Declarations for reaffirmation required by code § 524(k)

1. The disclosures required under subsection (c)(2) shall consist of the disclosure statement described in paragraph (3), completed as required in that paragraph, together with the agree­ment specified in subsection (c), statement, declaration, motion and order described, respec­tively, in paragraphs (4) through (8), and shall be the only disclosures required in connection with entering into such agreement.
2. Disclosures made under paragraph (1) shall be made clearly and conspicuously and in writing. The terms ‘Amount Reaffirmed’ and ‘Annual Percentage Rate’ shall be disclosed more conspicuously than other terms, data or information provided in connection with this disclo­sure, except that the phrases ‘Before agreeing to reaffirm a debt, review these important dis­closures’ and ‘Summary of Reaffirmation Agreement’ may be equally conspicuous. Disclo­sures may be made in a different order and may use terminology different from that set forth in paragraphs (2) through (8), except that the terms ‘Amount Reaffirmed’ and ‘Annual Per­centage Rate’ must be used where indicated.
3. The disclosure statement required under this paragraph shall consist of the following:

Creditor’s disclosures

Part A: Before agreeing to reaffirm a debt, review these important disclosures;

Summary of Reaffirmation Agreement

This Summary is made pursuant to the requirements of the Bankruptcy Code;

The Amount Reaffirmed

1. the total amount of debt that the debtor agrees to reaffirm by entering into an agreement of the kind specified in subsection (c), and
2. the total of any fees and costs accrued as of the date of the disclosure statement, related to such total amount.

(D) In conjunction with the disclosure of the ‘Amount Reaffirmed’, the statements—

1. ‘The amount of debt you have agreed to reaffirm’; and
2. ‘Your credit agreement may obligate you to pay additional amounts which may come due after the date of this disclosure. Consult your credit agreement.’

(E) The ‘Annual Percentage Rate’, using that term, which shall be disclosed as—

(i) if, at the time the petition is filed, the debt is an extension of credit under an open end credit plan, as the terms ‘credit’ and ‘open end credit plan’ are defined in section 103 of the Truth in Lending Act, then—

1. the annual percentage rate determined under paragraphs (5) and 6) of section 127(b) of the Truth in Lending Act, as applicable, as disclosed to the debtor in the most recent periodic statement prior to entering into an agreement of the kind specified in subsection (c) or, if no such periodic statement has been given to the debtor during the prior 6 months, the annual percentage rate as it would have been so disclosed at the time the disclosure statement is given to the debtor, or to the extent this annual percentage rate is not readily available or not appli­cable, then
2. the simple interest rate applicable to the amount reaffirmed as of the date the disclosure statement is given to the debtor, or if different simple interest rates apply to different balances, the simple interest rate applicable to each such balance, identifying the amount of each such balance included in the amount reaffirmed, or
3. if the entity making the disclosure elects, to disclose the annual percentage rate under sub clause (I) and the simple interest rate under sub clause (II); or (ii) if, at the time the peti­tion is filed, the debt is an extension of credit other than under an open end credit plan, as the terms ‘credit’ and ‘open end credit plan’ are defined in section 103 of the Truth in Lending Act, then—

1. the annual percentage rate under section 128(a)(4) of the Truth in Lending Act, as dis­closed to the debtor in the most recent disclosure statement given to the debtor prior to the entering into an agreement of the kind specified in subsection (c) with respect to the debt, or, if no such disclosure statement was given to the debtor, the annual percentage rate as it would have been so disclosed at the time the disclosure statement is given to the debtor, or to the ex­tent this annual percentage rate is not readily available or not applicable, then
2. the simple interest rate applicable to the amount reaffirmed as of the date the disclosure statement is given to the debtor, or if different simple interest rates apply to different balances, the simple interest rate applicable to each such balance, identifying the amount of such bal­ance included in the amount reaffirmed, or
3. if the entity making the disclosure elects, to disclose the annual percentage rate under (I)and the simple interest rate under (II).

(F) If the underlying debt transaction was disclosed as a variable rate transaction on the most recent disclosure given under the Truth in Lending Act, by stating ‘The interest rate on your loan may be a variable interest rate which changes from time to time, so that the annual per­centage rate disclosed here may be higher or lower.’.

(G) If the debt is secured by a security interest which has not been waived in whole or in part or determined to be void by a final order of the court at the time of the disclosure, by disclos­ing that a security interest or lien in goods or property is asserted over some or all of the debts the debtor is reaffirming and listing the items and their original purchase price that are subject to the asserted security interest, or if not a purchase-money security interest then list­ing by items or types and the original amount of the loan.

(H) At the election of the creditor, a statement of the repayment schedule using 1 or a combi­nation of the following—

1. by making the statement: ‘Your first payment in the amount of $ XXX is due on XXX but the future payment amount may be different. Consult your reaffirmation agreement or credit agreement, as applicable.’, and stating the amount of the first payment and the due date of that payment in the places provided;
2. by making the statement: ‘Your payment schedule will be:’, and describing the repayment schedule with the number, amount and due dates or period of payments scheduled to repay the debts reaffirmed to the extent then known by the disclosing party; or (iii) by describing the debtor’s repayment obligations with reasonable specificity to the extent then known by the disclosing party.

(I) The following statement: ‘Note: When this disclosure refers to what a creditor “may” do, it does not use the word “may” to give the creditor specific permission. The word “may” is used to tell you what might occur if the law permits the creditor to take the action. If you have questions about your reaf­firming a debt or what the law requires, consult with the attorney who helped you negotiate this agreement reaffirming a debt. If you don’t have an attorney helping you, the judge will explain the effect of your reaffirming a debt when the hearing on the reaffirmation agreement is held.’.

(J)(i) The following additional statements:

Reaffirming a debt is a serious financial decision. The law requires you to take certain steps to make sure the decision is in your best interest. If these steps are not completed, the reaf­firmation agreement is not effective, even though you have signed it.

1. Read the disclosures in this Part A carefully. Consider the decision to reaffirm carefully. Then, if you want to reaffirm, sign the reaffirmation agreement in Part B (or you may use a separate agreement you and your creditor agree on).
2. Complete and sign Part D and be sure you can afford to make the payments you are agreeing to make and have received a copy of the disclosure statement and a completed and signed reaffirmation agreement.
3. If you were represented by an attorney during the negotiation of your reaffirmation agreement, the attorney must have signed the certification in Part C.
4. If you were not represented by an attorney during the negotiation of your reaffirmation agreement, you must have completed and signed Part E.
5. The original of this disclosure must be filed with the court by you or your creditor. If a separate reaffirmation agreement (other than the one in Part B) has been signed, it must be attached.
6. If you were represented by an attorney during the negotiation of your reaffirmation agreement, your reaffirmation agreement becomes effective upon filing with the court unless the reaffirmation is presumed to be an undue hardship as explained in Part D.
7. If you were not represented by an attorney during the negotiation of your reaffirmation agreement, it will not be effective unless the court approves it. The court will notify you of the hearing on your reaffirmation agreement. You must attend this hearing in bankruptcy court where the judge will review your reaffirma­tion agreement. The bankruptcy court must approve your reaffirmation agreement as consis­tent with your best interests, except that no court approval is required if your reaffirmation agreement is for a consumer debt secured by a mortgage, deed of trust, security deed, or other lien on your real property, like your home. “Your right to rescind (cancel) your reaf­firmation agreement. You may rescind (cancel) your reaffirmation agreement at any time before the bankruptcy court enters a discharge order, or before the expiration of the 60-day period that begins on the date your reaffirmation agreement is filed with the court, whichever occurs later. To rescind (cancel) your reaffirmation agreement, you must notify the creditor that your reaffirmation agreement is rescinded (or canceled).

What are your obligations if you reaffirm the debt?

A reaffirmed debt remains your personal legal obligation. It is not discharged in your bankruptcy case. That means that if you default on your reaf­firmed debt after your bankruptcy case is over, your creditor may be able to take your prop­erty or your wages. Otherwise, your obligations will be determined by the reaffirmation agreement which may have changed the terms of the original agreement. For example, if you are reaffirming an open end credit agreement, the creditor may be permitted by that agree­ment or applicable law to change the terms of that agreement in the future under certain con­ditions.

Are you required to enter into a reaffirmation agreement by any law?

No, you are not required to reaffirm a debt by any law. Only agree to reaffirm a debt if it is in your best interest. Be sure you can afford the payments you agree to make.

What if your creditor has a security interest or lien?

Your bankruptcy discharge does not eliminate any lien on your property. A ‘lien’ is often re­ferred to as a security interest, deed of trust, mortgage or security deed. Even if you do not reaffirm and your personal liability on the debt is discharged, because of the lien your credi­tor may still have the right to take the security property if you do not pay the debt or default on it. If the lien is on an item of personal property that is exempt under your State’s law or that the trustee has abandoned, you may be able to redeem the item rather than reaffirm the debt. To redeem, you make a single payment to the creditor equal to the current value of the security property, as agreed by the parties or determined by the court.”.

(ii) In the case of a reaffirmation under subsection (m)(2), numbered paragraph 6 in the dis­closures required by clause (i) of this subparagraph shall read as follows:

8. If you were represented by an attorney during the negotiation of your reaffirmation agreement, your reaffirmation agreement becomes effective upon filing with the court.”

(4) The form of such agreement required under this paragraph shall consist of the following:

Part B: Reaffirmation Agreement. I (we) agree to reaffirm the debts arising under the credit
agreement described below.

Brief description of credit agreement:

Description of any changes to the credit agreement made as part of this reaffirmation
agreement:

Signature: Date:

Borrower:

Co-borrower, if also reaffirming these debts:

Accepted by creditor:

Date of creditor acceptance:

The declaration shall consist of the following:

Certification by debtor’s attorney (if any)

I hereby certify that (1) this agreement represents a fully informed and voluntary agreement by the debtor; (2) this agreement does not impose an undue hardship on the debtor or any dependent of the debtor; and (3) I have fully advised the debtor of the legal effect and con­sequences of this agreement and any default under this agreement.

“Signature of Debtor’s Attorney: Date:”

(B) If a presumption of undue hardship has been established with respect to such agreement, such certification shall state that in the opinion of the attorney, the debtor is able to make the payment.

(C) In the case of a reaffirmation agreement under subsection (m)(2), subparagraph (B) is not applicable.

Debtor’s declaration in support of reaffirmation agreement

(6)(A) The statement in support of such agreement, which the debtor shall sign and date prior to filing with the court, shall consist of the following:

Part D: Debtor’s Statement in Support of Reaffirmation Agreement.

1. I believe this reaffirmation agreement will not impose an undue hardship on my depend­ents or me. I can afford to make the payments on the reaffirmed debt because my monthly income (take home pay plus any other income received) is $ XXX, and my actual current monthly expenses including monthly payments on post-bankruptcy debt and other reaf­firmation agreements total $ XXX, leaving $ XXX to make the required payments on this re­affirmed debt. I understand that if my income less my monthly expenses does not leave enough to make the payments, this reaffirmation agreement is presumed to be an undue hardship on me and must be reviewed by the court. However, this presumption may be over­come if I explain to the satisfaction of the court how I can afford to make the payments here: XXX.
2. I received a copy of the Reaffirmation Disclosure Statement in Part A and a completed and signed reaffirmation agreement.”.

Debtor’s declaration where reaffirming debt defined under Federal Reserve Act

(B) Where the debtor is represented by an attorney and is reaffirming a debt owed to a credi­tor defined in section 19(b)(1)(A)(iv) of the Federal Reserve Act, the statement of support of the reaffirmation agreement, which the debtor shall sign and date prior to filing with the court, shall consist of the following:

‘I believe this reaffirmation agreement is in my financial interest. I can afford to make the payments on the reaffirmed debt. I received a copy of the Reaffirmation Disclosure Statement in Part A and a completed and signed reaffirmation agreement.’.

(7) The motion that may be used if approval of such agreement by the court is required in order for it to be effective shall be signed and dated by the movant and shall consist of the following:

Debtor’s declaration if not represented by an attorney

Part E: Motion for Court Approval (To be completed only if the debtor is not represented by an attorney.).

I (we), the debtor(s), affirm the following to be true and correct: ‘I am not represented by an attorney in connection with this reaffirmation agreement.

I believe this reaffirmation agreement is in my best interest based on the income and ex­penses I have disclosed in my Statement in Support of this reaffirmation agreement, and be­cause (provide any additional relevant reasons the court should consider):

“Therefore, I ask the court for an order approving this reaffirmation agreement. ”

(8) The court order, which may be used to approve a such agreement, shall consist of the fol­lowing:

“Court Order: The court grants the debtor’s motion and approves the reaffirmation agreement described above.”.

(l) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title the following shall apply: Preliminary draft of March 20, 2005. Subject to change.

1. A creditor may accept payments from a debtor before and after the filing of an agree­ment of the kind specified in subsection (c) with the court.
2. A creditor may accept payments from a debtor under such agreement that the creditor be­lieves in good faith to be effective.
3. The requirements of subsections (c)(2) and (k) shall be satisfied if disclosures required under those subsections are given in good faith.

(m)(1) Until 60 days after an agreement of the kind specified in subsection (c) is filed with the court (or such additional period as the court, after notice and a hearing and for cause, or­ders before the expiration of such period), it shall be presumed that such agreement is an un­due hardship on the debtor if the debtor’s monthly income less the debtor’s monthly ex­penses as shown on the debtor’s completed and signed statement in support of such agree­ment required under subsection (k)(6)(A) is less than the scheduled payments on the reaffirmed debt. This presumption shall be reviewed by the court. The presumption may be rebutted in writing by the debtor if the statement includes an explanation that identifies additional sources of funds to make the payments as agreed upon under the terms of such agreement. If the presumption is not rebutted to the satisfaction of the court, the court may disapprove such agreement.

No agreement shall be disapproved without notice and a hearing to the debtor and creditor and such hearing shall be concluded before the entry of the debtor’s discharge.

(2) This subsection does not apply to reaffirmation agreements where the creditor is a credit union, as defined in section 19(b)(1)(A)(iv) of the Federal Reserve Act.

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