As authorized in Section 603(a) of Public Law 109-8, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA), the United States Trustee Program (USTP) established procedures for independent audit firms to audit petitions, schedules, and other information in consumer bankruptcy cases. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 586(f), the USTP contracted with independent accounting firms to perform audits in cases designated by the USTP.  Due to budgetary constraints, the USTP has indefinitely suspended its designation of cases subject to audit and has notified the independent accounting firms performing the audits.  Pursuant to Section 603(a) of BAPCPA and 28 U.S.C. § 586(a)(6), after the conclusion of the fiscal year the USTP will make public information concerning the aggregate results of the debtor audits performed during fiscal year 2013.

The United States Courts created 9 videos to help explain the basics of filing for bankruptcy relief. Whether you are a debtor or a creditor, these resources will be helpful to understand bankruptcy process.

The Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules for the Judicial Conference of the United States which is made up of federal judges, bankruptcy attorneys, and others, proposed amendments to Bankruptcy Rules 1007, 2015, 3001, 7054, and 7056. This Alert focuses on Bankruptcy Rule 3001.

Higher education costs continue to sky rocket with no end in sight. Students are incurring potentially crushing amounts of debt. Americans owe more than $1 trillion dollars in student loans, which has now surpassed the national credit card debt. While the surge in educational debt is worrisome, an even larger concern is private student loans. Private loans are a riskier way to finance education than through their federally subsidized counterparts.

As credit markets tighten, professionals and business owners alike have trouble finding access to credit to fund and grow business operations. Media reports indicate loans are harder to obtain and asset-to-debt ratios are stricter than ever. As cash dwindles the debt load rises. For the overwhelmed business owner bankruptcy is only one answer. There are other alternatives.

On December 22, 2010, an upstate New York bankruptcy court in an adversary proceeding filed by debtor Christopher Weber against SEFCU (“Credit Union”), granted Credit Union’s motion for summary judgment. 

Often people with less than perfect credit scores are surprised that
locating one standardized credit profile or a “uniform” credit report is more myth than reality. Judgments,
repossessions, slow payment history, tax liens--as well as bankruptcy filings--are reported to a varying degree by
creditor filings or with public record databases maintained by one of the three largest consumer credit reporting
agencies (“CRAs”). Sometimes adverse information is reported by other sources as well. In order to learn how
badly your credit rating may have been damaged, you must first identify what personally identifiable credit
information has been reported about you to the CRAs.

PaperStreet Web Design's development team just wrapped up the brand new re-design of weltmosk.com.   The new site not only has a modern design but is using the latest web technologies, JavaScript libraries, and web standards.

NEW YORK, NY - On September 25, 2008, Michael L. Moskowitz, a founding member of the law firm of Weltman & Moskowitz, LLP, presented an informative seminar to Deloitte, LLP professionals and support personnel at their New York City headquarters. Deloitte, LLP is one of the largest accounting and consulting firms in the world. The seminar was sponsored by the Deloitte Women's Initiative Learning and Development Committee.

NEW YORK, NY - Richard E. Weltman, a founding member of the law firm of Weltman & Moskowitz, LLP, recently presented an informative seminar to members of the Estate Planning Committee of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants at their FAE Conference Center in New York City.

NEW YORK, NY Despite claims earlier this year that bankruptcy practice would return to normal, the bottom is continuing to fall out.

NEW YORK, NY - By a vote of 302 to 126, on April 14, 2005, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bankruptcy reform bill which will become, for the most part, effective 180 days after it is signed into law by President Bush on April 20. The reform bill, which has stalled in Congress for more than seven years, will make filing for bankruptcy more difficult and costly, and will enhance the rights of creditors.

NEW YORK, NY - The Supreme Court ruled on Monday April 4, 2005, that creditors may not seize Individual Retirement Accounts when people file for bankruptcy.

NEW YORK, NY - As anticipated, Senator Charles Grassley(R-Iowa) introduced comprehensive bankruptcy reform legislation, revised for the 2005 legislative session, last week with several co-sponsors including a democratic senator.

NEW YORK, NY -- Sweeping consumer bankruptcy reform has been promised and much ballyhooed in the media for several years. While bankruptcy experts around the nation are uncertain about the ultimate fate of major reform legislation, according to Michael L. Moskowitz, a bankruptcy attorney who has closely followed the bills, the House adopted the most recent bankruptcy reform legislation late Wednesday, March 19, 2003, that would toughen bankruptcy rules for individuals and corporations.