Preferential Transfers

A trustee in bankruptcy may avoid certain statutory liens, fraudulent transfers, as well as preferences. The Bankruptcy Code provides that certain transfers made by a debtor within close proximity of bankruptcy are preferential to the recipient and violate the Bankruptcy Code's policy of equal treatment of creditors. The elements of a so-called "preference" or "preferential transfer" are easy for a trustee in bankruptcy to prove. The defenses available to the creditor are limited and the cost to litigate can be high.

Case Commencement

Under the Bankruptcy Code, a voluntary or involuntary case is commenced by filing a petition with the bankruptcy court. A Chapter 7 or 11 bankruptcy case may be initiated by a voluntary filing by the debtor or by an involuntary filing by the debtor's creditors. Cases under all other chapters may be initiated only by a voluntary petition.

Lien and Transfer Avoidance in Connection with Marital or Family Obligations

The Bankruptcy Code contains a number of provisions empowering the trustee, the debtor, or both to avoid various types of liens and other prebankruptcy transfers of the debtor's property. The Bankruptcy Code definition of ''transfer'' includes creation of a lien. The Bankruptcy Code allows the trustee or debtor to nullify or undo prior transactions in order to promote the dual bankruptcy policies of equity among creditors and a fresh start for debtors.

Estate Property

The commencement of a voluntary, joint, or involuntary bankruptcy petition automatically creates an "estate." The estate is comprised of all the property that is described in section 541 of the Bankruptcy Code. It includes all legal or equitable interests of the debtor in property, wherever located, as of the commencement of the case. To determine a debtor's rights in property, a court examines state law.

Creditor Claims

A "claim" is a right to payment, whether or not such right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured, or unsecured. A "claim" may also be the right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if the breach gives rise to a right to payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured, or unsecured. A "debt" is a liability on a claim.