The vast majority of individuals who file bankruptcy chose to do so under either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, which are the most common forms of consumer bankruptcy. However, there are certain individuals that may instead take advantage of the greater flexibility that Chapter 11 can provide, especially when the individual has considerable and/or income-producing assets to protect and distinctive objectives to attain in bankruptcy.
(For other detailed discussions on chapter 11 procedure, common issues and more, be sure to read Wartchow Law’s Chapter 11 Blog.)
Chapter 11 arguably offers greater flexibility for an individual than other chapters of bankruptcy. A successfully confirmed individual Chapter 11 plan can restructure secured debts such as mortgages on rental properties and liens on other assets, yet without the close supervision of an appointed bankruptcy trustee. While some restructuring can be accomplished in Chapter 13, a Chapter 11 debtor maintains a higher level of control and input in the terms of the restructured debts as negotiated with creditors.
Especially for individuals having multiple real estate holdings, Chapter 11 provides an opportunity to protect non-homestead real estate equity which could otherwise be lost in Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, and opportunity to reorganize the underlying mortgages to rewrite more favorable terms including potentially stripping a wholly unsecured mortgage from commercial and rental real estate.
An individual may also opt to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy when they do not otherwise qualify for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. In Chapter 7, individuals must be below a certain income level in order to be eligible for Chapter 7 pursuant to the “means test”. For higher income earners that do not qualify for Chapter 7, most can still file under Chapter 13, which typically involves a partial repayment plan over five years after which time any remaining debt is then discharged. Chapter 13 has certain statutory debt limits that, while for most people do not normally present a problem, pose a challenge for individuals that exceed those debt limits, in particular individuals that may have multiple real estate holdings with corresponding mortgages which easily aggregate to exceed the debt limits of Chapter 13. As of the date of this post, the statutory debt limits for Chapter 13 bankruptcy are $1,081,400 in total secured debt plus $360,475 in unsecured debt (see the current Chapter 13 debt limits).
As few general consumer bankruptcy attorneys practice individual Chapter 11s, it is especially important to consult with an attorney who has filed individual Chapter 11s before and can guide you through the more rigorous, yet arguably much more flexible process, on an individual Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Lynn Wartchow provides initial Chapter 11 consultations to review liabilities and assets affecting an individual Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding. For more information on how Chapter 11 bankruptcy may impact your situation, contact Wartchow Law Office for a free bankruptcy consultation. Located in Edina, Minnesota, Wartchow Law represents clients in all forms of bankruptcy throughout the Minneapolis and St. Paul metro area of Minnesota.