Stripping an Unsecured 2nd Mortgage in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Can it be?

Unsecured 2nd Mortgages & HELOCS may be Stripped in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Previously, lien stripping was something that could only be done in Chapter 13. However, a recent opinion from the 11^th Circuit has changed that rule. Here, a Chapter 7 debtor in Georgia sought to strip off a second mortgage that was totally unsecured. The 11^th Circuit reversed the Bankruptcy Court and found that the lien could be stripped off pursuant to the plain language of the Bankruptcy Code.

It was long thought that the Supreme Court’s decision in Dewsnup v. Timm precluded a Chapter 7 debtor from stripping off a lien. However, the Supreme Court only addressed stripping down in Chapter 7. Stripping down is the process of reducing a secured claim to the value of the property it secures. There is a very clear difference between the two.

While this is a Georgia case, 11^th Circuit decisions are controlling in Florida as Florida is part of the 11^th Circuit. Accordingly, it will be interesting to see how bankruptcy judges in our district rule when this new case law is presented before them.

If you have questions about foreclosure, loan modification, bankruptcy, or other alternatives, please feel free to call my office at 954-484-9987, send an e-mail to emil@fleysherlaw.com, or complete the contact form below.