motion-to-avoid-lien

name	motion-to-avoid-lien
title	Motion to Avoid Lien Under 11 U.S.C. § 522(f)
description	Drafts a Motion to Avoid Lien under 11 U.S.C. § 522(f) for bankruptcy proceedings. Produces a litigation-ready motion with caption, impairment calculations, legal argument, and prayer for relief. Use when filing lien avoidance motions in Chapter 7, 11, or 13 cases, stripping judicial liens or nonpossessory nonpurchase-money security interests that impair debtor exemptions.
author	CaseMark
author_url	https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/motion-to-avoid-lien
license	Apache-2.0
version	0.1.0
execution_mode	open
jurisdiction	us
practice	bankruptcy
language	en

Motion to Avoid Lien Under 11 U.S.C. § 522(f)

Drafts a motion to avoid a lien impairing a debtor's exemptions, with statutory analysis and impairment calculation.

Prerequisites

Gather before drafting:

1. Case info — case number, chapter (7/11/13), filing date, court district/division, assigned judge
2. Property — description (legal description or address), type (real/personal), current FMV, appraisals
3. Lien — lienholder name, type (judicial or nonpossessory NPMSI), originating judgment/agreement, recording date, amount
4. Senior encumbrances — all liens senior to challenged lien with amounts
5. Exemption — specific state or federal statute, dollar amount claimed per Schedule C
6. Local rules — formatting, notice periods, hearing requirements

Output Structure

1. Caption

Include: full court name with district/division, case number, chapter, debtor name (as on petition), motion title, judge (if local rules require). Format per local rules.

2. Introduction

One to two paragraphs identifying: moving party, specific lien and lienholder, property subject to lien, statutory basis (§ 522(f)(1) for judicial liens or § 522(f)(2) for nonpossessory NPMSI), and core premise of exemption impairment.

3. Factual Background

Present chronologically: filing date/chapter, property description and FMV, lien origin and attachment, claimed exemption with statute and Schedule C amount, then the impairment calculation:

  Lien to be avoided:                    $________
+ All other liens on property:           $________
+ Debtor's claimed exemption:            $________
= Total:                                 $________
- Fair market value of property:         $________
= Impairment amount:                     $________

If Total exceeds FMV, the lien impairs the exemption per § 522(f)(2)(A).

4. Legal Argument

Judicial liens — § 522(f)(1). Establish three elements:

Element	Standard
Judicial lien	Meets § 101(36) — obtained by judgment, levy, sequestration, or other legal/equitable process
Impairment	(Lien + all other liens + exemption) exceeds FMV per § 522(f)(2)(A)
Valid exemption	Debtor entitled under § 522(b)

Nonpossessory NPMSI — § 522(f)(2). Lien must encumber: household goods/furnishings/appliances/jewelry for personal use, tools of the trade, or professionally prescribed health aids.