August 2011

In this issue:

• What's New in Best Case Bankruptcy
• Get enhanced functionality for greater efficiency with MyECFMail
• Calculate and attach the debtor's income with the CMI Details Calculator
• Quickly paste addresses from Best Case into any application
• Macros
• Did You Know?
• Bankruptcy Chat

View the Spotlight e-newsletter

Insights: Easily calculate and attach the debtor’s income with the CMI Details Calculator

Simplify the math in the Means Test with the CMI Details Calculator. Enter specific information about the debtor’s current monthly income including

• income type
• source of the income
• how the income will be calculated

Best Case uses the data you enter to calculate the average monthly amounts for the corresponding lines on Form 22, and when the forms are created for filing, a complete record of the debtor’s income is also attached based on this data.

To calculate the debtor’s income over the next 6 months:

1. On the Income tab of the Means Test, click CMI Details.
2. Click Insert to create a new income source.
3. Select the Type of income from the drop-down menu: This determines where the income is included on the Form.
4. Type in the Source of income: Enter the name of the debtor’s employer.
5. Select the radial button to identify if the income belongs to the Debtor or Spouse:
6. Select between 3 Methods on how the income should be calculated:
• 6 Individual Months: Enter the debtor’s income for each of the six months in the look-back period and compute an average income based on the monthly totals.
• Same Income Every Month: If the debtor receives the same amount every month, enter the regular monthly gross income the debtor receives.
• Year-to-date Subtraction: With just two or three paystubs, this method calculates the debtor’s average income by taking the year-to-date gross income from the last income statement prior to the start of the CMI look-back period and subtracting it from the debtor’s year-to-date gross income from the last income statement received during the look-back period.
  
7. Click the Remarks Tab to provide details regarding the income source that will be included on the attachment.
8. Click OK to save changes and return to the main CMI Details screen.
9. To add additional income sources, click Insert and follow the steps above.
10. Click Close to return to the Means Test Calculator.

Shortcuts: Quickly paste addresses from Best Case into any application with AddressClipper

To copy an address to the clipboard, position the cursor in any field that is part of the address and press [Ctrl]-[Shift]-[C]. The cursor can be positioned in the creditor name field, either of the street address fields, the city, state or zip code fields. Wherever you position the cursor, the entire address will be copied to the clipboard.

To paste the name and address into another application, such as Word or WordPerfect, use the standard Windows paste command [Ctrl]-[V].

NOTE: The AddressClipper feature is not available in the Voluntary Petition.

Time-Saving Keystrokes: Macros

Insert commonly used phrases into any entry-field in two keystrokes. Assign up-to 30 macros to save essential data-entry time.

To add a macro:

1. In the Setup Menu > Macro Phrase List, click the Insert button.
2. Enter the key you want assigned to the macro. You can use all keys 0 – 9, A – U except C. NOTE: Ctrl-C, V, W, X, Y and Z are reserved by Windows.
3. Type the text that you want to appear. If you want to merge a data field from within Best Case such as the debtor's name, today's date and more, click the {Data} button.
4. Put a check mark in the box marked Add Trailing Space to add a space after the text.
5. Click OK.

To insert the text of the macro in an entry field, press [Ctrl] and the letter.

Did You Know?: You can add hints to help your client complete the MyCaseInfo online questionnaire.

MyCaseInfo is an add-on tool to Best Case Bankruptcy

Provide your client additional information on how they should complete a form or add clarification on the question itself. This helps your client complete the questionnaire without interruption and reduces incorrect answers.

Sample hints are a unique way to communicate with your clients while completing the questionnaire. Ask your client to include their email address, clarify that dependents should be entered only if they are under 18 years old and more.

Add question hints to your MyCaseInfo questionnaire:

1. From the MyCaseInfo Attorney Administration site, click Account Administration in the top right-hand corner.
2. Scroll down to Client Questionnaire Hints and click, Add or Edit Hints.
3. Select a question from the drop-down list, then enter the Question hint and/or form hint.

   NOTE: Question Hints are displayed in MyCaseInfo when your client is asked a question where as Form Hints are displayed after your client answers a question and is brought to the corresponding entry screen.

4. Click Save to include the hint on all questionnaires you send to your clients.

Bankruptcy Chat: The Supreme Court approves amendments to Bankruptcy Rules by George Basharis, J.D.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently approved amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. The most significant of these changes for consumer bankruptcies are the amendments to Rules 2003 and 3001 and the creation of new Bankruptcy Rule 3002.1.

As amended, Rule 2003 requires written notice of a continued meeting of creditors. While many attorneys currently send notices as a matter of course, the amendment requires that the “presiding official” of the meeting “promptly file” a statement specifying the date and time to which the meeting is adjourned.

Rule 3001 was amended to require that secured creditors provide greater detail in their proofs of claim. The Bankruptcy Code has long required that claimants submit supporting documentation with their proofs of claim; however, the requirement for proper documentation is not specifically included in the current version of Rule 3001.

The documentary requirements of amended Rule 3001 are implemented by revisions to Official Form 10 (Proof of Claim). Revised Form 10 clarifies that documents supporting a secured creditor’s claim must be attached to the proof of claim. Summaries will not satisfy the requirements of Rule 3001 as amended.

A new attachment and two supplemental forms to the proof of claim are required if the claimant has a secured interest in the debtor’s home. The attachment to Form 10 is an itemization of prepetition interest, fees, expenses, and charges included in the claim amount, as well as a statement of the amount necessary to cure any default as of the petition date. If the mortgage installment payments include an escrow deposit, an escrow account statement must also be attached to the proof of claim.

The two new supplements to Form 10 implement the notice requirements of Rule 3002.1. The new rule requires the holder of a claim secured by the debtor’s residence to provide notice at least 21 days prior to a change in the amount of the ongoing mortgage installment payments. The notice must be signed under penalty of perjury, and the claimant’s signature is a certification that the standards of Rule 9011 are satisfied. A signed notice of post petition fees, expenses and charges also must be given. Both notices are to be filed as supplements to the creditor’s proof of claim.

Unless Congress enacts legislation to the contrary, the amended rules and revised forms will become effective December 1, 2011.

As always, these new forms will be implemented into the Best Case Bankruptcy Forms and Schedules Menu prior to their effective date.

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