Exploring bankruptcy law in Michigan

If you are investigating Michigan bankruptcy, be aware that as of January 1, 2005, the Western District of Michigan changed their requirements regarding certain bankruptcy forms. Some forms must now be filed electronically, rather than in paper format, via the Western Michigan District Bankruptcy Court at www.miwb.uscourts.gov/.

Michigan bankruptcy law allows federal exemptions to be used in addition to their state exemptions, or you may substitute the federal exemptions in place of Michigan state law. Every three years the amount of the exemptions is adjusted with inflation, so it's worth checking the Property Debtor in Bankruptcy PDF document on the Michigan State website for updated exemption amounts. The last time these adjustments were made was in 2008. Michigan bankruptcy exemptions include:

Homestead: Property up to $34,450 is exempt. If the debtor is married and the couple resides in the property in the entirety, it may be exempt.

Personal property: Appliances, utensils, books and household goods up to $3,200, building and loan shares up to $1,075 (in lieu of homestead), burial plots, clothing, family pictures, animals, feed and crops up to $2,125, food and fuel to last 6 months, cars up to $2,950, computers up to $525, pets up to $525.

Insurance: Disability, mutual life and/or health benefits, life insurance.

Pension: IRAs, firefighters, police officers, judges, legislators, probate judges, public school employees and state employees.

Public benefits: AFDC, welfare benefits, crime victims' compensation, unemployment compensation, veterans' benefits, workers' compensation.

Tools of trade: Required arms and accoutrements, tools of trade and farm equipment up to $1,000.

Wages: At least 60 percent of unpaid wages and no less than $15/week, person other than the main provider at 40 percent of unpaid wages.

There are U.S Bankruptcy Courts in each of Michigan's two districts:

Eastern District of Michigan

Bay City Courthouse
111 First Street
Bay City, Michigan 48708
Tel: (989)894-8840

Detroit Courthouse
211 West Fort Street
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Tel: (313)234-0065

Flint Courthouse
226 West Second Street
Flint, Michigan 48502
Tel: (810)235-4126

Western District of Michigan

Grand Rapids Courthouse
One Division Avenue, N., Room 200
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3132
Tel: (616) 456-2693

Kalamazoo Courthouse
410 West Michigan, Room 114
Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Lansing Courthouse
U.S. Post Office & Federal Courthouse
315 West Allegan Street, Room 101
Lansing, MI 48933

Marquette Courthouse
Post Office and Federal Courthouse
202 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor
Marquette, MI 49855
Tel: (906) 226-2117

Traverse Courthouse
Logan Place West
3249 Racquet Club Drive
Traverse City, MI 49684

You can find bankruptcy attorneys and lawyers in your area using these directory sites:

www.lawinfo.com
www.nolo.com