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In re: Phillip and Noreen Harris

12 B 12318

The debtors filed a motion to avoid a judicial lien pursuant to section 522(f)(1)(A). The parties did not dispute that the debtors could avoid the lien. The sole issue–one on which there is no binding case law in the Seventh Circuit–was whether the debtors must complete their chapter 13 plan and receive a discharge before the lien is avoided and the creditor is required to release the lien. Agreeing with the majority view, the Court found that in light of the creditor’s objection, the lien avoidance will not be effective until the debtors make all plan payments and obtain a discharge. Accordingly, the Court conditionally granted the debtors’ motion to avoid the judicial lien, provided that they completed their chapter 13 plan and received a discharge in the bankruptcy case.

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Date: 
Monday, November 26, 2012