[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 14]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR1956.130]

[Page 268-269]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
   CHAPTER XVIII--RURAL HOUSING SERVICE, RURAL BUSINESS--COOPERATIVE 
SERVICE, RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, AND FARM SERVICE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF 
                         AGRICULTURE (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1956--DEBT SETTLEMENT--Table of Contents
 
       Subpart C--Debt Settlement--Community and Business Programs
 
Sec.  1956.130  Cancellation.

    Nonjudgment debts, regardless of the amount, may be cancelled with 
or without application by the debtor.
    (a) With application by debtor. Debts may be cancelled upon 
application of the debtor(s), or if the debtor is an individual and 
unable to act, upon application of the guardian, executor, or 
administrator of the debtor's estate. The following conditions apply:
    (1) The servicing official furnishes a favorable recommendation 
concerning the cancellation, and
    (2) There is no known security for the debt and the debtor has no 
other assets from which the debt could be collected, and
    (3) The debtor is unable to pay any part of the debt and has no 
reasonable prospect of being able to do so, and
    (4) The debt or any extension thereof is due and payable under the 
terms of the note or other instrument, or because of acceleration by 
written notice prior to the date of application.
    (b) Without application by debtor. Debts may be cancelled upon a 
favorable recommendation of the servicing official in the following 
instances:
    (1) Debtors discharged in bankruptcy. If there is no security for 
the debt, debts discharged in bankruptcy shall be cancelled by the use 
of Form FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 1956-1 
with a copy of the Bankruptcy Court's Discharge Order attached. No 
attempt will be made to obtain the debtor's signature and County 
Committee review is unnecessary. If the debtor has executed a new 
promise to pay prior to discharge and has otherwise accomplished a valid 
reaffirmation of the debt in accordance with advice from OGC, the debt 
is not discharged.
    (2) Impossible or impractical to obtain a debtor's signature. Debts 
may be cancelled if it is impossible or impractical to obtain a signed 
application and the requirements of Sec.  1956.130(a) (1), (2), and (3) 
only of this subpart are met. Form FmHA or its successor agency under 
Public Law 103-354 1956-1 will document:
    (i) The sources of information obtained.
    (ii) That a current effort was made to obtain the debtor's 
application and the date of such effort.
    (iii) The specific reasons why it was impossible or impracticable to 
obtain the signature of the debtor and, if the debtor refused to sign, 
the reason(s) given.
    (3) Deceased debtors (individuals only). The following conditions 
must exist:
    (i) There is no known security,
    (ii) An administrator or executor has not been appointed to settle 
the debtor's estate but the financial condition of the estate has been 
investigated and it has been established that there is no reasonable 
prospect of recovery, or
    (iii) An administrator or executor has been appointed to settle the 
estate of the debtor, and
    (A) A final settlement has been made and confirmed by the probate 
court and the Government's claim was recognized

[[Page 269]]

properly and the Government has received all funds it was entitled to, 
or
    (B) A final settlement has not been made and confirmed by the 
probate court, but there are no assets in the estate from which there is 
any reasonable prospect of recovery, or
    (C) Regardless of whether a final settlement has been made, there 
were assets in the estate from which recovery might have been effected 
but such assets have been disposed of or lost in a manner which the OGC 
advises will preclude an reasonable prospect of recovery by the 
Government.
    (4) Disappeared debtor (individuals only). The following conditions 
must exist:
    (i) The debtor has disappeared and cannot be found without undue 
expense. Reasonable efforts either in person or in writing will be made 
to locate the debtor. These efforts, including the names and dates of 
contacts, and the information furnished by each person, will be fully 
documented on Form FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 
1956-1,
    (ii) There is no known security for the debt and the debtor has no 
other assets from which the debt could be collected, and
    (iii) The debtor is unable to pay any part of the debt and has no 
reasonable prospect of being able to do so.