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Bankruptcy Code
11 U.S.C. 501, et
seq.
11 U.S.C. CHAPTER 5 - CREDITORS,
THE DEBTOR, AND THE ESTATE
SUBCHAPTER I -
CREDITORS AND CLAIMS
Sec.
501. Filing of proofs of claims or
interests.
502. Allowance of claims or interests.
503. Allowance of administrative
expenses.
504. Sharing of compensation.
505. Determination of tax liability.
506. Determination of secured status.
507. Priorities.
508. Effect of distribution other than
under this title.
509. Claims of codebtors.
510. Subordination.
SUBCHAPTER II -
DEBTOR'S DUTIES AND BENEFITS
521. Debtor's duties.
522. Exemptions.
523. Exceptions to discharge.
524. Effect of discharge.
525. Protection against discriminatory
treatment.
SUBCHAPTER III
- THE ESTATE
541. Property of the estate.
542. Turnover of property to the
estate.
543. Turnover of property by a
custodian.
544. Trustee as lien creditor and as
successor to certain creditors
and purchasers.
545. Statutory liens.
546. Limitations on avoiding powers.
547. Preferences.
548. Fraudulent transfers and
obligations.
549. Postpetition transactions.
550. Liability of transferee of
avoided transfer.
551. Automatic preservation of avoided
transfer.
552. Postpetition effect of security
interest.
553. Setoff.
554. Abandonment of property of the
estate.
555. Contractual right to liquidate a
securities contract.
556. Contractual right to liquidate a
commodity contract or forward
contract. (FOOTNOTE 1) So in
original. Does not conform to section
catchline.
557. Expedited determination of
interests in, and abandonment or
other disposition of grain
assets.
558. Defenses of the estate.
559. Contractual right to liquidate a
repurchase agreement.
560. Contractual right to terminate a
swap agreement.
SUBCHAPTER I - CREDITORS AND CLAIMS
Sec. 501. Filing of proofs of
claims or interests
(a) A creditor or an indenture
trustee may file a proof of
claim. An equity security holder may
file a proof of interest.
(b) If a creditor does not timely
file a proof of such creditor's
claim, an entity that is liable to
such creditor with the debtor,
or that has secured such creditor, may
file a proof of such claim.
(c) If a creditor does not timely
file a proof of such creditor's
claim, the debtor or the trustee may
file a proof of such claim.
(d) A claim of a kind specified in
section 502(e)(2), 502(f),
502(g), 502(h) or 502(i) of this title
may be filed under
subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this
section the same as if such
claim were a claim against the debtor
and had arisen before the
date of the filing of the petition.
Sec. 502. Allowance of claims or
interests
(a) A claim or interest, proof of
which is filed under section
501 of this title, is deemed allowed,
unless a party in interest,
including a creditor of a general
partner in a partnership that is
a debtor in a case under chapter 7 of
this title, objects.
(b) Except as provided in
subsections (e)(2), (f), (g), (h) and
(i) of this section, if such objection
to a claim is made, the
court, after notice and a hearing,
shall determine the amount of
such claim in lawful currency of the
United States as of the date
of the filing of the petition, and
shall allow such claim in such
amount, except to the extent that -
(1) such claim is unenforceable
against the debtor and property
of the debtor, under any agreement
or applicable law for a reason
other than because such claim is
contingent or unmatured;
(2) such claim is for unmatured
interest;
(3) if such claim is for a tax
assessed against property of the
estate, such claim exceeds the value
of the interest of the
estate in such property;
(4) if such claim is for services
of an insider or attorney of
the debtor, such claim exceeds the
reasonable value of such
services;
(5) such claim is for a debt that
is unmatured on the date of
the filing of the petition and that
is excepted from discharge
under section 523(a)(5) of this
title;
(6) if such claim is the claim of
a lessor for damages
resulting from the termination of a
lease of real property, such
claim exceeds -
(A) the rent reserved by such
lease, without acceleration,
for the greater of one year, or 15
percent, not to exceed three
years, of the remaining term of
such lease, following the
earlier of -
(i) the date of the filing of
the petition; and
(ii) the date on which such
lessor repossessed, or the
lessee surrendered, the leased
property; plus
(B) any unpaid rent due under
such lease, without
acceleration, on the earlier of
such dates;
(7) if such claim is the claim of
an employee for damages
resulting from the termination of an
employment contract, such
claim exceeds -
(A) the compensation provided by
such contract, without
acceleration, for one year
following the earlier of -
(i) the date of the filing of
the petition; or
(ii) the date on which the
employer directed the employee
to terminate, or such employee
terminated, performance under
such contract; plus
(B) any unpaid compensation due
under such contract, without
acceleration, on the earlier of
such dates;
(8) such claim results from a
reduction, due to late payment,
in the amount of an otherwise
applicable credit available to the
debtor in connection with an
employment tax on wages, salaries,
or commissions earned from the
debtor; or
(9) proof of such claim is not
timely filed, except to the
extent tardily filed as permitted
under paragraph (1), (2), or
(3) of section 726(a) of this title
or under the Federal Rules of
Bankruptcy Procedure, except that a
claim of a governmental unit
shall be timely filed if it is filed
before 180 days after the
date of the order for relief or such
later time as the Federal
Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure may
provide.
(c) There shall be estimated for
purpose of allowance under this
section -
(1) any contingent or unliquidated
claim, the fixing or
liquidation of which, as the case
may be, would unduly delay the
administration of the case; or
(2) any right to payment arising
from a right to an equitable
remedy for breach of performance.
(d) Notwithstanding subsections (a)
and (b) of this section, the
court shall disallow any claim of any
entity from which property is
recoverable under section 542, 543,
550, or 553 of this title or
that is a transferee of a transfer
avoidable under section 522(f),
522(h), 544, 545, 547, 548, 549, or
724(a) of this title, unless
such entity or transferee has paid the
amount, or turned over any
such property, for which such entity
or transferee is liable under
section 522(i), 542, 543, 550, or 553
of this title.
(e)(1) Notwithstanding subsections
(a), (b), and (c) of this
section and paragraph (2) of this
subsection, the court shall
disallow any claim for reimbursement
or contribution of an entity
that is liable with the debtor on or
has secured the claim of a
creditor, to the extent that -
(A) such creditor's claim against
the estate is disallowed;
(B) such claim for reimbursement
or contribution is contingent
as of the time of allowance or
disallowance of such claim for
reimbursement or contribution; or
(C) such entity asserts a right of
subrogation to the rights of
such creditor under section 509 of
this title.
(2) A claim for reimbursement or
contribution of such an entity
that becomes fixed after the
commencement of the case shall be
determined, and shall be allowed under
subsection (a), (b), or (c)
of this section, or disallowed under
subsection (d) of this
section, the same as if such claim had
become fixed before the date
of the filing of the petition.
(f) In an involuntary case, a claim
arising in the ordinary
course of the debtor's business or
financial affairs after the
commencement of the case but before
the earlier of the appointment
of a trustee and the order for relief
shall be determined as of the
date such claim arises, and shall be
allowed under subsection (a),
(b), or (c) of this section or
disallowed under subsection (d) or
(e) of this section, the same as if
such claim had arisen before
the date of the filing of the
petition.
(g) A claim arising from the
rejection, under section 365 of this
title or under a plan under chapter 9,
11, 12, or 13 of this title,
of an executory contract or unexpired
lease of the debtor that has
not been assumed shall be determined,
and shall be allowed under
subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this
section or disallowed under
subsection (d) or (e) of this section,
the same as if such claim
had arisen before the date of the
filing of the petition.
(h) A claim arising from the
recovery of property under section
522, 550, or 553 of this title shall
be determined, and shall be
allowed under subsection (a), (b), or
(c) of this section, or
disallowed under subsection (d) or (e)
of this section, the same as
if such claim had arisen before the
date of the filing of the
petition.
(i) A claim that does not arise
until after the commencement of
the case for a tax entitled to
priority under section 507(a)(8) of
this title shall be determined, and
shall be allowed under
subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this
section, or disallowed under
subsection (d) or (e) of this section,
the same as if such claim
had arisen before the date of the
filing of the petition.
(j) A claim that has been allowed or
disallowed may be
reconsidered for cause. A
reconsidered claim may be allowed or
disallowed according to the equities
of the case. Reconsideration
of a claim under this subsection does
not affect the validity of
any payment or transfer from the
estate made to a holder of an
allowed claim on account of such
allowed claim that is not
reconsidered, but if a reconsidered
claim is allowed and is of the
same class as such holder's claim,
such holder may not receive any
additional payment or transfer from
the estate on account of such
holder's allowed claim until the
holder of such reconsidered and
allowed claim receives payment on
account of such claim
proportionate in value to that already
received by such other
holder. This subsection does not
alter or modify the trustee's
right to recover from a creditor any
excess payment or transfer
made to such creditor.
Sec. 503. Allowance of
administrative expenses
(a) An entity may timely file a
request for payment of an
administrative expense, or may tardily
file such request if
permitted by the court for cause.
(b) After notice and a hearing,
there shall be allowed
administrative expenses, other than
claims allowed under section
502(f) of this title, including -
(1)(A) the actual, necessary costs
and expenses of preserving
the estate, including wages,
salaries, or commissions for
services rendered after the
commencement of the case;
(B) any tax -
(i) incurred by the estate,
except a tax of a kind specified
in section 507(a)(8) of this
title; or
(ii) attributable to an
excessive allowance of a tentative
carryback adjustment that the
estate received, whether the
taxable year to which such
adjustment relates ended before or
after the commencement of the
case; and
(C) any fine, penalty, or
reduction in credit relating to a tax
of a kind specified in subparagraph
(B) of this paragraph;
(2) compensation and reimbursement
awarded under section 330(a)
of this title;
(3) the actual, necessary
expenses, other than compensation and
reimbursement specified in paragraph
(4) of this subsection,
incurred by -
(A) a creditor that files a
petition under section 303 of
this title;
(B) a creditor that recovers,
after the court's approval, for
the benefit of the estate any
property transferred or concealed
by the debtor;
(C) a creditor in connection
with the prosecution of a
criminal offense relating to the
case or to the business or
property of the debtor;
(D) a creditor, an indenture
trustee, an equity security
holder, or a committee
representing creditors or equity
security holders other than a
committee appointed under section
1102 of this title, in making a
substantial contribution in a
case under chapter 9 or 11 of this
title;
(E) a custodian superseded under
section 543 of this title,
and compensation for the services
of such custodian; or
(F) a member of a committee
appointed under section 1102 of
this title, if such expenses are
incurred in the performance of
the duties of such committee;
(4) reasonable compensation for
professional services rendered
by an attorney or an accountant of
an entity whose expense is
allowable under paragraph (3) of
this subsection, based on the
time, the nature, the extent, and
the value of such services, and
the cost of comparable services
other than in a case under this
title, and reimbursement for actual,
necessary expenses incurred
by such attorney or accountant;
(5) reasonable compensation for
services rendered by an
indenture trustee in making a
substantial contribution in a case
under chapter 9 or 11 of this title,
based on the time, the
nature, the extent, and the value of
such services, and the cost
of comparable services other than in
a case under this title; and
(6) the fees and mileage payable
under chapter 119 of title 28.
Sec. 504. Sharing of compensation
(a) Except as provided in subsection
(b) of this section, a
person receiving compensation or
reimbursement under section
503(b)(2) or 503(b)(4) of this title
may not share or agree to
share -
(1) any such compensation or
reimbursement with another person;
or
(2) any compensation or
reimbursement received by another
person under such sections.
(b)(1) A member, partner, or regular
associate in a professional
association, corporation, or
partnership may share compensation or
reimbursement received under section
503(b)(2) or 503(b)(4) of this
title with another member, partner, or
regular associate in such
association, corporation, or
partnership, and may share in any
compensation or reimbursement received
under such sections by
another member, partner, or regular
associate in such association,
corporation, or partnership.
(2) An attorney for a creditor that
files a petition under
section 303 of this title may share
compensation and reimbursement
received under section 503(b)(4) of
this title with any other
attorney contributing to the services
rendered or expenses incurred
by such creditor's attorney.
Sec. 505. Determination of tax
liability
(a)(1) Except as provided in
paragraph (2) of this subsection,
the court may determine the amount or
legality of any tax, any fine
or penalty relating to a tax, or any
addition to tax, whether or
not previously assessed, whether or
not paid, and whether or not
contested before and adjudicated by a
judicial or administrative
tribunal of competent jurisdiction.
(2) The court may not so determine -
(A) the amount or legality of a
tax, fine, penalty, or addition
to tax if such amount or legality
was contested before and
adjudicated by a judicial or
administrative tribunal of competent
jurisdiction before the commencement
of the case under this
title; or
(B) any right of the estate to a
tax refund, before the earlier
of -
(i) 120 days after the trustee
properly requests such refund
from the governmental unit from
which such refund is claimed;
or
(ii) a determination by such
governmental unit of such
request.
(b) A trustee may request a
determination of any unpaid liability
of the estate for any tax incurred
during the administration of the
case by submitting a tax return for
such tax and a request for such
a determination to the governmental
unit charged with
responsibility for collection or
determination of such tax. Unless
such return is fraudulent, or contains
a material
misrepresentation, the trustee, the
debtor, and any successor to
the debtor are discharged from any
liability for such tax -
(1) upon payment of the tax shown
on such return, if -
(A) such governmental unit does
not notify the trustee,
within 60 days after such request,
that such return has been
selected for examination; or
(B) such governmental unit does
not complete such an
examination and notify the trustee
of any tax due, within 180
days after such request or within
such additional time as the
court, for cause, permits;
(2) upon payment of the tax
determined by the court, after
notice and a hearing, after
completion by such governmental unit
of such examination; or
(3) upon payment of the tax
determined by such governmental
unit to be due.
(c) Notwithstanding section 362 of
this title, after
determination by the court of a tax
under this section, the
governmental unit charged with
responsibility for collection of
such tax may assess such tax against
the estate, the debtor, or a
successor to the debtor, as the case
may be, subject to any
otherwise applicable law.
Sec. 506. Determination of secured
status
(a) An allowed claim of a creditor
secured by a lien on property
in which the estate has an interest,
or that is subject to setoff
under section 553 of this title, is a
secured claim to the extent
of the value of such creditor's
interest in the estate's interest
in such property, or to the extent of
the amount subject to setoff,
as the case may be, and is an
unsecured claim to the extent that
the value of such creditor's interest
or the amount so subject to
setoff is less than the amount of such
allowed claim. Such value
shall be determined in light of the
purpose of the valuation and of
the proposed disposition or use of
such property, and in
conjunction with any hearing on such
disposition or use or on a
plan affecting such creditor's
interest.
(b) To the extent that an allowed
secured claim is secured by
property the value of which, after any
recovery under subsection
(c) of this section, is greater than
the amount of such claim,
there shall be allowed to the holder
of such claim, interest on
such claim, and any reasonable fees,
costs, or charges provided for
under the agreement under which such
claim arose.
(c) The trustee may recover from
property securing an allowed
secured claim the reasonable,
necessary costs and expenses of
preserving, or disposing of, such
property to the extent of any
benefit to the holder of such claim.
(d) To the extent that a lien
secures a claim against the debtor
that is not an allowed secured claim,
such lien is void, unless -
(1) such claim was disallowed only
under section 502(b)(5) or
502(e) of this title; or
(2) such claim is not an allowed
secured claim due only to the
failure of any entity to file a
proof of such claim under section
501 of this title.
Sec. 507. Priorities
(a) The following expenses and
claims have priority in the
following order:
(1) First, administrative expenses
allowed under section 503(b)
of this title, and any fees and
charges assessed against the
estate under chapter 123 of title
28.
(2) Second, unsecured claims
allowed under section 502(f) of
this title.
(3) Third, allowed unsecured
claims, but only to the extent of
$4,000 for each individual or
corporation, as the case may be,
earned within 90 days before the
date of the filing of the
petition or the date of the
cessation of the debtor's business,
whichever occurs first, for -
(A) wages, salaries, or
commissions, including vacation,
severance, and sick leave pay
earned by an individual; or
(B) sales commissions earned by
an individual or by a
corporation with only 1 employee,
acting as an independent
contractor in the sale of goods or
services for the debtor in
the ordinary course of the
debtor's business if, and only if,
during the 12 months preceding
that date, at least 75 percent
of the amount that the individual
or corporation earned by
acting as an independent
contractor in the sale of goods or
services was earned from the
debtor; (FOOTNOTE 1)
(FOOTNOTE 1) So in original. The
semicolon probably should be a
period.
(4) Fourth, allowed unsecured
claims for contributions to an
employee benefit plan -
(A) arising from services
rendered within 180 days before the
date of the filing of the petition
or the date of the cessation
of the debtor's business,
whichever occurs first; but only
(B) for each such plan, to the
extent of -
(i) the number of employees
covered by each such plan
multiplied by $4,000; less
(ii) the aggregate amount paid
to such employees under
paragraph (3) of this
subsection, plus the aggregate amount
paid by the estate on behalf of
such employees to any other
employee benefit plan.
(5) Fifth, allowed unsecured
claims of persons -
(A) engaged in the production or
raising of grain, as defined
in section 557(b) of this title,
against a debtor who owns or
operates a grain storage facility,
as defined in section 557(b)
of this title, for grain or the
proceeds of grain, or
(B) engaged as a United States
fisherman against a debtor who
has acquired fish or fish produce
from a fisherman through a
sale or conversion, and who is
engaged in operating a fish
produce storage or processing
facility -
but only to the extent of $4,000 for
each such individual.
(6) Sixth, allowed unsecured
claims of individuals, to the
extent of $1,800 for each such
individual, arising from the
deposit, before the commencement of
the case, of money in
connection with the purchase, lease,
or rental of property, or
the purchase of services, for the
personal, family, or household
use of such individuals, that were
not delivered or provided.
(7) Seventh, allowed claims for
debts to a spouse, former
spouse, or child of the debtor, for
alimony to, maintenance for,
or support of such spouse or child,
in connection with a
separation agreement, divorce decree
or other order of a court of
record, determination made in
accordance with State or
territorial law by a governmental
unit, or property settlement
agreement, but not to the extent
that such debt -
(A) is assigned to another
entity, voluntarily, by operation
of law, or otherwise; or
(B) includes a liability
designated as alimony, maintenance,
or support, unless such liability
is actually in the nature of
alimony, maintenance or support.
(8) Eighth, allowed unsecured
claims of governmental units,
only to the extent that such claims
are for -
(A) a tax on or measured by
income or gross receipts -
(i) for a taxable year ending
on or before the date of the
filing of the petition for which
a return, if required, is
last due, including extensions,
after three years before the
date of the filing of the
petition;
(ii) assessed within 240 days,
plus any time plus 30 days
during which an offer in
compromise with respect to such tax
that was made within 240 days
after such assessment was
pending, before the date of the
filing of the petition; or
(iii) other than a tax of a
kind specified in section
523(a)(1)(B) or 523(a)(1)(C) of
this title, not assessed
before, but assessable, under
applicable law or by agreement,
after, the commencement of the
case;
(B) a property tax assessed
before the commencement of the
case and last payable without
penalty after one year before the
date of the filing of the
petition;
(C) a tax required to be
collected or withheld and for which
the debtor is liable in whatever
capacity;
(D) an employment tax on a wage,
salary, or commission of a
kind specified in paragraph (3) of
this subsection earned from
the debtor before the date of the
filing of the petition,
whether or not actually paid
before such date, for which a
return is last due, under
applicable law or under any
extension, after three years
before the date of the filing of
the petition;
(E) an excise tax on -
(i) a transaction occurring
before the date of the filing
of the petition for which a
return, if required, is last due,
under applicable law or under
any extension, after three
years before the date of the
filing of the petition; or
(ii) if a return is not
required, a transaction occurring
during the three years
immediately preceding the date of the
filing of the petition;
(F) a customs duty arising out
of the importation of
merchandise -
(i) entered for consumption
within one year before the date
of the filing of the petition;
(ii) covered by an entry
liquidated or reliquidated within
one year before the date of the
filing of the petition; or
(iii) entered for consumption
within four years before the
date of the filing of the
petition but unliquidated on such
date, if the Secretary of the
Treasury certifies that failure
to liquidate such entry was due
to an investigation pending
on such date into assessment of
antidumping or countervailing
duties or fraud, or if
information needed for the proper
appraisement or classification
of such merchandise was not
available to the appropriate
customs officer before such
date; or
(G) a penalty related to a claim
of a kind specified in this
paragraph and in compensation for
actual pecuniary loss.
(9) Ninth, allowed unsecured
claims based upon any commitment
by the debtor to a Federal
depository institutions regulatory
agency (or predecessor to such
agency) to maintain the capital of
an insured depository institution.
(b) If the trustee, under section
362, 363, or 364 of this title,
provides adequate protection of the
interest of a holder of a claim
secured by a lien on property of the
debtor and if, notwithstanding
such protection, such creditor has a
claim allowable under
subsection (a)(1) of this section
arising from the stay of action
against such property under section
362 of this title, from the
use, sale, or lease of such property
under section 363 of this
title, or from the granting of a lien
under section 364(d) of this
title, then such creditor's claim
under such subsection shall have
priority over every other claim
allowable under such subsection.
(c) For the purpose of subsection
(a) of this section, a claim of
a governmental unit arising from an
erroneous refund or credit of a
tax has the same priority as a claim
for the tax to which such
refund or credit relates.
(d) An entity that is subrogated to
the rights of a holder of a
claim of a kind specified in
subsection (a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(5),
(a)(6), (a)(7), (a)(8), or (a)(9) of
this section is not subrogated
to the right of the holder of such
claim to priority under such
subsection.
Sec. 508. Effect of distribution
other than under this title
(a) If a creditor receives, in a
foreign proceeding, payment of,
or a transfer of property on account
of, a claim that is allowed
under this title, such creditor may
not receive any payment under
this title on account of such claim
until each of the other holders
of claims on account of which such
holders are entitled to share
equally with such creditor under this
title has received payment
under this title equal in value to the
consideration received by
such creditor in such foreign
proceeding.
(b) If a creditor of a partnership
debtor receives, from a
general partner that is not a debtor
in a case under chapter 7 of
this title, payment of, or a transfer
of property on account of, a
claim that is allowed under this title
and that is not secured by a
lien on property of such partner, such
creditor may not receive any
payment under this title on account of
such claim until each of the
other holders of claims on account of
which such holders are
entitled to share equally with such
creditor under this title has
received payment under this title
equal in value to the
consideration received by such
creditor from such general partner.
Sec. 509. Claims of codebtors
(a) Except as provided in subsection
(b) or (c) of this section,
an entity that is liable with the
debtor on, or that has secured, a
claim of a creditor against the
debtor, and that pays such claim,
is subrogated to the rights of such
creditor to the extent of such
payment.
(b) Such entity is not subrogated to
the rights of such creditor
to the extent that -
(1) a claim of such entity for
reimbursement or contribution on
account of such payment of such
creditor's claim is -
(A) allowed under section 502 of
this title;
(B) disallowed other than under
section 502(e) of this title;
or
(C) subordinated under section
510 of this title; or
(2) as between the debtor and such
entity, such entity received
the consideration for the claim held
by such creditor.
(c) The court shall subordinate to
the claim of a creditor and
for the benefit of such creditor an
allowed claim, by way of
subrogation under this section, or for
reimbursement or
contribution, of an entity that is
liable with the debtor on, or
that has secured, such creditor's
claim, until such creditor's
claim is paid in full, either through
payments under this title or
otherwise.
Sec. 510. Subordination
(a) A subordination agreement is
enforceable in a case under this
title to the same extent that such
agreement is enforceable under
applicable nonbankruptcy law.
(b) For the purpose of distribution
under this title, a claim
arising from rescission of a purchase
or sale of a security of the
debtor or of an affiliate of the
debtor, for damages arising from
the purchase or sale of such a
security, or for reimbursement or
contribution allowed under section 502
on account of such a claim,
shall be subordinated to all claims or
interests that are senior to
or equal the claim or interest
represented by such security, except
that if such security is common stock,
such claim has the same
priority as common stock.
(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a)
and (b) of this section,
after notice and a hearing, the court
may -
(1) under principles of equitable
subordination, subordinate
for purposes of distribution all or
part of an allowed claim to
all or part of another allowed claim
or all or part of an allowed
interest to all or part of another
allowed interest; or
(2) order that any lien securing
such a subordinated claim be
transferred to the estate.
Sec. 521. Debtor's duties
The debtor shall -
(1) file a list of creditors, and
unless the court orders
otherwise, a schedule of assets and
liabilities, a schedule of
current income and current
expenditures, and a statement of the
debtor's financial affairs;
(2) if an individual debtor's
schedule of assets and
liabilities includes consumer debts
which are secured by property
of the estate -
(A) within thirty days after the
date of the filing of a
petition under chapter 7 of this
title or on or before the date
of the meeting of creditors,
whichever is earlier, or within
such additional time as the court,
for cause, within such
period fixes, the debtor shall
file with the clerk a statement
of his intention with respect to
the retention or surrender of
such property and, if applicable,
specifying that such property
is claimed as exempt, that the
debtor intends to redeem such
property, or that the debtor
intends to reaffirm debts secured
by such property;
(B) within forty-five days after
the filing of a notice of
intent under this section, or
within such additional time as
the court, for cause, within such
forty-five day period fixes,
the debtor shall perform his
intention with respect to such
property, as specified by
subparagraph (A) of this paragraph;
and
(C) nothing in subparagraphs (A)
and (B) of this paragraph
shall alter the debtor's or the
trustee's rights with regard to
such property under this title;
(3) if a trustee is serving in the
case, cooperate with the
trustee as necessary to enable the
trustee to perform the
trustee's duties under this title;
(4) if a trustee is serving in the
case, surrender to the
trustee all property of the estate
and any recorded information,
including books, documents, records,
and papers, relating to
property of the estate, whether or
not immunity is granted under
section 344 of this title, and
(5) appear at the hearing required
under section 524(d) of this
title.
Sec. 522. Exemptions
(a) In this section -
(1) ''dependent'' includes spouse,
whether or not actually
dependent; and
(2) ''value'' means fair market
value as of the date of the
filing of the petition or, with
respect to property that becomes
property of the estate after such
date, as of the date such
property becomes property of the
estate.
(b) Notwithstanding section 541 of
this title, an individual
debtor may exempt from property of the
estate the property listed
in either paragraph (1) or, in the
alternative, paragraph (2) of
this subsection. In joint cases filed
under section 302 of this
title and individual cases filed under
section 301 or 303 of this
title by or against debtors who are
husband and wife, and whose
estates are ordered to be jointly
administered under Rule 1015(b)
of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy
Procedure, one debtor may not
elect to exempt property listed in
paragraph (1) and the other
debtor elect to exempt property listed
in paragraph (2) of this
subsection. If the parties cannot
agree on the alternative to be
elected, they shall be deemed to elect
paragraph (1), where such
election is permitted under the law of
the jurisdiction where the
case is filed. Such property is -
(1) property that is specified
under subsection (d) of this
section, unless the State law that
is applicable to the debtor
under paragraph (2)(A) of this
subsection specifically does not
so authorize; or, in the
alternative,
(2)(A) any property that is exempt
under Federal law, other
than subsection (d) of this section,
or State or local law that
is applicable on the date of the
filing of the petition at the
place in which the debtor's domicile
has been located for the 180
days immediately preceding the date
of the filing of the
petition, or for a longer portion of
such 180-day period than in
any other place; and
(B) any interest in property in
which the debtor had,
immediately before the commencement
of the case, an interest as a
tenant by the entirety or joint
tenant to the extent that such
interest as a tenant by the entirety
or joint tenant is exempt
from process under applicable
nonbankruptcy law.
(c) Unless the case is dismissed,
property exempted under this
section is not liable during or after
the case for any debt of the
debtor that arose, or that is
determined under section 502 of this
title as if such debt had arisen,
before the commencement of the
case, except -
(1) a debt of a kind specified in
section 523(a)(1) or
523(a)(5) of this title;
(2) a debt secured by a lien that
is -
(A)(i) not avoided under
subsection (f) or (g) of this
section or under section 544, 545,
547, 548, 549, or 724(a) of
this title; and
(ii) not void under section
506(d) of this title; or
(B) a tax lien, notice of which
is properly filed;
(3) a debt of a kind specified in
section 523(a)(4) or
523(a)(6) of this title owed by an
institution-affiliated party
of an insured depository institution
to a Federal depository
institutions regulatory agency
acting in its capacity as
conservator, receiver, or
liquidating agent for such institution;
or
(4) a debt in connection with
fraud in the obtaining or
providing of any scholarship, grant,
loan, tuition, discount,
award, or other financial assistance
for purposes of financing an
education at an institution of
higher education (as that term is
defined in section 101 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001)).
(d) The following property may be
exempted under subsection
(b)(1) of this section:
(1) The debtor's aggregate
interest, not to exceed $15,000 in
value, in real property or personal
property that the debtor or a
dependent of the debtor uses as a
residence, in a cooperative
that owns property that the debtor
or a dependent of the debtor
uses as a residence, or in a burial
plot for the debtor or a
dependent of the debtor.
(2) The debtor's interest, not to
exceed $2,400 in value, in
one motor vehicle.
(3) The debtor's interest, not to
exceed $400 in value in any
particular item or $8,000 in
aggregate value, in household
furnishings, household goods,
wearing apparel, appliances, books,
animals, crops, or musical
instruments, that are held primarily
for the personal, family, or
household use of the debtor or a
dependent of the debtor.
(4) The debtor's aggregate
interest, not to exceed $1,000 in
value, in jewelry held primarily for
the personal, family, or
household use of the debtor or a
dependent of the debtor.
(5) The debtor's aggregate
interest in any property, not to
exceed in value $800 plus up to
$7,500 of any unused amount of
the exemption provided under
paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(6) The debtor's aggregate
interest, not to exceed $1,500 in
value, in any implements,
professional books, or tools, of the
trade of the debtor or the trade of
a dependent of the debtor.
(7) Any unmatured life insurance
contract owned by the debtor,
other than a credit life insurance
contract.
(8) The debtor's aggregate
interest, not to exceed in value
$8,000 less any amount of property
of the estate transferred in
the manner specified in section
542(d) of this title, in any
accrued dividend or interest under,
or loan value of, any
unmatured life insurance contract
owned by the debtor under which
the insured is the debtor or an
individual of whom the debtor is
a dependent.
(9) Professionally prescribed
health aids for the debtor or a
dependent of the debtor.
(10) The debtor's right to receive
-
(A) a social security benefit,
unemployment compensation, or
a local public assistance benefit;
(B) a veterans' benefit;
(C) a disability, illness, or
unemployment benefit;
(D) alimony, support, or
separate maintenance, to the extent
reasonably necessary for the
support of the debtor and any
dependent of the debtor;
(E) a payment under a stock
bonus, pension, profitsharing,
annuity, or similar plan or
contract on account of illness,
disability, death, age, or length
of service, to the extent
reasonably necessary for the
support of the debtor and any
dependent of the debtor, unless -
(i) such plan or contract was
established by or under the
auspices of an insider that
employed the debtor at the time
the debtor's rights under such
plan or contract arose;
(ii) such payment is on
account of age or length of
service; and
(iii) such plan or contract
does not qualify under section
401(a), 403(a), 403(b), or 408
of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986.
(11) The debtor's right to
receive, or property that is
traceable to -
(A) an award under a crime
victim's reparation law;
(B) a payment on account of the
wrongful death of an
individual of whom the debtor was
a dependent, to the extent
reasonably necessary for the
support of the debtor and any
dependent of the debtor;
(C) a payment under a life
insurance contract that insured
the life of an individual of whom
the debtor was a dependent on
the date of such individual's
death, to the extent reasonably
necessary for the support of the
debtor and any dependent of
the debtor;
(D) a payment, not to exceed
$15,000, on account of personal
bodily injury, not including pain
and suffering or compensation
for actual pecuniary loss, of the
debtor or an individual of
whom the debtor is a dependent; or
(E) a payment in compensation of
loss of future earnings of
the debtor or an individual of
whom the debtor is or was a
dependent, to the extent
reasonably necessary for the support
of the debtor and any dependent of
the debtor.
(e) A waiver of an exemption
executed in favor of a creditor that
holds an unsecured claim against the
debtor is unenforceable in a
case under this title with respect to
such claim against property
that the debtor may exempt under
subsection (b) of this section. A
waiver by the debtor of a power under
subsection (f) or (h) of this
section to avoid a transfer, under
subsection (g) or (i) of this
section to exempt property, or under
subsection (i) of this section
to recover property or to preserve a
transfer, is unenforceable in
a case under this title.
(f)(1) Notwithstanding any waiver of
exemptions but subject to
paragraph (3), the debtor may avoid
the fixing of a lien on an
interest of the debtor in property to
the extent that such lien
impairs an exemption to which the
debtor would have been entitled
under subsection (b) of this section,
if such lien is -
(A) a judicial lien, other than a
judicial lien that secures a
debt -
(i) to a spouse, former spouse,
or child of the debtor, for
alimony to, maintenance for, or
support of such spouse or
child, in connection with a
separation agreement, divorce
decree or other order of a court
of record, determination made
in accordance with State or
territorial law by a governmental
unit, or property settlement
agreement; and
(ii) to the extent that such
debt -
(I) is not assigned to another
entity, voluntarily, by
operation of law, or otherwise;
and
(II) includes a liability
designated as alimony,
maintenance, or support, unless
such liability is actually in
the nature of alimony,
maintenance or support.; (FOOTNOTE 1)
or
(FOOTNOTE 1) So in original. The
period preceding the semicolon
probably should not appear.
(B) a nonpossessory, nonpurchase-money
security interest in any
-
(i) household furnishings,
household goods, wearing apparel,
appliances, books, animals, crops,
musical instruments, or
jewelry that are held primarily
for the personal, family, or
household use of the debtor or a
dependent of the debtor;
(ii) implements, professional
books, or tools, of the trade
of the debtor or the trade of a
dependent of the debtor; or
(iii) professionally prescribed
health aids for the debtor or
a dependent of the debtor.
(2)(A) For the purposes of this
subsection, a lien shall be
considered to impair an exemption to
the extent that the sum of -
(i) the lien;
(ii) all other liens on the
property; and
(iii) the amount of the exemption
that the debtor could claim
if there were no liens on the
property;
exceeds the value that the debtor's
interest in the property would
have in the absence of any liens.
(B) In the case of a property
subject to more than 1 lien, a lien
that has been avoided shall not be
considered in making the
calculation under subparagraph (A)
with respect to other liens.
(C) This paragraph shall not apply
with respect to a judgment
arising out of a mortgage foreclosure.
(3) In a case in which State law
that is applicable to the debtor
-
(A) permits a person to
voluntarily waive a right to claim
exemptions under subsection (d) or
prohibits a debtor from
claiming exemptions under subsection
(d); and
(B) either permits the debtor to
claim exemptions under State
law without limitation in amount,
except to the extent that the
debtor has permitted the fixing of a
consensual lien on any
property or prohibits avoidance of a
consensual lien on property
otherwise eligible to be claimed as
exempt property;
the debtor may not avoid the fixing of
a lien on an interest of the
debtor or a dependent of the debtor in
property if the lien is a
nonpossessory, nonpurchase-money
security interest in implements,
professional books, or tools of the
trade of the debtor or a
dependent of the debtor or farm
animals or crops of the debtor or a
dependent of the debtor to the extent
the value of such implements,
professional books, tools of the
trade, animals, and crops exceeds
$5,000.
(g) Notwithstanding sections 550 and
551 of this title, the
debtor may exempt under subsection (b)
of this section property
that the trustee recovers under
section 510(c)(2), 542, 543, 550,
551, or 553 of this title, to the
extent that the debtor could have
exempted such property under
subsection (b) of this section if such
property had not been transferred, if
-
(1)(A) such transfer was not a
voluntary transfer of such
property by the debtor; and
(B) the debtor did not conceal
such property; or
(2) the debtor could have avoided
such transfer under
subsection (f)(2) of this section.
(h) The debtor may avoid a transfer
of property of the debtor or
recover a setoff to the extent that
the debtor could have exempted
such property under subsection (g)(1)
of this section if the
trustee had avoided such transfer, if
-
(1) such transfer is avoidable by
the trustee under section
544, 545, 547, 548, 549, or 724(a)
of this title or recoverable
by the trustee under section 553 of
this title; and
(2) the trustee does not attempt
to avoid such transfer.
(i)(1) If the debtor avoids a
transfer or recovers a setoff under
subsection (f) or (h) of this section,
the debtor may recover in
the manner prescribed by, and subject
to the limitations of,
section 550 of this title, the same as
if the trustee had avoided
such transfer, and may exempt any
property so recovered under
subsection (b) of this section.
(2) Notwithstanding section 551 of
this title, a transfer avoided
under section 544, 545, 547, 548, 549,
or 724(a) of this title,
under subsection (f) or (h) of this
section, or property recovered
under section 553 of this title, may
be preserved for the benefit
of the debtor to the extent that the
debtor may exempt such
property under subsection (g) of this
section or paragraph (1) of
this subsection.
(j) Notwithstanding subsections (g)
and (i) of this section, the
debtor may exempt a particular kind of
property under subsections
(g) and (i) of this section only to
the extent that the debtor has
exempted less property in value of
such kind than that to which the
debtor is entitled under subsection
(b) of this section.
(k) Property that the debtor exempts
under this section is not
liable for payment of any
administrative expense except -
(1) the aliquot share of the costs
and expenses of avoiding a
transfer of property that the debtor
exempts under subsection (g)
of this section, or of recovery of
such property, that is
attributable to the value of the
portion of such property
exempted in relation to the value of
the property recovered; and
(2) any costs and expenses of
avoiding a transfer under
subsection (f) or (h) of this
section, or of recovery of property
under subsection (i)(1) of this
section, that the debtor has not
paid.
(l) The debtor shall file a list of
property that the debtor
claims as exempt under subsection (b)
of this section. If the
debtor does not file such a list, a
dependent of the debtor may
file suc |