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Schedule A/B Serving Families Throughout Mobile

Completing Schedule A/B

In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, schedule A/B is a combination of disclosure of the debtor's real property interests (Schedule A) and personal property interests. The debtor in any bankruptcy case is required to complete the schedules as accurately and as completely as possible. The debtor is required to sign a Declaration Concerning Schedules which is a verification by the debtor, under oath, that all property is listed accurately to the best of the Debtor's personal knowledge.

Schedule A: Real Property / Real Estate Interests of Debtor

The real estate interests of the debtor include not only their interest in a personal residence, or "homestead," but:

  • Any real estate interests the debtor holds in investment real estate
  • Expectancy interest in the estate of a third party who has died
  • Interests in a probate estate involving real estate
  • Joint ownership with another person other than the debtor's spouse
  • Landholdings
  • Any other legal interest the debtor has in real estate

The debtor is also required to provide a figure as far as the value of the debtor's interest in the real property and the percentage owned. Value is generally calculated based upon the tax assessed value of the property, with the burden of proof being on any outside party who disputes that value to provide an expert appraisal. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in any given case will determine the value of a given interest when a challenge arises.

Schedule B: Personal Property of the Debtor

Schedule B requires the debtor to disclose all interests in personal property. This includes the debtor's:

  • Household goods
  • Clothing
  • Vehicle
  • Retirement plan(s)
  • Bank accounts
  • Stocks
  • Bonds
  • Mutual funds
  • Business interests
  • Partnership interests

A full list of the property required to be disclosed can be found on Official Schedule A/B. The debtor should provide a value of the property equal to any known value and, if the value is unknown, the replacement value. Third-party resources such as Kelly Blue Book or National Auto Dealer Association Guide are generally considered a reasonable valuation guide by the bankruptcy courts to value motor vehicles, motorcycles, boats, aircraft, etc. If you need more help, reach out to our bankruptcy attorneyin Mobile today!

If you have a question about real or personal property disclosures on your bankruptcy petition, call the legal team at Ryan Legal Services now!

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Our FAQ

Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at 251-241-5234 today!

  • What are Exemptions?

    Most of the exemptions which will apply in a Chapter 7 case are found under Alabama state law. States are all given the option by Congress to decide whether to operate under their own exemption statutes, or under the exemption statutes set out under Title 11 of the U.S. Code ( the “Bankruptcy Code”). There are additional statutes ( “laws”) in both the United States Code and under the Alabama Code.

    Whenever there is a statute that provides additional protection for your property over and above the standard list of exemptions, you can claim these exemptions to further protect your property. Failure to timely claim an exemptions can have the effect of a waiver of that exemption. This means it is highly important to provide your lawyer ( “attorney”) with all of the information he or she requests from you concerning your property. The panel trustee is only able to seize and liquidate property to pay creditors which is not subject to a legal exemption under Alabama OR federal law.

    In Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, the Debtor keeps all property. Exemptions are still important to identify and claim in your case, however. Failure to claim all of your exemptions in a Chapter 13 case can result in you being required to pay your creditors more than you would otherwise owe them if all exemptions were claimed.

    At Ryan Legal Services, Inc., we are highly knowledgeable and keep up to date with respect to Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy exemptions. We represent individual clients in Baldwin, Mobile and Washington Counties.

    Kevin Ryan is an experienced bankruptcy lawyer who will be there for you. Call us to set up a free telephone or office consultation. Kevin Ryan is admitted to practice before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Alabama. http://www.alsb.uscourts.gov

  • What is a Reaffirmation Agreement?

    You may decide that you would like to keep your relationship with certain creditors in a Chapter 7 case. The procedure to maintain certain debts post-bankruptcy is called Reaffirmation. Reaffirmation is accomplished by entering into a written agreement with the creditor using one of a number of Official Bankruptcy Forms. Usually, the debtor and creditor simply re-establish the original terms of the loan. In some cases, the creditor may agree to reduce an interest rate, or modify the original contract terms as an incentive for the debtor to reaffirm the debt.

    Reaffirmation of a long term mortgage loan or an auto loan may be something a debtor would want to consider in the context of filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case. The terms of the agreement, and whether the agreement would be in the client's best interest is something that a competent lawyer will discuss with a client. Reaffirmation of a mortgage or auto loan will cause the future payments to be reported to the major credit bureaus ( Trans Union, Experian and Equifax). Timely payments will help raise the debtor's credit score after the bankruptcy discharge order is issued in the Chapter 7 bankruptcy case.

    A debtor will generally have only forty-five (45) days after the conclusion of the Meeting of Creditors to file the Reaffirmation Agreement. The debtor is required to file Official Bankruptcy Form 8 ( Statement of Intent) with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court that identifies the debtor's intent with respect to secured debts like auto and car loans. A debtor is never required to reaffirm any debt in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case.

    At Ryan Legal Services, Inc, we have been representing individuals in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy matters since 1998. We represent individuals in Baldwin, Mobile and Washington Counties.

    Kevin Ryan is an experienced bankruptcy lawyer who will be there for you. Call us to set up a free telephone or office consultation.

  • Should I Transfer Property Pre-Bankruptcy?

    There are some cases where a client can meet with a lawyer and make arrangements to change the ownership of property, sell property, or dispose of property prior to filing a bankruptcy case. However, this should never be interpreted as a blank license to indiscriminately transfer assets out of your name. You should never transfer title to any property, or spend any amount of money that is not allocated towards necessary household bills, utilities, and pre-existing secured debt payments prior to consulting with a bankruptcy lawyer. The initial office consultation with a lawyer is dedicated mostly to discussing these issues. A lawyer will always be interested in meeting with you sooner rather than later so that these potential issues can be identified and properly addressed prior to moving forward on your case.

    Transfers of property, or spending discretionary funds prior to filing a bankruptcy case can often result in negative consequences when you later file a bankruptcy case. Every bankruptcy case presents different circumstances, and different opportunities to legally protect your property from creditors. The objective in most bankruptcy cases is to protect all or as much of your property while terminating all or most of your debt. This is usually where a bankruptcy case can become too complicated for a person to obtain all of the benefits of a bankruptcy filing by filing a case without hiring a lawyer. The best bankruptcy attorneys set and accomplish goals with their clients to protect the maximum amount of property and obtain a discharge of all or a maximum amount of the client(s)' debt in the least amount of time.

    You should not transfer any of your property until you speak with a qualified, experienced bankruptcy attorney. At Ryan Legal Services, Inc., Attorney Kevin Ryan has more than 18 years experience handling complex Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy matters. Call now to schedule a free telephone or office consultation. We are happy to discuss these issues with you personally and confidentially.

    Kevin Ryan is an experienced bankruptcy lawyer who will be there for you. Call us to set up a free telephone or office consultation.

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