{"id":369129,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:15","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/realestate\/foreclosure\/foreclosure-tax-relief.html"},"modified":"2024-04-03T16:20:05","modified_gmt":"2024-04-03T21:20:05","slug":"foreclosure-tax-relief","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/foreclosure\/foreclosure-tax-relief.html","title":{"rendered":"Foreclosure Tax Relief and the Mortgage Debt Relief Act"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Foreclosure Tax Relief and the Mortgage Debt Relief Act<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/robert-rafii-esq\/\">Robert Rafii, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            April 03, 2024\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n<p>The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) generally considers forgiven debt to be taxable. That means you can incur a tax liability if your repayment obligation is canceled. In other words, if you owe someone money and they cancel or forgive that debt, you may owe taxes on the amount forgiven.<\/p>\r\n<p>As many homeowners know all too well, it&#8217;s easy to get&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/foreclosure\/how-to-avoid-foreclosure-by-reducing-your-mortgage.html\">overwhelmed by your mortgage payments<\/a>. The housing market taking a turn for the worse could affect the value of your property. You might even find that you owe more on your house than its fair market value or sale price. Thankfully, several options are available to help you get back on your feet or transition to more affordable housing. But some of these options may have significant tax consequences, and it&#8217;s important to be prepared for them. One way the federal government has tried to ease these tax consequences is through the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act.<\/p>\r\n<p>The Mortgage Debt Relief Act lets taxpayers exclude income from forgiven debt on their main residence. Property owners qualify for relief for:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Debt forgiven during&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/foreclosure\/mortgage-modification.html\">mortgage restructuring<\/a>&nbsp;for your home&#8217;s purchase price (often in lieu of foreclosure)<\/li>\r\n<li>Mortgage debt reduced through a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/foreclosure\/what-is-foreclosure.html\">real estate foreclosure<\/a>&nbsp;proceeding<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>The law originally applied to debt forgiveness between 2007 and 2012. Congress has repeatedly extended the law to allow borrowers continued relief on their income taxes. As of this writing, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) has extended the Mortgage Debt Relief Act to 2025.<\/p>\r\n<p>Here are common questions about debt cancellation and the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act.<\/p>\r\n<h2>What does &#8216;cancellation of debt&#8217; mean?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Suppose you borrow some funds from a mortgage lender. Then, the lender forgives the full amount of the debt. Under ordinary circumstances, you&#8217;d probably have to report the canceled amount on your income taxes.<\/p>\r\n<p>When you first borrow money, it&#8217;s not considered income because you&#8217;ll have to pay it back. But that debt obligation could be considered income when it&#8217;s canceled or forgiven. This is because you no longer have to pay back the lender. The lender will report the canceled debt to you and the IRS on Form 1099-C, Cancellation of Debt.<\/p>\r\n<p>For example, if you borrow $100,000 and fail to pay back $50,000 of it, you&#8217;ll be in default. If the lender can&#8217;t collect the other half, a cancellation of debt equal to $50,000 would be reported as taxable income.<\/p>\r\n<p>When the housing bubble burst in 2006, many homeowners were left owing more on their home than it was actually worth. People witnessed the economy crumble in real time. Many people also struggled to make their mortgage payments since the whole economy was doing poorly and unemployment was high. Consequently, many homeowners worked with their lenders to have a portion of the debt forgiven. Or they were forced to sell their home in a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/foreclosure\/what-is-foreclosure.html\">foreclosure<\/a>&nbsp;process or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/foreclosure\/giving-up-your-home-without-foreclosure.html\">short sale<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>Unfortunately, many people didn&#8217;t realize that the federal government counts forgiven debt as income for tax assessment purposes. As a result, someone forced to sell their home in a foreclosure sale, with the remaining debt canceled, would have to include that canceled debt as income on their taxes the following year. For example, if you owed $400,000 on your home and sold it for $300,000 in a short sale approved by your lender, you would have to report $100,000 worth of income on your taxes.<\/p>\r\n<h2>What is the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007?<\/h2>\r\n<p>The 2007 Congress passed the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov\/news\/releases\/2007\/12\/20071220-6.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">President Bush said at the time<\/a>: \u201cWhen your home is losing value and your family is under financial stress, the last thing you need is to be hit with higher taxes.&quot;<\/p>\r\n<p>Under this law and subsequent legislation, taxpayers can exclude from income:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n<li>Up to $750,000 if married for the tax year; or<\/li>\r\n<li>Up to $375,000 if married but filing separately<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>That means you can exclude the canceled debt from your income when you file your taxes with the IRS, whether:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/mortgages-equity-loans\/mortgage-basics.html\">You restructure your mortgage<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>You&#8217;re forced to sell your home in a short sale<\/li>\r\n<li>You lose your house in foreclosure<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>But&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/pub\/irs-pdf\/p4681.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the exclusion for these canceled debts<\/a>&nbsp;only applies to principal residences. So, second homes, rental homes, business property, credit cards, and car loans are not included in the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act. Still, other tax relief provisions may apply to those. The debt also must have been used to buy, build, or substantially improve the principal residence. It must have also been secured by that residence. More information, including detailed examples, can be found on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/foreclosure\/how-to-avoid-foreclosure-by-reducing-your-mortgage.html\">IRS.gov<\/a>. See&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.irs.gov\/pub\/irs-pdf\/p4681.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Publication 4681<\/a>&nbsp;&#8211; Canceled Debts, Foreclosures, Repossessions, and Abandonments.<\/p>\r\n<h2>What is &#8216;exclusion of income&#8217;?<\/h2>\r\n<p>You must usually report income on your tax return disclosures. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act creates an exclusion. It lets you exclude canceled debt from your income. The canceled debt must be in relation to the mortgage on your principal residence.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Does the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act cover every canceled debt?<\/h2>\r\n<p>No. The canceled debt must be in relation to money borrowed to buy, construct, or improve your main residence. Also, the debt must be qualified principal residence indebtedness. This means it must be secured by your home.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Does the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act cover refinance debts?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Yes, but only as far as the principal balance of the old mortgage would have qualified before you refinanced.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Is income-excluded forgiven debt still included on tax returns?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Yes. It is reported on&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.irs.gov\/pub\/irs-pdf\/f982.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Form 982<\/a>, which is attached to your tax return.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Do I have to fill out all of Form 982?<\/h2>\r\n<p>No, as this form is used for other purposes as well. You may report forgiveness of qualified principal residence indebtedness on lines 1e and 2. If you maintained homeownership and but obtained forgiveness after loan modification, complete lines 1e, 2, and 10b.<\/p>\r\n<p>Make sure to consult with an accountant or tax attorney to verify that the above requirements apply to your unique situation.<\/p>\r\n<h2>How do I determine the amount of forgiven debt?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Your lender will send a Form 1099-C before the tax year deadline. The form will describe the cancellation of debt. If this debt is all qualified principal residence indebtedness, the form&#8217;s box 2 will be what you report on Form 982.<\/p>\r\n<h2>What about debt forgiven on a second home, vehicle loan, or credit card?<\/h2>\r\n<p>These kinds of debts aren&#8217;t covered by the Mortgage Debt Relief Act.<\/p>\r\n<h2>If I face financial hardship not covered by the law, do I still have to pay tax on debt canceled in foreclosure?<\/h2>\r\n<p>The forgiven debt may be covered as an insolvency exclusion. You may be insolvent if your liabilities (debts) exceed your assets. Forgiven or canceled debt may also be excluded if it was:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Discharged in a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/bankruptcy\/what-is-bankruptcy.html\">Chapter 11 bankruptcy&nbsp;<\/a>case; or<\/li>\r\n<li>Qualified real property or farm business indebtedness<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>The instructions in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/forms-pubs\/about-form-982\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Form 982<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/pub\/irs-pdf\/p4681.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Publication 4681<\/a>&nbsp;have more information about qualification.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Can I claim a tax return loss for personal property lost in foreclosure?<\/h2>\r\n<p>No. Unfortunately, personal property losses aren&#8217;t deductible under the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act. But you should consult with an accountant for other potential tax credits or exemptions that may be available.<\/p>\r\n<h2>If my home is sold at a loss and the balance of the loan is canceled, does this count as a cancellation of debt?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Yes. The debt can be excluded from income if:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>It was qualified principal residence indebtedness;<\/li>\r\n<li>You were already insolvent right before the debt was forgiven; or<\/li>\r\n<li>The debt was discharged in a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/bankruptcy\/business-bankruptcy\/chapter-11-bankruptcy.html\">Chapter 11 bankruptcy<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Certain exclusions for disasters are also available.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/forms-pubs\/about-form-982\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Form 982<\/a>&nbsp;contains more details.<\/p>\r\n<h2>If my mortgage balance was canceled after foreclosure, can I still exclude forgiven debt even though I no longer own the home?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Yes, as long as the canceled debt was qualified principal residence indebtedness. See&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/pub\/irs-pdf\/p4681.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Publication 4681<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>Will I receive notification of cancellation of debt from my lender?<\/p>\r\n<p>Yes. Lenders must issue Form 1099-C, Cancellation of Debt for $600 or more of canceled debt.<\/p>\r\n<h2>What if I disagree with the amount of canceled debt reported by my lender?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Get in touch with your lender and ask them to file and send you a corrected Form 1099-C.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Consider All Your Mortgage and Foreclosure Options<\/h2>\r\n<p>Many people are still feeling the effects of the housing crisis. If you&#8217;ve had to restructure your mortgage out of financial hardship, or you&#8217;ve lost your home entirely, the last thing you&#8217;d expect is a huge tax bill based on your forgiven debt \u201cincome.&quot; But without the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, you may be paying taxes on tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.<\/p>\r\n<p>Don&#8217;t wait until tax preparation time to deal with these problems. It might also not be enough to consult only with a tax professional alone. Make an informed decision about your mortgage options by contacting an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/foreclosure-alternatives\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">attorney experienced in foreclosures and foreclosure alternatives<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-up\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3418)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M6 21H3C2.46957 21 1.96086 20.7893 1.58579 20.4142C1.21071 20.0391 1 19.5304 1 19V12C1 11.4696 1.21071 10.9609 1.58579 10.5858C1.96086 10.2107 2.46957 10 3 10H6M13 8V4C13 3.20435 12.6839 2.44129 12.1213 1.87868C11.5587 1.31607 10.7956 1 10 1L6 10V21H17.28C17.7623 21.0055 18.2304 20.8364 18.5979 20.524C18.9654 20.2116 19.2077 19.7769 19.28 19.3L20.66 10.3C20.7035 10.0134 20.6842 9.72068 20.6033 9.44225C20.5225 9.16382 20.3821 8.90629 20.1919 8.68751C20.0016 8.46873 19.7661 8.29393 19.5016 8.17522C19.2371 8.0565 18.9499 7.99672 18.66 8H13Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\n                              stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3418\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"No\"\n                value=\"no\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">No<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-down\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3423)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M16 0.999995H18.67C19.236 0.989986 19.7859 1.18813 20.2154 1.55681C20.645 1.9255 20.9242 2.43905 21 3V10C20.9242 10.5609 20.645 11.0745 20.2154 11.4432C19.7859 11.8119 19.236 12.01 18.67 12H16M9.00003 14V18C9.00003 18.7956 9.3161 19.5587 9.87871 20.1213C10.4413 20.6839 11.2044 21 12 21L16 12V0.999995H4.72003C4.2377 0.994543 3.76965 1.16359 3.40212 1.47599C3.0346 1.78839 2.79235 2.22309 2.72003 2.7L1.34003 11.7C1.29652 11.9866 1.31586 12.2793 1.39669 12.5577C1.47753 12.8362 1.61793 13.0937 1.80817 13.3125C1.99842 13.5313 2.23395 13.7061 2.49846 13.8248C2.76297 13.9435 3.05012 14.0033 3.34003 14H9.00003Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3423\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n    <span class=\"was-this-helpful__taken-action fl-text-sm-bold\"><\/span>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-container\">\n        <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n            <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form\">\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--positive\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Easy to understand\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                        >Easy to understand<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Solved my problem\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                        >Solved my problem<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--negative\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this not helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n                        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Missing Information\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                        >Missing the information I need<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Too complicated\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                        >Too complicated \/ too many steps<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Out of date\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                        >Out of date<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__form-buttons-container\">\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--positive at-feedback-submit fl-button secondary\"\n                    type=\"submit\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Submit<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--cancel fl-button primary disabled\"\n                    type=\"reset\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Cancel<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-times-circle medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-section-sidebar\">\n        <div class=\"fl-editors-summary\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content\">\n                    <h2>Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\">\n            \n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"fl-list-style-none\">\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Many real estate processes can be handled on your own or with the help of a realtor\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Some tenant or neighbor disputes may need the help of local police\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Complex real estate issues (such as construction defects or illegal landlord actions) may need the support of an attorney\n\n                <\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n                    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\">\n                <p>Buying or selling a home, facing foreclosure, or mortgage loan issues can benefit from legal expertise. An attorney can offer tailored advice and help prevent common mistakes.<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link fl-flex\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link\">\n                <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <p class=\"find-attorney\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/real-estate-law\/#USER_GEO\/?fli=esum:FL43\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find a local attorney<\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"email-subscription fl-mb30\">\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-header\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-content\">\n            <h3 class=\"fl-callout-sm fl-no-margin\">Stay Up-to-Date With How the Law Affects Your Life<\/h3>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-image fl-flex fl-items-end\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\"\n                src=\"https://www.findlaw.com/static/c/images\/images\/w_1200,c_limit,dpr_auto\/f_auto,q_auto:eco\/v1745902396\/ability-law\/wp-prod\/general-components-subscribe-module-Image-subscribeModule_1\/general-components-subscribe-module-Image-subscribeModule_1.png?_i=AA\"\n                alt=\"\"\n                loading=\"lazy\"\n            \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-content fl-flex fl-flex-wrap\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-content-text fl-mb25\">\n            <h4 class=\"fl-no-margin\">Enter your email address to subscribe<\/h4>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <form class=\"email-subscription-content-form\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distributionList\" value=\"latl\" \/>\n            <label for=\"email-subscription-content-form-group-input\" class=\"fl-text-sm-bold\">Email (Required)<\/label>\n            <div class=\"email-subscription-content-form-group\">\n                <input id=\"email-subscription-content-form-group-input\" name=\"email\" autocomplete=\"email\"\/>\n                <button type=\"submit\" aria-label=\"Submit\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n            <p class=\"email-subscription-content-form-success subscribe-success-message fl-text-sm-bold\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"status\">Thank you for subscribing!<\/p>\n            <p class=\"email-subscription-content-form-error subscribe-error-message fl-text-sm-bold\" role=\"alert\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/p>\n\n            <div id=\"email-subscription-content-form-recaptcha\" class=\"email-subscription-content-form-recaptcha subscribe-recaptcha\"\n                data-sitekey=\"0x4AAAAAAABGBEkK9kEeKxO-\"><\/div>\n        <\/form>\n\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-content-footer fl-text-sm\">\n            <p><a href=\"https:\/\/newsletters.findlaw.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more about FindLaw\u2019s newsletters<\/a>, including our terms of use and privacy policy.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"general-list\">\n    <h3>Helpful Links<\/h3>\n    <ul class=\"fl-list fl-no-margin\">\n                                    <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/buying-a-home.html\">\n                        Buying a Home\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/landlord-tenant-law.html\">\n                        Landlord-Tenant Law\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/neighbors\/neighbor-disputes.html\">\n                        Neighbor Disputes\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"popularDirectory\">\n        <div class=\"general-popular-directory \">\n            <div class=\"general-popular-directory-title\">\n                <h3>Attorney Directory<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <ul>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/foreclosure-alternatives\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Foreclosure and Alternatives Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/housing-construction-defects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Housing and Construction Defects Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/landlord-tenant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Landlord and Tenant Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/land-use-zoning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Land Use and  Zoning Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/real-estate-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Real Estate Law Attorneys<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/eminent-domain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Eminent Domain Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/construction-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Construction Law Attorneys<\/a><\/li>\n                            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you owe a debt to someone who forgives it, the canceled amount may be taxable. Findlaw discusses how the Mortgage Debt Relief Act provides some recourse.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":369116,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2741],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-369129","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-realestate"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/369129","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=369129"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/369129\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/369116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=369129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=369129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=369129"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=369129"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=369129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}