Changes in § 1325.
Confirmation of plan
Limits on Cram Down for Vehicles & Other
Things
A paragraph at the end of §1325(a)
removes the ability to pay less than the balance of purchase money
security interest in vehicles incurred within 5 years (House
version) or 3 years (Senate version) before filing, or for anything
else of value if incurred within 1 year before filing.
Requires Equal Monthly Payment of Secured Claims
§1325(a)(5)(B)(iii) requires
monthly payment of secured claims to be made in equal monthly
payments, and in an amount to provide for adequate protection.
Lien for Security Retained
§1325(a)(5)(B)(i) requires that
a lien for a secured claim be retained until the claim is paid or
discharged, and retains the lien upon conversion or dismissal.
Requires Payment of Support for Confirmation
§1325(a)(8) requires payment of
Domestic Support Obligations becoming due after the filing of the
case for confirmation.
Requires Filing of Tax Returns
§1325(a)(9) requires all tax returns
to be filed for plan to be confirmed.
The Means Test Applied to Disposable Income
§1325(b)(2) & (3) define the
disposable income which must be paid to unsecured creditors as
current monthly income less amounts necessary for:
- The maintenance or support of the debtor or a dependent of the
debtor, and
- A domestic support obligation that first becomes payable after
the date the petition is filed, and
- Charitable contributions of up to 15 percent of gross income,
and
- Payment of expenditures necessary for the continuation,
preservation, and operation of a business.
And requires those amounts to be determined accordance with the
Means Test of §707(b)(2) if the debtor's
income exceeds the median income in the state.
Requires 5 Year Plan for Above Median Income
§1325(b)(4) requires a 5 year plan
duration if the debtor's income exceeds the median income in the
state.
Text appearing below in blue is the same in
H.R.333 and S.420. Text
in maroon is only in H.R.333. Text in
green is only in S.420. |
11 USC § 1325. Confirmation of plan
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the court shall confirm a
plan if--
(1) the plan complies with the provisions of this chapter and with
the other applicable provisions of this title;
(2) any fee, charge, or amount required under chapter 123 of title
28, or by the plan, to be paid before confirmation, has been paid;
(3) the plan has been proposed in good faith and not by any means
forbidden by law;
(4) the value, as of the effective date of the plan, of property to
be distributed under the plan on account of each allowed unsecured claim
is not less than the amount that would be paid on such claim if the
estate of the debtor were liquidated under chapter 7
of this title on such date;
(5) with respect to each allowed secured claim provided for by the
plan--
(A) the holder of such claim has accepted the plan;
(B)
(i) the plan provides that--
(I) the holder of such claim retain the
lien securing such claim until the earlier of--
(aa) the payment of the underlying debt
determined under nonbankruptcy law; or
(bb) discharge under section 1328; and
(II) if the case under this chapter is
dismissed or converted without completion of the plan, such lien
shall also be retained by such holder to the extent recognized by
applicable nonbankruptcy law;
(ii) the value, as of the effective date of the plan, of property
to be distributed under the plan on account of such claim is not
less than the allowed amount of such claim; and
(iii) if--
(I) property to be distributed pursuant
to this subsection is in the form of periodic payments, such
payments shall be in equal monthly amounts; and
(II) the holder of the claim is secured
by personal property, the amount of such payments shall not be
less than an amount sufficient to provide to the holder of such
claim adequate protection during the period of the plan; or
(C) the debtor surrenders the property securing such claim to such
holder;
(6) the debtor will be able to make all payments under the plan and
to comply with the plan;
(7) the action of the debtor in filing the
petition was in good faith;
(8) the debtor is required by a judicial or
administrative order or statute to pay a domestic support obligation,
the debtor has paid all amounts payable under such order or statute for
such obligation that first becomes payable after the date on which the
petition is filed; and
(9) the debtor has filed all applicable
Federal, State, and local tax returns as required by section 1308.
For purposes of paragraph (5), section 506 shall
not apply to a claim described in that paragraph if the creditor has a
purchase money security interest securing the debt that is the subject of
the claim, the debt was incurred within the 5-year
3-year period
preceding the filing of the petition, and the collateral for that debt
consists of a motor vehicle (as defined in section 30102 of title 49)
acquired for the personal use of the debtor, or if collateral for that
debt consists of any other thing of value, if the debt was incurred during
the 1-year period preceding that filing.
(b)
(1) If the trustee or the holder of an allowed unsecured claim
objects to the confirmation of the plan, then the court may not approve
the plan unless, as of the effective date of the plan--
(A) the value of the property to be distributed under the plan on
account of such claim is not less than the amount of such claim; or
(B) the plan provides that all of the debtor's projected disposable
income to be received in the applicable
commitment period beginning on the date that the first payment
is due under the plan will be applied to make payments to
unsecured creditors under the plan.
(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term
"disposable income" means current monthly income received by
the debtor (other than child support payments, foster care payments, or
disability payments for a dependent child made in accordance with
applicable nonbankruptcy law to the extent reasonably necessary to be
expended for such child) less amounts reasonably necessary to be
expended--
(A) for the maintenance or support of the
debtor or a dependent of the debtor or for a domestic support
obligation that first becomes payable after the date the petition is
filed and for charitable contributions (that meet the definition of
"charitable contribution" under section 548(d)(3) to a
qualified religious or charitable entity or organization (as that term
is defined in section 548(d)(4)) in an amount not to exceed 15 percent
of gross income of the debtor for the year in which the contributions
are made; and
(B) if the debtor is engaged in business, for
the payment of expenditures necessary for the continuation,
preservation, and operation of such business.
(3) Amounts reasonably necessary to be expended
under paragraph (2) shall be determined in accordance with subparagraphs
(A) and (B) of section 707(b)(2), if the debtor has current monthly
income, when multiplied by 12, greater than--
(A) in the case of a debtor in a household of
1 person, the median family income of the applicable State for 1
earner last reported by the Bureau of the Census;
(B) in the case of a debtor in a household of
2, 3, or 4 individuals, the highest median family income of the
applicable State for a family of the same number or fewer individuals
last reported by the Bureau of the Census; or
(C) in the case of a debtor in a household
exceeding 4 individuals, the highest median family income of the
applicable State for a family of 4 or fewer individuals last reported
by the Bureau of the Census, plus $525 per month for each individual
in excess of 4.
(4) For purposes of this subsection, the
"applicable commitment period"--
(A) subject to subparagraph (B), shall be--
(i) 3 years; or
(ii) not less than 5 years, if the current
monthly income of the debtor and the debtor's spouse combined, when
multiplied by 12, is not less than--
(I) in the case of a debtor in a
household of 1 person, the median family income of the applicable
State for 1 earner last reported by the Bureau of the Census;
(II) in the case of a debtor in a
household of 2, 3, or 4 individuals, the highest median family
income of the applicable State for a family of the same number or
fewer individuals last reported by the Bureau of the Census; or
(III) in the case of a debtor in a
household exceeding 4 individuals, the highest median family
income of the applicable State for a family of 4 or fewer
individuals last reported by the Bureau of the Census, plus $525
per month for each individual in excess of 4; and
(B) may be less than 3 or 5 years, whichever
is applicable under subparagraph (A), but only if the plan provides
for payment in full of all allowed unsecured claims over a shorter
period.
(c) After confirmation of a plan, the court may order any entity from
whom the debtor receives income to pay all or any part of such income to
the trustee. |