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Keywords: cramdown . lien stripping .

Topic #22:: Secured debt: Can debtor take full amount of means test secured debt deduction if secured portion is to be crammed down or stripped off during Chapter 13 plan?

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Means Test > Expenses > Secured Debts > Chapter 13 Cram Down

Secured debt: Can debtor take full amount of means test secured debt deduction if secured portion is to be crammed down or stripped off during Chapter 13 plan?

7 Cases , IssueID 22

Ch 7 Means Test
Form 22A, Line 42
Ch 13 Means Test
Form 22C Line 47

Topic Description:

Can a debtor deduct the full amount of current monthly under-secured debt payment if debt will be crammed down in a Chapter 13 plan

Lines of Cases:

A:

Yes, Debtor can take full payment rather than cram down amount

B::

No, debtor can only take cram down payment amount

C:

Cannot deduct payments for wholly unsecured second mortgages that will be stripped off

D:

No "phantom expenses" allowed

E:

"Everything else..."

  • Type A = Yes, Debtor can take full payment rather than cram down amount
  • Type B = No, debtor can only take cram down payment amount
  • Type C = Cannot deduct payments for wholly unsecured second mortgages that will be stripped off
  • Type D = No "phantom expenses" allowed
  • Type E = "Everything Else"
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Cases for Zip , California Northern District Bankruptcy Court

Ninth Circuit Cases

� Yarnal v. Martinez (In re Martinez)

9th Cir BAP - 418 B.R. 347 - 2009-10-05 - 13 , Above

Google ID#: 5080890345452225128
(Type C : Cannot deduct payments for wholly unsecured second mortgages that will be stripped off )

Debtors have chosen to value certain liens at zero and will not be making any payments under or outside their plans on the mortgages. Yet they are deducting these mortgage payments as expenses "necessary" for their support. Debtors cannot have it both ways. Either the expense is necessary or it no longer exists as a secured obligation for the purposes of their plans. Once Debtors opt to eliminate the secured claims, payment of those claims is no longer an expense that is necessary for their support under section 1325(d)(2). Consequently, there is no need to resort to section 1325(b)(3) and its dispatch to the mechanical formulas of section 707 (b)(2)(A) & (B).

� Yarnall v. Martinez (In re Martinez)

9th Cir. BAP - 418 B.R. 347 - 2009-10-05 - 13 ,

Google ID#: 5080890345452225128
(Type E : )

The debtor may not deduct payments to a junior lien holder that will be stripped.

Other Circuits

� In re Lukazewski

Bankr.D.Connecticut - 414 B.R. 15 - 2009-10-08 - 13 , Above

Google ID#: 6103265973844089761
(Type C : Cannot deduct payments for wholly unsecured second mortgages that will be stripped off )

payments on debts secured by avoided mortgages are not included in calculating PDI

� In re Marshall

Bankr. D. Mass. - 407 B.R. 1 - 2009-06-10 - 13 ,

Google ID#:
(Type A : Yes, Debtor can take full payment rather than cram down amount )

The debtor may deduct payments to a junior lien holder that will be stripped.

� In re Hoss

Bankr. D. Kansas - 392 BR 463 - 2008-08-20 - 13 , Above

Google ID#: 10825722474196183002
(Type A : Yes, Debtor can take full payment rather than cram down amount )

� In re Allen

Bankr.D.Kan. - 2008 WL 451053 - 2008-02-15 - 13 ,

Google ID#:
(Type A : Yes, Debtor can take full payment rather than cram down amount )

� In re McPherson

Bankr.W.D.Va. - 350 B.R. 38 - 2006-07-31 - 13 , Above

Google ID#: 6336551736359440821
(Type B : No, debtor can only take cram down payment amount )

� In re Lukazewski

Bankr.D.Connecticut - 414 B.R. 15 - 2009-10-08 - 13 , Above

Google ID#: 6103265973844089761
(Type C : Cannot deduct payments for wholly unsecured second mortgages that will be stripped off )

payments on debts secured by avoided mortgages are not included in calculating PDI

� Yarnal v. Martinez (In re Martinez)

9th Cir BAP - 418 B.R. 347 - 2009-10-05 - 13 , Above

Google ID#: 5080890345452225128
(Type C : Cannot deduct payments for wholly unsecured second mortgages that will be stripped off )

Debtors have chosen to value certain liens at zero and will not be making any payments under or outside their plans on the mortgages. Yet they are deducting these mortgage payments as expenses "necessary" for their support. Debtors cannot have it both ways. Either the expense is necessary or it no longer exists as a secured obligation for the purposes of their plans. Once Debtors opt to eliminate the secured claims, payment of those claims is no longer an expense that is necessary for their support under section 1325(d)(2). Consequently, there is no need to resort to section 1325(b)(3) and its dispatch to the mechanical formulas of section 707 (b)(2)(A) & (B).

� Yarnall v. Martinez (In re Martinez)

9th Cir. BAP - 418 B.R. 347 - 2009-10-05 - 13 ,

Google ID#: 5080890345452225128
(Type E : )

The debtor may not deduct payments to a junior lien holder that will be stripped.

� In re Marshall

Bankr. D. Mass. - 407 B.R. 1 - 2009-06-10 - 13 ,

Google ID#:
(Type A : Yes, Debtor can take full payment rather than cram down amount )

The debtor may deduct payments to a junior lien holder that will be stripped.

� In re Hoss

Bankr. D. Kansas - 392 BR 463 - 2008-08-20 - 13 , Above

Google ID#: 10825722474196183002
(Type A : Yes, Debtor can take full payment rather than cram down amount )

� In re Allen

Bankr.D.Kan. - 2008 WL 451053 - 2008-02-15 - 13 ,

Google ID#:
(Type A : Yes, Debtor can take full payment rather than cram down amount )

� In re McPherson

Bankr.W.D.Va. - 350 B.R. 38 - 2006-07-31 - 13 , Above

Google ID#: 6336551736359440821
(Type B : No, debtor can only take cram down payment amount )

All Cases A to Z


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