2nd mortgage lien strip bankrupty court

Lien Stripping in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Alive and Well in the 4th Circuit

by Dan Press, Virginia and D.C. Bankruptcy Attorney

Today the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals entered a very brief opinion that is great news for bankruptcy debtors, holding that junior liens — second mortgages, home equity loans, etc. — can be “stripped off” of a Debtor’s principal residence in a Chapter 13 case when they are wholly unsecured by any equity in the property.  [...]

A second mortgage lien in the wife’s individual Chapter 13 bankruptcy case has been stripped by a Court, even though the mortgage and lien were in the name of the wife and her non-filing husband. Eastern District of Michigan bankruptcy Judge Rhodes wrote the opinion, finding the debts totally unsecured. In each case, it was [...]