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When one faces creditors making threatening phone calls, letters from collection agencies, civil judgment from creditors, wage garnishments, repossessions, you can feel like you are under attack. As a result, many people make the mistake and begin transferring assets to loved ones to put them beyond the reach of creditors and then file for bankruptcy. Under 11 USC §548 of the Bankruptcy Code, a trustee may avoid any transfer of an interest of the debtor in property, or any obligation incurred by the debtor, that was made or incurred on or within two years before the date of filing of the petition.
There are two types of fraudulent transfers in bankruptcy. First, is actual fraud, involving the intent to defraud creditors. Actual fraud requires proof of intent from the person challenging the transfer. Second, sometimes called constructive fraud, involves two conditions: 1) in exchange for the transfer, the debtor received less than “reasonably equivalent value,” and 2) the debtor is unable to pay debts either at the time the transfer was made or as a result of the transfer itself.
When it comes to determining reasonably equivalent value there is no formula. Courts will look at all the circumstances surrounding a transaction to determine whether the exchange looks even. The Court will look at whether the sale was for fair market value, or whether it was made in good faith in the ordinary course of business.
Once a transfer has been deemed fraudulent, the trustee may recover the property, or the value of the property, and make it part of the bankruptcy estate. The one exception to this rule, is in the case of the “bona fide purchaser.” A bona fide purchaser is one who acted in good faith to purchase the property without notice of the outstanding rights of others to the property. Here, the person receiving the property will be allowed to retain the property or regain the value they paid for it.
In regards to asset protection, investing in a homestead is a great way to protect assets. Arizona has a generous homestead exemption in place that allows homeowners up to $150,000 of equity in their home. Further, consider increasing your insurance coverage, or investing in qualified retirement plans that are tax exempt. However, before using any of these potential methods, you need to contact a qualified Arizona Bankruptcy Attorney.
Client Review
"Benjamin Wright with Wright Law Office made a very difficult time for us much easier. We were struggling and did not know what our options were. He explained all our options and helped us to make the best financial decision. They made things easy and were always available to answer any questions we had. I would definitely recommend him."
Carlos Aguirre
Why should you hire our firm to represent you in bankruptcy?
Great question. Here are a few reasons:
- 1. Bankruptcy is our sole area of practice. Attorney Wright has over 10 years of experience in the field of bankruptcy and has helped over 1000 people successfully file.
- 2. Attorney Wright has an accounting background that is useful in analyzing complex financial documents. Prior to law school he obtained a degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin School of Business. He exercised his strong numerical aptitude in the field of accounting, including several years with The Kohler Co., before ultimately deciding to pursue a law degree.
- 3. New clients meet with an attorney during their first visit. We understand your time is valuable. It is important your questions are answered quickly and accurately so you can take appropriate steps to secure a better financial future and eliminate fear and stress.
4. In business, referrals are the highest form of professional compliment. We frequently receive referrals from other lawyers and previous clients.
- 5. Our firm is small which enables us to focus on quality over quantity. We don’t have billboards on the I-10 or banners affixed to public transportation. Our approach is a bit more understated. We care about people and doing things right and it shows in our low employee turnover and positive reviews.
- 6. Perhaps the most important consideration is the cost of filing bankruptcy. We continuously assess our fees to ensure we offer fair and competitive pricing. We want to offer you a deal without sacrificing the quality of your experience.
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What our clients are saying…
Mr. Wright and his staff were amazing. They made a negative situation a lot better and turned it into a positive. Could really tell they care helping people and I will refer their Phoenix Bankruptcy Attorney firm to friends and family. Thanks again.
I called around looking for the right bankruptcy lawyer and came across Benjamin Wright. He personally called me for the consultation seeing how I live in Kingman AZ. He was very helpful from the start and his staff was very friendly and explained any questions I had, sorry for all the questions. I would definitely recommend Wright law offices, and I do!! Thanks for everything, you made what seemed like a hard thing to do simple!! You guys rock!!!
Great lawyer, he really helped my mother out of a jam. She was totally new to bankruptcy and he talked with us for about an hour and a half to make sure she wouldn’t be worried.
Ben is a kind and down to earth attorney. He worked around my busy schedule as a single mom (school, full-time job, and daycare pick up and drop off times). He explained absolutely everything to me and was good about e-mailing. I am writing this review as a THANK YOU.
I had a very positive experience with Attorney Wright. He or his staff returned my e-mails and calls promptly (even after business hours occasionally). His fees were reasonable. He was patient with me when I showed up in court missing an important document. He is aggressive, but fair and nice.