Let's Be Careful Out There: The Danger of Omitting Assets

Filing bankruptcy is serious business.    The mere act of filing a petition creates an automatic stay effective against all entities.    Liens can be modified, taxes can be paid out and debts can be discharged.   The price of admission for getting all these benefits is full disclosure.   Unfortunately some debtors either don't understand these obligations or think they can selectively disclose only the assets they want to list.   The consequences for omitting assets can be severe as illustrated by two recent opinions from the Fifth Circuit and a press release from the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.