Colorado Bankruptcy Lawyers - Fines & Penalties

11 U.S.C. 525 provides (7) to the extent such debt is for a fine, penalty, or forfeiture payable to and for the benefit of a governmental unit, and is not compensation for actual pecuniary loss, other than a tax penalty - (A) relating to a tax of a kind not specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection; or (B) imposed with respect to a transaction or event that occurred before three years before the date of the filing of the petition.

In Practice

"Governmental Unit" includes federal, state, county, city, and taxing districts. Any fine imposed under color of law will not be discharged as a matter of public policy. In addition, courts often reciprocate reporting appearance dates for individuals who are subject to arrest for non-payment of fines.

For maximum benefit, most debtors interview several bankruptcy lawyers before committing to any course of action. Interviewing bankruptcy lawyers requires a degree of expertise. Federal laws, state laws, and local rules combine to form the practice standard used by Colorado bankruptcy lawyers and courts. These laws evolve continually with new statutory amendments and case decisions. The most successful debtors compare the opinions of several bankruptcy lawyers, and with targeted questions, discover the most beneficial path to pursue.

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