New Developments
New Developments
Defending a Home from Foreclosure: Consumer Debt Advice from NCLC
This article, explains a homeowner’s general rights to defend or delay a pending home foreclosure, how a chapter 13 bankruptcy can avoid foreclosure, the homeowner’s rights after the foreclosure sale, and additional rights to deal with nine special types of foreclosures.
Dealing with Medical Debt: Consumer Advice from NCLC
Medical debt is pervasive in our society, even among those with insurance. This article provides advice for consumers on their best strategies and rights to deal with their medical debt. We encourage readers to share this article with clients, counselors, and others working with families in financial distress.
Unpaid Taxes Owed to the IRS: Consumer Debt Advice from NCLC
This article sets out consumer rights and tactics when past-due taxes are owed to the IRS, including how to reduce or pay your tax debt over time and a spouse’s legal obligation. Also covered are why you should file your tax return even if you cannot pay your taxes, steps the IRS takes to enforce a tax debt, and the impact of a bankruptcy filing.
Current Options to Lower Mortgage Payments: Consumer Debt Advice from NCLC
This article explains options homeowners in financial trouble currently have to delay or reduce their mortgage payments. The latest guidelines are set out for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, and RHS mortgage loans. The article also provides advice on applying for these options and deciding which option to select.
NCLC Releases New Sixth Edition of Access to Utility Service in Print and Digital Formats
Access to Utility Service (6th ed. May 2018) (692 pp.) is now available in print and digital formats, updating the 2011 edition with regulatory and statutory changes and technological developments—an essential resource on gas, electric, water, and telecommunications service. Subscribers can access the digital edition now, and print subscribers receive their books in early June.
Motor Vehicle Repossessions: Consumer Debt Advice from NCLC
Over six million consumers are in imminent danger of their car being repossessed. This article provides advice for consumers on preventing car repossessions, steps to take after a vehicle’s repossession, and responding to the creditor’s demand for additional payment after a repossession.
Criminal Justice Debt: Consumer Debt Advice from NCLC
Widespread criminal justice debt—arising from fines, fees, costs, and more—has an outsized impact on consumers, including millions of drivers losing their licenses, seizure of income and assets, and even incarceration. This article provides advice on limiting these consequences and asserting rights against collection of criminal justice debt.
A Reverse Mortgage Primer: Consumer Advice from NCLC
Reverse mortgages are one way that families in financial distress can tap into the equity in their homes to meet their needs. This article provides advice for consumers on who should consider a reverse mortgage, how it works, foreclosure risks, impacts on spouses, partners, and heirs, and whether it is a good idea.
Wage Garnishments and Bank Account Seizures: Consumer Debt Advice from NCLC
Millions of collection lawsuits result in court judgment debt, where creditors can garnish wages, benefits, and bank accounts, and even seize cars, homes, and other property. This article sets out consumer rights and strategies to limit these creditor remedies.
Effective April 19, New Mortgage Servicing Rights for Heirs, Spouses, and Debtors in Bankruptcy
As explained in this article, effective April 19, CFPB mortgage servicing rules expand the rights of those inheriting homes, awarded a marital home in divorce, or otherwise succeeding in interest to a mortgage loan. The rules also offer an important new right for debtors in bankruptcy to determine if mortgage servicer fees and application of mortgage payments are proper.
NCLC Releases New Fair Debt Collection Edition with Innovative Practice Tool
NCLC’s Fair Debt Collection (9th ed. March 2018) (1774 pp. in two vol.) is available in both print and digital formats. As described in this article, the digital edition includes the FDCPA Case Connector, a unique practice tool allowing incredibly flexible search options to select from over 14,000 FDCPA case holdings.
How to Draft a Chapter 13 Plan Under the New Rules
Key to drafting a successful chapter 13 plan under the new Bankruptcy Rules is adding “nonstandard provisions” not found on the standardized forms. As set out in this article, NCLC now provides sample language for over thirty-five nonstandard provisions that attorneys can copy/paste into their plans.
Last Minute Relief for Foreclosed and Struggling Homeowners Now Filing Their Taxes
As explained in this article, February legislation provides important tax relief to homeowners who faced foreclosure, short sales, or loan modifications in 2017. The Qualified Principal Residence Indebtedness exclusion that had expired after 2016 has been extended, allowing homeowners to continue excluding certain forgiven mortgage debt from taxable income.
The TCPA Year in Review: New Precedent re Challenges to Unwanted Calls, Texts, & Faxes
2017 saw hundreds of new decisions and FCC actions interpreting the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which provides significant statutory damages for unwanted calls, texts, and faxes. This article outlines the TCPA issues that received the greatest attention in 2017.
Six Key Pointers in Advising Clients at Tax Time
Too often those who are least able to afford it are taken advantage of at tax time. Now that 2017 tax returns can be filed, this article provides six important areas of advice for clients.
Ninth Circuit: Collector Hired by State Agency Cannot Require Arbitration
The Ninth Circuit, on December 27th, ruled that the Federal Arbitration Act does not apply to check diversion company arbitration agreements, because the agreements are, in effect, required by the state. This article explains the ruling and its significant implications for the enforceability of arbitration requirements involving criminal justice debt.
Game-Changing New Bankruptcy Rules Effective December 1
This article examines new bankruptcy rule amendments, effective December 1, that significantly alter chapter 13 practice. The new rules affect the form of the chapter 13 plan, procedures for valuing and voiding liens, filing deadlines for creditor proofs of claim, objections to proofs of claims, and objections to plan confirmation.
What Every Homeowner Should Know About Mortgage Payments: Consumer Debt Advice from NCLC
This article explains how to get information on your mortgage payments (with a sample “request for information”), what happens to partial payments, disputing the amount due, and what you need to know about escrow, property taxes, and insurance. Upcoming articles will address with new guidelines on loan modifications and defending a foreclosure.
Class Arbitration After Supreme Court’s April 24 Lamps Plus Decision
The Supreme Court has just made it harder, but not impossible, for consumers to proceed in arbitration on a class basis. An ambiguous provision is insufficient to authorize class arbitration, but this article explains how language commonly found in arbitration agreements might still be found to authorize class arbitration.
Viable FDCPA Claims Arising from Foreclosures After March 20 Supreme Court Decision
The Supreme Court’s March 20 Obduskey decision limits FDCPA liability for conduct in non-judicial foreclosures. This article summarizes the Obduskey holding and then discusses which FDCPA claims arising from foreclosures are viable post-Obduskey.