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Consumer Debtor Clients

Hannah Hutman, an attorney at Hoover Penrod, PLC and achapter 7 panel trustee, discusses representing consumer debtor clients in bankruptcy cases. She explains the definition of "consumer debt" under § 101(8) of the Bankruptcy Code and the requirements for debt-relief agencies under §§ 526, 527 and 528. Hutman emphasizes the importance of client interviews, establishing trust and full disclosure. She highlights the need to understand the client's financial situation, including types of debt, exempt assets and disposable income. Hutman also covers the pros and cons of bankruptcy, the automatic stay, and the importance of credit counseling and certification requirements.

Tags:
Keywords:

consumer debt, debt-relief agencies, Bankruptcy Code, fee disclosure, client interview, financial difficulties, automatic stay, creditor collection, nonexempt assets, secured collateral, credit impact, bankruptcy timing, credit counseling, support staff

Duration:

21 minutes 16 seconds

Hannah W. Hutman is an attorney at Hoover Penrod, PLC in Harrisonburg, Va., where her practice focuses on representing both creditors and debtors in bankruptcy proceedings under chapters 7, 11, 12 and 13 and insolvency-related matters. In addition, she frequently represents creditors in collection matters, including restructuring obligations, asset liquidations and dispositions, and foreclosures. Ms. Hutman is a member of the panel of Chapter 7 Trustees for the Western District of Virginia, and she is a past chair of the Board of Governors of the Bankruptcy Law Section for the Virginia State Bar. She is a frequent presenter on a wide variety of insolvency-related topics and co-authored a chapter in the Bankruptcy Practices in Virginia Handbook. Ms. Hutman has been active in the Virginia network of the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation and is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, has routinely been listed in Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” and selected as a member of Virginia’s “Legal Elite,” and was honored as one of ABI’s “40 Under 40” in 2018. Ms. Hutman received her B.A. summa cum laude from Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, Md., and her J.D. from the Marshall Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va.

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