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name: dischargeability-complaint language: en description: Drafts a U.S. bankruptcy adversary complaint under 11 U.S.C. §523 to determine non-dischargeability of debt. Use when a creditor, assignee, or subrogee needs a complaint for Bankruptcy Court with §523 theories (fraud, fiduciary defalcation, willful/malicious injury). Trigger when inputs include debtor case data, petition/§341 dates, transaction facts, and target §523 subsections. tags:

• drafting
• litigation
• pleading

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Dischargeability Complaint

Drafts a court-ready adversary complaint under 11 U.S.C. §523 for U.S. bankruptcy proceedings, with jurisdiction/venue allegations, evidence-anchored counts, and FRBP compliance.

Quick Start

Collect before drafting:

• Standing: Plaintiff's enforcement right (original creditor, assignee, successor, subrogee)
• Case data: Court, case number, chapter, petition date, first §341 date, conversion status
• Deadline posture: FRBP 4007(c) timing — confirm filing window or extension basis
• Evidence: Contracts, account records, correspondence, payment history, admissions, fiduciary documents
• §523 theories: Map each subsection to its required elements under controlling circuit law
• Damages: Principal, contractual interest, statutory interest, fees, costs
• Local rules: Caption format, paragraph style, line numbering, font/margins, filing protocol

Core Workflow

1. Build complaint scaffold

Section	Content	Verify
Caption	Court name, bankruptcy case no., adversary caption, parties	District matches debtor case
Jurisdiction/Venue	28 U.S.C. §§1334, 157(b)(2)(I), 1409; core proceeding	Explicitly alleged
Parties	Names, addresses, standing chain	Standing complete
Procedural posture	Petition date, §341 date, Rule 4007(c) timing	Within deadline or extension stated
Factual narrative	Chronological facts with dates and sources	Each allegation tied to exhibit
Counts	Per-theory allegations for each §523 subsection	All elements and remedies included
Prayer	Non-dischargeability, amount, interest, fees, costs	Amounts traceable to evidence
Verification	Perjury statement and signature block	Authorized signer confirmed
Service checklist	Filing-ready package	Complete

2. Plead theory-specific elements

Theory	Elements	Style
§523(a)(2)(A)	False representation, scienter, reliance, proximate causation, damages	Fact-dense: who/what/when/where/how
§523(a)(2)(B)	Materially untrue financial statement	Attach supporting financials, explain materiality
§523(a)(4)	Express fiduciary relationship, breach, fraud/defalcation	Distinguish express fiduciary duty from contractual/statutory
§523(a)(6)	Willful and malicious injury	Show intentional conduct + substantial certainty of harm

3. Apply paragraph construction rules

• Number all paragraphs; keep short-to-medium length for readability.
• Fraud allegations must satisfy Rule 9(b): identify statement, communicator, medium, date, and falsity.
• Incorporate prior paragraphs by reference at each count's start.
• Use separate counts per theory — prevents collapse if one fails.
• Cross-reference facts; do not repeat full blocks.

4. Produce mandatory sections

1. Complaint heading and title
2. Jurisdiction and venue
3. Parties / standing
4. Factual background
5. Procedural timing
6. Count I: §523(a)(2)(A)
7. Count II: §523(a)(4) (if applicable)
8. Count III: §523(a)(6) (if applicable)
9. Prayer for relief
10. Verification
11. Signature block
12. Service/filing checklist

Legal Constraints

• FRBP 7001: Adversary proceeding form governs structure.
• FRBP 7009 / Rule 9(b): Heightened pleading for fraud allegations.
• FRBP 7012 / Rule 12(b)(6): Frame for plausibility to resist dismissal.
• FRCP 11: Remove weak, conclusory, or unsupported allegations — sanctions exposure.

Pitfalls and Checks

• Reconcile all damages figures against attached evidence.
• Confirm every element has at least one direct fact anchor.
• No allegation may rest on speculation — separate facts from legal inference.
• Do not mix circuit authority; use only jurisdiction-verified standards.
• Do not plead causes outside §523 scope.
• Keep tone objective — factual allegations only, no inflammatory language.
• Include [VERIFY] placeholders for unresolved legal standards or local-rule citations.
• Confirm attorney signature, bar status, and filing authorization before finalizing.
• Preserve exhibit organization and authentication trail.

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