your case, Bankruptcy Rule 4002 requires that you notify the court of any changes in your address.  If you are filing a joint case (a single bankruptcy case for two individuals married to each other), and each spouse lists the same mailing address on the bankruptcy petition, you and your spouse will generally receive a single copy of each notice mailed from the bankruptcy court in a jointly-addressed envelope.

    A. Services Available from Credit Counseling Agencies

    With limited exceptions, § 109(h) of the Bankruptcy Code requires that all individual debtors who file for bankruptcy relief receive a briefing that outlines the available opportunities for credit counseling and provides assistance in performing a budget analysis. The briefing must be given within 180 days before the bankruptcy filing. The briefing may be provided individually or in a group, may be conducted by telephone or on the internet, and must be provided by a nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency approved by the United States Trustee. For a list of approved agencies, see the U.S. Trustee's website.  Each debtor in a joint case must complete the briefing.

    In addition, after filing a bankruptcy case, an individual debtor generally must complete a financial management instructional course before he or she can receive a discharge. Also see the U.S.Trustee's website for a list of approved financial management instructional courses.

    B. The Four Chapters of the Bankruptcy Code Available to Individual Consumer Debtors

    Chapter 7: Liquidation (See Court Fees List for filing fee)

    1. Chapter 7 is designed for debtors in financial difficulty who do not have the ability to pay their existing debts. Debtors whose debts are primarily consumer debts are subject to a "means test" designed to determine whether the case should be permitted to proceed under chapter 7. If your income is greater than the median income for your state of residence and family size, in some cases, the United States Trustee, the trustee, or creditors have a right to file a motion requesting that the court dismiss your case under § 707(b) of the Code. It is up to the court to decide whether the case should be dismissed.

    2. Under chapter 7, you may claim certain property as exempt under governing law. A trustee may have the right to take possession of and sell the remaining property that is not exempt and use the sale proceeds to pay your creditors.

    3. The purpose of filing a chapter 7 case is to obtain a discharge of your existing debts. If, however, you are found to have committed certain kinds of improper conduct described in the Bankruptcy Code, the court may deny your discharge and, if it does, the purpose for which you filed the bankruptcy petition will be defeated.

    4. Even if you receive a general discharge , some particular debts are not dischargeable under the law. Therefore, you may still be responsible for most taxes and student loans; debts incurred to pay nondischargeable taxes; domestic support and property settlement obligations; most fines, penalties, forfeitures, and criminal restitution obligations; certain debts which are not properly listed in your bankruptcy papers; and debts for death or personal injury caused by operating a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft while intoxicated from alcohol or drugs. Also, if a creditor can prove that a debt arose from fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, theft, or from a willful and malicious injury, the bankruptcy court may determine that the debt is not discharged.

    Chapter 11: Reorganization (See Court Fees List for filing fee)

    Chapter 11 is designed for the reorganization of a business but is also available to individual debtors. Its provisions are quite complicated, and any decision by an individual to file a chapter 11 petition should be reviewed with an attorney.

    Chapter 12: Family Farmer or Fisherman (See Court Fees List for filing fee)

    Chapter 12 is designed to permit family farmers and fishermen to repay their debts over a period of time from future earnings and is similar to chapter 13. The eligibility requirements are restrictive, limiting its use to those whose income arises primarily from a family-owned farm or commercial fishing operation.

    Chapter 13 : Repayment of All or Part of the Debts of an Individual with Regular Income ( See Court Fees List for filing fee)

    1. Chapter 13 is designed for individuals with regular income who would like to pay all or part of their debts in installments over a period of time. You are only eligible for chapter 13 if your debts do not exceed certain dollar amounts set forth in the Bankruptcy Code.

    2. Under chapter 13, you must file with the court a plan to repay your creditors all or part of the money that you owe them, using your future earnings. The period allowed by the court to repay your debts may be three years or five years, depending upon your income and other factors. The court must approve your plan before it can take effect.

    3. After completing the payments under your plan, your debts are generally discharged except for domestic support obligations; most student loans; certain taxes; most criminal fines and restitution obligations; certain debts which are not properly listed in your bankruptcy papers; certain debts for acts that caused death or personal injury; and certain long term secured obligations.

    C. Bankruptcy Crimes and Availability of Bankruptcy Papers to Law Enforcement Officials

    A person who knowingly and fraudulently conceals assets, or makes a false oath or statement under penalty of perjury, either orally or in writing, in connection with a bankruptcy case is subject to a fine, imprisonment, or both. All information supplied by a debtor in connection with a bankruptcy case is subject to examination by the Attorney General acting through the Office of the United States Trustee, the Office of the United States Attorney, and other components and employees of the Department of Justice.

    WARNING : Section 521(a)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code requires that you promptly file detailed information regarding your creditors, assets, liabilities, income, expenses and general financial condition. Your bankruptcy case may be dismissed if this information is not filed with the court within the time deadlines set by the Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy Rules, and the local rules of the court.

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