Find Bankruptcy Attorneys in Winchester
A bankruptcy case cannot be filed in a Winchester or Virginia state court because federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. Beginning a bankruptcy case in Winchester normally begins by filing a petition with the bankruptcy court. The debtor must file statements listing assets, income, liabilities, and the names/addresses of creditors and how much is owed - this prevents debt collection actions against you, the debtor.
Bankruptcy cases are filed under different chapters, allowing a debtor to reorganize and establish a plan to repay creditors, or forcing liquidation of a debtor's property.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy - Adjustment of Debts
Chapter 13, entitled Adjustment of Debts of an Individual With Regular Income, is designed for an individual debtor who has a regular source of income.
Chapter 13 is often preferable to chapter 7 because it enables the debtor to keep a valuable asset, such as a house, and because it allows the debtor to propose a "plan" to repay creditors over time – usually three to five years. Chapter 13 is also used by consumer debtors who do not qualify for chapter 7 relief under the means test. At a confirmation hearing, the court either approves or disapproves the debtor's repayment plan, depending on whether it meets the Bankruptcy Code's requirements for confirmation.
Chapter 13 is very different from chapter 7 since the chapter 13 debtor usually remains in possession of the property of the estate and makes payments to creditors, through the trustee, based on the debtor's anticipated income over the life of the plan. Unlike chapter 7, the debtor does not receive an immediate discharge of debts. The debtor must complete the payments required under the plan before the discharge is received. The debtor is protected from lawsuits, garnishments, and other creditor actions while the plan is in effect. The discharge is also somewhat broader (i.e., more debts are eliminated) under chapter 13 than the discharge under chapter 7.
Bankruptcy News
Central Virginians Are Get a Helping Hand by Bankruptcy Firm
Louisa Bankruptcy, an experienced debt relief law firm of specialized bankruptcy lawyers, is extending its outreach to include Charlottesville, Culpepper, Madison, Orange, and surrounding counties of central Virginia, in response to the steep rise in personal bankruptcy filings over the past several years. The firm will also offer a free, in person or over the [...]
Top Practitioners Analyze the Challenges of Bankruptcy Security for Companies
When a company saddled with potential environmental liabilities seeks bankruptcy protection, the goals of Chapter 11 — giving the reorganized debtor a ”fresh start” and fairly treating similarly situated creditors — can conflict with the goals of environmental laws, such as ensuring that the ”polluter pays.” Recent bankruptcy cases and bench decisions have clearly shown [...]
Pizzarama Owner in Fairfax City Charged With Embezzling City Tax Collections
Fairfax Police have charged the owner of a City business establishment with embezzlement for failure pay City of Fairfax meals tax collections totaling nearly $26,000 between December 12, 2006 and June 28, 2010. Cindi Azzouz, 35, owner of Pizzarama at 9639 Fairfax Boulevard, was charged with five felony counts of embezzlement Section 18.2-111 of the [...]
Tidewater TV Station Owner Charged with Defrauding Local Churches
Samuel B. Jacobs, 57, of Hampton, Va., and Christopher C. Rice, 28, of Suffolk, Va., were arrested today to face charges that they defrauded more than 80 investors – many of whom were members of local church congregations – of nearly $550,000. Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made [...]
Three Principles of A&O Entities Charged For Alleged Roles in $100 Million Fraud
Three principals of a group of businesses that acquired and marketed life settlements to investors were arrested and charged in an 18-count indictment for their alleged roles in a $100 million fraud scheme with more than 800 victims across the United States and Canada. The charges were announced today by U.S. Attorney for the Eastern [...]
McDonnell Appoints Leesburg Resident as Counsel
Governor Bob McDonnell today announced the appointment of J. Randall Minchew, to Deputy Counselor and Advisor to the Governor.
Federal Reserve Announces Final Rules to Protect Credit Card Users
The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday approved a final rule to protect credit card users from unreasonable late payment and other penalty fees and to require credit card issuers to reconsider interest rate increases imposed since the beginning of last year. “The new rules require that late payment and other penalty fees be assessed in [...]
Roper Brothers Lumber Co. expected to shut down
PETERSBURG – A 100-year-old Petersburg business is planning to close its doors today and reportedly plans to file for bankruptcy protection. Employees of stores owned by the company elsewhere in Virginia told The Progress-Index on Thursday and on Friday morning that all of the company’s locations will be closing., however Roper Brothers Lumber Co. officials [...]
Roper Lumber to File for Bankruptcy and Close Today
Roper Brothers Lumber Co., one of Virginia’s premier LBM dealers and a longtime member of the ProSales 100, will close today and file for bankruptcy, numerous reports indicate. It also owns Valley Lumber in Winchester, Va., Read full story via ProSales 100
Vick amends bankruptcy plan, awaits judge’s ruling
Suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick has submitted a revised bankruptcy plan that funnels more of his future earnings to creditors, though a judge did not immediately rule on the proposal. Vick filed the new Chapter 11 plan yesterday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Newport News. Read full story via Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Winchester Virginia News
Crews Perform Winter Tree Work in Downtown Winchester
The City of Winchester’s Public Works Department will be performing tree pruning on trees in the downtown area from Kent to Stewart and Piccadilly to Gerrard over the next 30 days beginning February 21, 2012 and ending the week of March 19, 2012 barring any weather or other complications. The focus of this work is [...]
Local Law Firm Gets Historic Verdict in Wrongful Death Suit
A $15 million dollar wrongful death verdict, believed to be the largest ever rendered in the Commonwealth of Virginia, was issued Monday against Steven Combs-Lafleur in the Circuit Court of Loudoun County. The judgment came in the civil case brought against Combs-Lafleur by attorneys for the Estate of Catherine Anne (Cacey) Combs-Lafleur. The jury took [...]
Winchester Plans Record Breaking Attempt for Simultaneous Kiss
The Big Kiss is back! Set for February 11th, the event encourages couples to come downtown to attempt to break the record for most people kissing simultaneously. Last year’s Big Kiss broke Virginia’s former record with 97 people. The smooching happens at 2:00 pm, but come early as the event will have free blood pressure [...]
Handley Regional Library Celebrates 100 Years with Book
Help the Handley Regional Library celebrate a century of service. To mark the upcoming 100th anniversary of Handley Regional Library in 2013, the library will publish a beautiful 250-page, full-color, hard-back book. All profits from book sales will be used for special centennial projects and for library operations. Slated for publication in November 2012, [...]
Rates for Autopark to Increase February 1st
As of February 1, 2012, the Winchester Parking Authority will implement new parking rates at the four downtown autoparks. The hourly rate will stay the same at $0.50; however, the daily maximum for hourly parkers will increase from $4.00 to $10.00. For example, to reach the $10 daily maximum rate, a vehicle would need to [...]
City Begins Discussions About Minor League Baseball
The Winchester Economic Development Authority (EDA) has completed a feasibility study concerning recruiting a minor league baseball team and constructing a new stadium in the City of Winchester. The EDA has requested that Council approve a conveyance of park land (approx. 12 acres in the northeast corner of Jim Barnett Park near I-81 and Cork [...]
Frederick County Accepting Bids for Sale of Old Gainesboro Elementary School
The Frederick County Board of Supervisors, pursuant to Section 15.2-1800, Code of Virginia, is seeking bids for the sale of the county property and buildings comprising the former Gainesboro Elementary School which is comprised of approximately 5.5 acres. The property will be sold as is, together with all appurtenances and rights of way belonging thereto. [...]
Wolf Trap Sues Local Arts Center Over Use of ‘The Barns’
The Wolf Trap Foundation, based in Vienna, Virginia has filed suit in Federal court in Alexandria, claiming trademark infringement against a tiny not-for-profit organization more than 50 miles and two counties away asserting that their use of “The Barns of Rose Hill” in Berryville will confuse Wolf Traps patrons. Berryville sits west of the Blue [...]
Wolf Trap Foundation Sues Tiny Arts Center in Rural County Over the use of ‘Barns’
The Wolf Trap Foundation, based in Vienna, Virginia has filed suit in Federal court in Alexandria, claiming trademark infringement against a tiny not-for-profit organization more than 50 miles and two counties away asserting that their use of “The Barns of Rose Hill” in Berryville will confuse Wolf Traps patrons. Wait, what? Berryville sits west of [...]
Route Changes to Winchester Transit Scheduled to Begin Feb. 6
In an effort to improve customer service to City transit passengers, there will be minor changes made to the Berryville Avenue bus line. This route change will take place beginning February 6, 2011. BERRYVILLE AVENUE The Berryville Avenue route will now include a stop at Jim Barnett Par at the War Memorial Building. The route [...]