Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Codebtor Stay

Section 1301 of the Bankruptcy Code is entitled “Stay of Action Against Codebtor”. If an individual files a bankruptcy while living in, say, Pennsauken, NJ and his ex-wife, living in Philadelphia, PA had cosigned for a credit card while they were married, can the creditor pursue the ex-wife since she is not in bankruptcy? Not when a Chapter 13 is filed. Section §1301 of the bankruptcy code provides a “Codebtor” Stay in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. A “Codebtor” Stay protects a vehicle from being repossessed and protects a debtor’s residence from a foreclosure sale when only one of the individuals responsible for the debt files Chapter 13. A “Codebtor” Stay does not apply to Chapter 7 bankruptcies or business debts. There are other exceptions. For example, although a liability on a personal tax return would seem to be a consumer debt a number of cases have held that the co-debtor stay does not prevent the IRS from pursuing the spouse that did not file a bankruptcy on a joint return.