Louisville Bankruptcy Attorney

Nick C. Thompson

Student Loan Bankruptcy Law Reform

What is the Student Loan Brunner Test?

In an old ABI podcast, two law professors debated student loan bankruptcy reform and lawmaking to make student loans easily dischargeable in bankruptcy and possibly propose methods on how to do it. One law professor suggests student loans might be valued by using what an unsecured lender pays for this debt, based on the ability to collect it.

What is the Student Loan Brunner Test?Student Loan Bankruptcy Law Reform

Laws For Student Loan Debt

In this ABO podcast Daniel Austin examined over 3,000 bankruptcy cases from Pacer in 2011, 22.4% of these bankruptcy cases had student loans with the average student loan debt being 29,000. However, in 2010, 21% of observed bankruptcy cases had student loan debt, and the average amount of student loan debt was 24,600. So, this shows an increase.

His studies show that private student loans cause problems and impact the issues of having higher balances, interest rates and defaults. In some cases, with reckless lending practices, students could borrow in minutes $50,000 or more debt for useless degrees that provide no career with an ability to repay that debt.

Professor Cole counters and testified before congress about using caution. He proposed that discharges should be based on the value of education.

⎆ Brunner Student Loan Bankruptcy Law Reform

Not all the courts and Circuits follow the Brunner test. Some including the 1st, 8th, and 9th have modified or adopted other criteria.

The 9th Circuit uses a totality of the circumstances test using the debtor’s future income and other relevant factors. The 1st Circuit bankruptcy appellate panel initially used Brunner. However, it now rejects it and also uses the totality of the circumstances test. It also still uses the 1st part of Brunner while rejecting parts 2 and 3 of the Brunner test.

In relying on a judge’s equitable powers, one 1st Circuit Massachusetts Bankruptcy judge Feeney gave a partial discharge under 11 USC 105(a). By providing partial discharges, some courts have allowed the discharge of some of the loans but not others.

In the 1st and 8th Circuits, student loan debtors have a better chance of getting a discharge than a debtor in the majority of the circuits. All of the circuits have cases where it is allowed. In some cases, the lender has failed to respond, and a default has been issued.  But even in a default the debtor must put on some evidence that the debt is an undue hardship and not just a hardship.

You can listen to American Bankruptcy Institute podcast #116 https://www.abi.org/podcasts/116-scholars-examine-student-debt-and-bankruptcy with professors Daniel Austin of Northeastern University School of Law, G. Marcus Cole of Stanford Law School, with host David Epstein.

This year, attorney general Jack Conway and Deanne Loonin, attorneys with the National Consumer Law Center testified before congress, which is in process of debating student loan bankruptcy reform.

Free Kentucky Foreclosure Manual - Nick C. Thompson, Louisville, Kentucky Bankruptcy AttorneyResources for Student Loans

Student Loan Bankruptcy Forms

What is the Student Loan Brunner Test?

How to Stop Student Loan Wage Garnishment

Current Student Loan Interest Rates

Discharge Private Student Loans in Bankruptcy • Video

Bankrupt or Discharge Student Loans

Student Loan Rehabilitation Law New Regulations

Do you need help managing your student loan? Contact my office right away to start the conversation. Nick C. Thompson, Attorney: 502-625-0905.

 

Share This Article, Choose Your Platform!

Our Services

Start Your Intake or Contact Us

If you want to start your intake, we need your Name, email address, and phone number so it can be set up and you can complete your intake at work or home. If you have questions send us a message with your email address so we can respond. We practice in Louisville, Lexington, and New Albany, Indiana.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Download Our Bankruptcy Manual
Recent Posts