Bankruptcy: Lien Avoidance Case Review: After-Acquired Property

In the case of Butler v. Southern O Corp the United States Bankruptcy Court at Roanoke, Virginia ruled that a debtor who received a Chapter 7 discharge could avoid a judicial lien filed in the previous year against the debtor's real estate in which he had no equity because of outstanding deeds of trust and for which he had filed a homestead exemption. In Butler the Court found as fact that the amount of the judicial lien (at least $115,000), plus the amount of other liens ($76,934), plus any exemption to which debtor might be entitled, exceeded the value of the property of $72,000.00.  The Court held that the lien was entirely avoidable pursuant to Bankruptcy Code §522 (f). The Bankruptcy Court ruled that it was Congress's intention to protect any further equity the debtor may accumulate, by the reduction of the principal amount of the mortgage, from payments hereafter made by the debtors. Accordingly, the Bankruptcy Court ruled that any future increase in value accrued to the benefit of the debtor as after-acquired property was likewise exempt.