Skip to content
Alper Law
  • Home
  • Learn MoreExpand
    • Asset ProtectionExpand
      • Asset Protection Guide
      • Annuities
      • Asset Protection Trust
      • Bank Account Protection
      • Car Accidents
      • Doctors
      • Equity Stripping
      • Exemptions
      • Florida Residency
      • Fraudulent Transfers
      • Homestead Protection
      • How Attorneys Help
      • Strategies
      • Tenants By Entireties
      • UTMA Accounts
    • Business PlanningExpand
      • Business Entities
      • LLCs
      • LLC Operating Agreement
      • Real Estate Investors
    • Offshore PlanningExpand
      • Nevis LLC
      • Offshore Bank Accounts
      • Offshore Planning
      • Offshore Trusts
    • Judgment CollectionExpand
      • Judgment Collection
      • Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency
      • Deficiency Judgments
      • Fact Information Sheet
      • Head of Household
      • IRS Tax Debt
      • Not Paying Judgments
      • Statute of Limitations
      • Wage Garnishment
      • Writ of Garnishment
    • Wills and TrustsExpand
      • Avoiding Probate
      • Estate Planning
      • Gun Trusts
      • Inheritance Tax
      • Irrevocable Trusts
      • Last Will and Testament
      • Living Trusts
      • Living Will
      • LGBT Estate Planning
      • Power of Attorney
      • Probate
      • Special Needs Trust
      • Trust Administration
    • BankruptcyExpand
      • Attorney Fees
      • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
      • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
      • Dealing With Creditors
      • Involuntary Bankruptcy
      • Moral Issues
      • Orlando Bankruptcy
    • Real EstateExpand
      • Lady Bird Deed
      • Land Trusts
      • Quit Claim Deed
      • Warranty Deed
    • AdoptionExpand
      • Grandparent and Relative Adoption
      • Readoption
      • Same-Sex Couples
      • Stepparent Adoption
  • Blog
  • AttorneysExpand
    • Gideon Alper
    • Jon Alper
Phone 407-444-0404
Contact Us
Book a Consultation (Phone or Zoom)
Search
Book a Phone or Zoom Consultation
Florida asset protection, garnishment, estate planning, and adoption law firm — Alper Law
Phone 407-444-0404

Home » Homestead Exemption » Fraudulent Conversion of Money To Homestead in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Fraudulent Conversion of Money To Homestead in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

ByJon Alper April 20, 2015May 22, 2020

Bankruptcy is very hard on wealthy debtors. In a Florida Chapter 7 bankruptcy case decided last month (March) a bankruptcy court applied the 10 year look-back provided for in Section 522 of the U.S.  Bankruptcy Code to deny a homestead exemption because the court found that the home was purchased with the intent to defraud creditors.

Here is a  concise summary of the facts. The debtors, husband and wife, purchase a lot 2005 to build a future homestead. In 2009, the debtors faced default on at least two large real estate debts. About the same time they were going in to default on the loans the debtors converted almost all of their non-exempt assets to construct a “dream home” of approximately 5,500 square feet.

The court concluded that the debtors intended to shield all their non-exempt assets from the real estate creditors when they knew they were about to default. The court found that the debtors had enough money to service the loans, but instead, they converted all this money to their homestead with intent to avoid payment. The court disallowed the debtors’ homestead exemption to the extent of non-exempt funds invested in the homestead to avoid creditors.

This case leaves one wondering why the debtors even considered Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The debtors had a solid asset protection plan so long as they stayed away from bankruptcy. In state court, there is not cause of action for fraudulent conversion of money in to a Florida  homestead. Here, even where the facts showed a clear intent to hide money in a homestead on the eve of default, the creditors had no remedy in state court. Once the debtors voluntarily filed bankruptcy they exposed their homestead to the bankruptcy trustee and creditors. In bankruptcy, a fraudulent conversion of money to a homestead within two years of filing may result in denial of discharge, and conversion between two years and 10 years with intent to defraud creditors jeopardizes the homestead exemption.

As I have written previously in many blog post, debtors with significant assets should be wary of filing bankruptcy because they give up many legal and practical protections. .

Last updated on May 22, 2020

People also read about…

  • Florida Asset Protection: a Guide to Planning, Exemptions, and Strategies
  • Homestead Exemption Law
  • Tenancy by Entireties Ownership in Florida
  • Florida Debt Collection Laws
  • Florida Exemptions from Creditors
Jon Alper

About the Author

Jon Alper is an expert in asset protection planning for individuals and small businesses.

Book a consultation with Jon.
Jon Alper

About the Author

Jon Alper is an expert in asset protection planning for individuals and small businesses.

Book a consultation with Jon.

Get the latest blog posts by email.

Looking for help?

Schedule a phone or Zoom consultation to review your specific situation. We help clients throughout the state of Florida.

Schedule Consultation

© 2022 Alper Law, PLLC
(407) 444-0404

255 Primera Blvd. #160
Lake Mary, FL 32746
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
Facebook Twitter Linkedin
Scroll to top
Contact Us
Search
  • Home
  • Learn More
    • Asset Protection
      • Asset Protection Guide
      • Annuities
      • Asset Protection Trust
      • Bank Account Protection
      • Car Accidents
      • Doctors
      • Equity Stripping
      • Exemptions
      • Florida Residency
      • Fraudulent Transfers
      • Homestead Protection
      • How Attorneys Help
      • Strategies
      • Tenants By Entireties
      • UTMA Accounts
    • Business Planning
      • Business Entities
      • LLCs
      • LLC Operating Agreement
      • Real Estate Investors
    • Offshore Planning
      • Nevis LLC
      • Offshore Bank Accounts
      • Offshore Planning
      • Offshore Trusts
    • Judgment Collection
      • Judgment Collection
      • Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency
      • Deficiency Judgments
      • Fact Information Sheet
      • Head of Household
      • IRS Tax Debt
      • Not Paying Judgments
      • Statute of Limitations
      • Wage Garnishment
      • Writ of Garnishment
    • Wills and Trusts
      • Avoiding Probate
      • Estate Planning
      • Gun Trusts
      • Inheritance Tax
      • Irrevocable Trusts
      • Last Will and Testament
      • Living Trusts
      • Living Will
      • LGBT Estate Planning
      • Power of Attorney
      • Probate
      • Special Needs Trust
      • Trust Administration
    • Bankruptcy
      • Attorney Fees
      • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
      • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
      • Dealing With Creditors
      • Involuntary Bankruptcy
      • Moral Issues
      • Orlando Bankruptcy
    • Real Estate
      • Lady Bird Deed
      • Land Trusts
      • Quit Claim Deed
      • Warranty Deed
    • Adoption
      • Grandparent and Relative Adoption
      • Readoption
      • Same-Sex Couples
      • Stepparent Adoption
  • Blog
  • Attorneys
    • Gideon Alper
    • Jon Alper