In Re Oster

MEMORANDUM OPINION

W. RICHARD LEE, Bankruptcy Judge.

In this opinion, the court addresses the question of whether Chapter 7 debtors may amend their exemptions under 11 U.S.C. § 522(b) to add a new exemption of previously scheduled property, after their case has been closed, and then move to avoid a prepetition judgment lien against that property pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 522(f)(1) on the grounds that the judgment lien impairs the new exemption. It is the court’s conclusion that they may not.

This motion to avoid the judgment lien of Phoenix Leasing Incorporated (“Phoenix”) was heard on February…