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Divorce Attorneys Need to Avoid This 1 SBA Loan Pitfall

A settlement or judgement in a divorce does not absolve your client of liability on a defaulted SBA loan. Don't leave your client on the hook.

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Divorce Attorneys Need to Avoid This 1 SBA Loan Pitfall

A settlement or judgement in a divorce does not absolve your client of liability on a defaulted SBA loan.

1. The Split

The common situation exists where a husband and wife co-own a business and obtain an SBA backed loan.  Both parties sign a personal guarantee.  Some time later the marriage fails and the parties split.  However, as part of a settlement or judgement, one party takes over the business and remains responsible for the SBA loan.

2. Mistake: The One Spouse is No Longer Responsible for the Debt in the Eyes of the Federal Government

The common mistake is assuming that because the marital settlement or divorce judgement states that one party is responsible for the SBA loan that the other spouse is absolved from liability.  However, unless you have obtained a release from the personal guarantee, the personal guarantee remains in effect as to your client.

More importantly, the federal government does not care what the settlement or judgement says.  Your client can seek indemnity form his or her former spouse as far as the SBA cares.  This means, for example, if your client and his or her spouse obtained a $500,000 SBA loan, and your client's ex-spouse thereafter takes over the business and responsibility for the loan and defaults - your client remains on the hook for the $500,000 loan because he or she signed a personal guarantee.

3. Now Your Client is Subject to Collection by the Federal Government

Your client can either pay the debt or risk submission to collection actions by the federal government.  Collection can include a myriad of tools including filing a law suit, foreclosure, administrative wage garnishment, federal benefit or salary offset and tax refund offset.  Your client may seek indemnity from his or her ex-spouse as a remedy, but while that process proceeds ... the government commences collection.

4. Your Client May be Able to Settle the Debt

Protect Law Group provides assertive representation of clients fighting the SBA and collection by the federal government.  Your client may settle his or her SBA debt with experienced legal representation.  Better yet, move in front of the problem and contact Protect Law Group to help release your client from the personal guarantee.

5. Download Your Free White Paper

Click here to download your free white paper from Protect Law Group:

SBA Loan Guarantees and Divorce – Don’t Leave Your Client On the Hook

Please contact us for a consultation at: 1-888-756-9969.

Why Hire Us to Help You with Your Treasury or SBA Debt Problems?

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Millions of Dollars in SBA Debts Resolved via Offer in Compromise and Negotiated Repayment Agreements without our Clients filing for Bankruptcy or Facing Home Foreclosure

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Millions of Dollars in Treasury Debts Defended Against via AWG Hearings, Treasury Offset Program Resolution, Cross-servicing Disputes, Private Collection Agency Representation, Compromise Offers and Negotiated Repayment Agreements

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Our Attorneys are Authorized by the Agency Practice Act to Represent Federal Debtors Nationwide before the SBA, The SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals, the Treasury Department, and the Bureau of Fiscal Service.

$391,000 SBA COVID EIDL - CROSS-SERVICING DISPUTE | NEGOTIATED REINSTATEMENT & WORKOUT

$391,000 SBA COVID EIDL - CROSS-SERVICING DISPUTE | NEGOTIATED REINSTATEMENT & WORKOUT

Client's small business obtained an SBA COVID EIDL for $301,000 pledging collateral by executing the Note, Unconditional Guarantee and Security Agreement.  The business defaulted on the loan and the SBA CESC called the Note and Guarantee, accelerated the principal balance due, accrued interest and retracted the 30-year term schedule.  

The loan was transferred to the Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service which resulted in the statutory addition of $90,000+ in administrative fees, costs, penalties and interest with the total debt now at $391.000+. Treasury also initiated a Treasury Offset Program (TOP) levy against the client's federal contractor payments for the full amount each month - intercepting all of its revenue and pushing the business to the brink of bankruptcy.

The Firm was hired to investigate and find an alternate solution to the bankruptcy option.  After submitting formal production requests for all government records, it was discovered that the SBA failed to send the required Official 60-Day Pre-Referral Notice to the borrower and guarantor prior to referring the debt to Treasury. This procedural due process violation served as the basis to submit a Cross-Servicing Dispute to recall the debt from Treasury back to the SBA and to negotiate a reinstatement of the original 30-year maturity date, a modified workout, cessation of the TOP levy against the federal contractor payments and removal of the $90,000+ Treasury-based collection fees, interest and penalties.

$58,000 SBA 7A LOAN - AWG HEARING DEFENSE

$58,000 SBA 7A LOAN - AWG HEARING DEFENSE

Client personally guaranteed SBA 7(a) loan balance of $58,000.  The client received a notice of Intent to initiate Administrative Wage Garnishment (AWG) Proceedings.  We represented the client at the hearing and successfully defeated the AWG Order based on several legal and equitable grounds.

$50,000 SBA 7A LOAN - RESPONSE TO SBA OFFICIAL 60-DAY NOTICE

$50,000 SBA 7A LOAN - RESPONSE TO SBA OFFICIAL 60-DAY NOTICE

Client received the SBA's Official 60-Day Notice for a loan that was obtained by her small business in 2001.  The SBA loan went into default in 2004 but after hearing nothing from the SBA lender or the SBA for 20 years, out of the blue, she received the SBA's collection due process notice which provided her with only one of four options: (1) repay the entire accelerated balance immediately; (2) negotiate a repayment arrangement; (3) challenge the legal enforceability of the debt with evidence; or (4) request an OHA hearing before a U.S. Administrative Law Judge.

Client hired the Firm to represent her with only 13 days left before the expiration deadline to respond to the SBA's Official 60-Day Notice.  The Firm attorneys immediately researched the SBA's Official loan database to obtain information regarding the 7(a) loan.  Thereafter, the Firm attorneys conducted legal research and asserted certain affirmative defenses challenging the legal enforceability of the debt.  A written response was timely filed to the 60-Day Notice with the SBA subsequently agreeing with the client's affirmative defenses and legal arguments.  As a result, the SBA rendered a decision immediately terminating collection of the debt against the client's alleged personal guarantee liability saving her $50,000.

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