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Attorneys Of Corash & Hollender, P.C.

Bankruptcy Risk – limit on homestead exemption in New York City

On Behalf of | Mar 23, 2016 | Bankruptcy | 0 comments

Unable to work due to a severe medical condition, she had accumulated $30,000 in credit card debt. Still not working years later, she just cannot make the minimum monthly payments totaling about $800 per month.

What type of people need to file for bankruptcy?

Her good friend, a former bankruptcy client, brought her in for a free consultation.

I quickly saw the risk that she did not recognize. As the sole owner of the house, which she had inherited from her parents, she had no mortgage  (good because it kept her living costs down; but bad, because her New York homestead exemption, was limited to $165,500, and the house was worth over $500,000).  In other words, if she filed a chapter 7 bankruptcy petition, her bankruptcy trustee would sell the house to pay her credit cards!

What property can I keep?

After she overcomes her initial shock, I counseled her on managing her life without the need for bankruptcy and showed her how her current income would be enough to pay her current expenses.

I also reminded her how lucky she was that she had a nice place to live; that she did not have to sell her house; that she had enough money to make ends meet; and the reasons she should not be worried about the bill collectors.

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