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Important Notice about Automatic Adjustments in Dollar Amounts for Various Provisions of the Bankruptcy Court, Title 28 and Forms

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

 

On April 1, 2019, automatic adjustments to the dollar amounts stated in various provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, and one provision in Title 28 of the United States Code will go into effect. The adjusted dollar amounts will apply to cases filed on or after April 1, 2019. The adjustments reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers published by the U.S. Department of Labor for the three-year period ending December 31, 2018, and are rounded to the nearest $25. The adjusted dollar amounts will affect:

  • the eligibility of a debtor to file under chapters 12 and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code;
  • the definition of a small business debtor;
  • certain maximum values of property that a debtor may claim as exempt;
  • the maximum amount of certain claims entitled to priority;
  • the calculation of the “means test” for chapter 7 debtors;
  • the duration of a chapter 13 plan;
  • the minimum aggregate value of claims needed to commence an involuntary bankruptcy case;
  • the minimum value for trustee avoidance actions; and
  • the value of “luxury goods and services” deemed to be nondischargeable where the trustee may commence certain proceedings to recover a money judgment or property.

Additionally, the following Official Bankruptcy Forms and Director’s Forms contain references to several of the affected dollar amounts:

A chart showing the affected sections of the Bankruptcy Code and Title 28, with the current and adjusted dollar amount in those sections, is attached here.

The revised forms will be effective on April 1, 2019, and will apply to cases filed on or after that date.  The revised forms incorporating the dollar amount changes have been posted to Pending Changes in the Bankruptcy Forms page.  Once effective, the revised forms will be available on the Bankruptcy Forms page.

M. Regina Thomas
Clerk of Court
3.12.19