Peet v. Checkett

The Peets sought relief under chapter 13 of the bankruptcy code on December 5, 2011. When they filed their petition for relief, the Peets and Marilynn Peet's parents held title to real property in Missouri as joint tenants, and Marilynn Peet and her father held title to a 2005 Ford half-ton pickup registered in Missouri as joint tenants. On the Peets' motion, the bankruptcy court converted the case to chapter 7 on January 23, 2014. Checkett was appointed the chapter 7 trustee. Marilynn Peet's father passed away on April 14, 2014. Her mother passed away the following day. That summer, the trustee proposed to sell the real property and the pickup. The Peets objected. The bankruptcy court overruled the Peets' objections and authorized the trustee to sell the real property and the pickup. The Eighth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel affirmed. The filing of a petition for relief does not sever a joint tenancy. The Peets' undivided estate in the real property and Marilyn Peet's undivided estate in the pickup are property of the bankruptcy estate, and the trustee is entitled to the proceeds from their sales. View "Peet v. Checkett" on Justia Law