The Bankruptcy Process: A Course
This comprehensive course takes you through the life of a bankruptcy case.
From pre-petition to post-discharge, I teach you the intricate details of bankruptcy law.
In addition to these details I also integrate theory, which will help you give you a deeper understanding of the law; and I also cover policy, to underscore the effect of these rules on individuals and society.
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1. Introduction
This course goes beyond statutes and case law—it's about understanding how bankruptcy actually works in people's lives, and why it exists at all. From the earliest English insolvency laws to the modern Bankruptcy Code, this body of law has always balanced two competing values: the creditor's right to repayment and the debtor's right to a fresh start.
This course goes beyond statutes and case law—it's about understanding how bankruptcy actually works in people's lives, and why it exists at all. From the earliest English insolvency laws to the modern Bankruptcy Code, this body of law has always balanced two competing values: the creditor's right to repayment and the debtor's right to a fresh start.
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A Short History of US Bankruptcy Law
Bankruptcy law didn’t start with modern courts or credit cards—it grew out of centuries of struggle over debt, fairness, and economic survival. In this part of the course, I break down bankruptcy and consumer law with historical depth and practical clarity. We explore how debt law evolved from punishment and imprisonment to discharge and fresh starts, and how today’s Bankruptcy Code actually works for real people.
Bankruptcy law didn’t start with modern courts or credit cards—it grew out of centuries of struggle over debt, fairness, and economic survival. In this part of the course, I break down bankruptcy and consumer law with historical depth and practical clarity. We explore how debt law evolved from punishment and imprisonment to discharge and fresh starts, and how today’s Bankruptcy Code actually works for real people.
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1. The Beginning
In this lesson, we build on earlier material by introducing three core concepts that come into existence the moment a bankruptcy case is filed:
(1) The bankruptcy estate (how your property is legally reorganized);
(2) The automatic stay (what immediately stops creditor action);
(3) The role of the bankruptcy trustee (who administers the case and why).
In this lesson, we build on earlier material by introducing three core concepts that come into existence the moment a bankruptcy case is filed:
(1) The bankruptcy estate (how your property is legally reorganized);
(2) The automatic stay (what immediately stops creditor action);
(3) The role of the bankruptcy trustee (who administers the case and why).
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The Bankruptcy Estate, in detail
When you file for bankruptcy, nearly everything you own gets pulled into something called the "bankruptcy estate." But what exactly does that include—and what stays protected?
In this video, we break down:
- How the estate captures your home, cars, bank accounts, and more-Why your paycheck is safe (but your tax refund might not be)
-The rules around commissions, bonuses, and contingent payments Which retirement and education accounts are excluded
-Why timing and transparency matter
When you file for bankruptcy, nearly everything you own gets pulled into something called the "bankruptcy estate." But what exactly does that include—and what stays protected?
In this video, we break down:
- How the estate captures your home, cars, bank accounts, and more-Why your paycheck is safe (but your tax refund might not be)
-The rules around commissions, bonuses, and contingent payments Which retirement and education accounts are excluded
-Why timing and transparency matter
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