Legal Question in Bankruptcy in Wisconsin
Bankruptcy Means Test
I understand the Means Test is designed to not allow higher income families to file for Chapter 7. I've read some information that states if your debt is business debt rather than consumer debt, you can be exempt from the means test. My question is - I started a business 4 years ago. Rather than taking a salary I took draws from my credit cards. I effectively became the companies bank for a couple years. Is that debt consumer since it was on my credit cards or can it be considered Business debt since I can verify that the company paid me nothing via my taxes over those years?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Bankruptcy Means Test
If they were personal credit cards (not credit cards issued in the name of the business), then it's a pretty good bet that it would all be deemed consumer debt.
Determining Income for Bankruptcy Means Test for Deciding Between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13
The "means test" under the bankruptcy code is a way of determining whether debtors have too much income to file chapter 7 and are therefore required to file chapter 13 repayment plans. The "cutoff" point is the state median income for the debtors' family size--those above it are pushed into chapter 13, while those below it can do chapter 7. Secured debt can sometimes come "off the top" and reduce the remaining available income so that the household falls below the median, thereby still permitting a chapter 7. The same applies to exceptional medical or other necessary expense, such as that associated with having a special needs child. If a debtor is totally self employed, debt which is truly business debt can be treated differently--the test would probably be whether or not your Certified Public Accountant allows you to claim it as business debt. I do not have nearly enough information on your specific situation to advise you, but if continuing payments on certain debt service is necessary for the production of your income, the payments on it would possibly be used to reduce income to some extent. The debtors' net income might thereby potentially be reduced, possibly effecting which side of the state median income you end up on.
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