See below for the latest announcments.

The Hampden County Bar Association recently established a Bankruptcy Section. The Bankruptcy Section recognizes that insolvency related issues effect a large portion of our community, including individuals, families, and businesses; and the need for a local organization that is passionate about working to increase bankruptcy education and ensuring the presence of a fair, just, and efficient bankruptcy process.

The mission of this Section is to enhance knowledge to both members of the bar and the general public regarding insolvency and related bankruptcy laws and procedure. The Section serves as a liaison between its members and other organizations, including the judiciary, the legislature, other bar associations, and the general public. The Section is also dedicated to support and assist the public with issues regarding bankruptcy and its consequences, including encouraging its members to participate in pro bono and reduced fee matters, as well as various other public service activities; and this Section seeks to ensure that it attracts and maintains attorney members of the highest ethical and moral standards, as well as those who are highly competent or desire to become highly competent in the area of bankruptcy law.

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 MBA Joint Foreclosure Legislation Task Force - Draft Legislation

 In February, 2011, the Massachusetts Bar Association's Joint Foreclosure Legislation Task Force asked the Hampden County Bar Association members for their input on initial drafts for the proposed changes to the current Massachusetts laws related to residential mortgage foreclosures. Its mandate was to review the current Massachusetts laws related to residential mortgage foreclosures and to propose changes to those laws.
The Joint Foreclosure Legislation Task Force has completed its work on a proposed draft of the bill and a summary of that bill. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROPOSED BILL IS A DRAFT ONLY, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR ENDORSED BY THE MBA. The MBA House of Delegates has the proposed bill on its agenda for its first meeting this year on September 22.

Between now and then, if anyone has any thoughts about the proposed bill, we would be pleased to receive those views. Please forward any comments to Attorney Frank Morris via email at fmorris@socialaw.com.

Click the link below for the PDF proposed paperwork:

Foreclosure Task Force Draft Mediation Text(DRAFT 09-13-2011).pdf

Foreclosure Task Force Mediation Summary(DRAFT 09-13-2011).pdf

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For more information or to become involved in the Hampden County Bar Association Bankruptcy Section, please contact the chair of the Bankruptcy Section, Attorney Louis S. Robin at (413) 567-3131 or via email at louis.robin@prodigy.net or Noreen E. Nardi, Executive Dirctor, at (413) 732-4648 or click here to send us an email.