Joel D. Applebaum
How Judge Applebaum rules, drawn from 24 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Applebaum
Joel D. Applebaum serves as a U.S. bankruptcy judge for the Eastern District of Michigan. The court’s judicial directory lists him on its bankruptcy bench.
Judge Applebaum's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Applebaum, as published on the court's website (checked October 10, 2026). Judges revise these often, so confirm the current version on the court's site before you file.
- Chambers Procedures ↗
- Notice Regarding Conduct of Hearings ↗
- Notice of Audio-Conferencing Pilot ↗
- Chapter 11 Subchapter V Initial Status Conference Order ↗
Key rules
Contacting chambers
Use filed pleadings for written requests; letters to Judge Applebaum are discouraged.
“Letters to Judge Applebaum are discouraged; written communications should be made only by pleadings.”
Motions
Request an in-person hearing in both the title and body of the motion, giving reasons.
“The request for an in-person hearing shall also be clearly stated in the title of the motion.”
Conferences
Hearings are generally by telephone, except adversary trials and contested evidentiary hearings or when the court directs otherwise.
“With the exception of trials in adversary proceedings, evidentiary hearings in contested matters, or unless otherwise noted in the applicable Notice of Hearing or by separate court order, all hearings in cases pending before Judge Applebaum will be conducted by telephone;”
Conferences
Audio conferences and non-evidentiary telephone hearings use Microsoft Teams Audio Conferencing.
“Judge Applebaum will conduct all audio conferences and non-evidentiary hearings by telephone using Microsoft Teams Audio Conferencing.”
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the court applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 10, 2026).
How Judge Applebaum decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Richardson, he rejected a trustee’s objection to an exemption for $2,214.71 in cash and bank funds needed for subsistence, reading “provisions” in the Michigan exemption statute to include immediately usable cash.
“cash is a provision as that term is used in the statute, not simply a means to acquire ‘provisions’ sometime in the future.”
In Neubert, he denied turnover of an IRA distribution received within 180 days of the bankruptcy filing because the beneficiary designation transferred the funds by contract rather than testamentary disposition.
“Because the money was distributed from her mother’s IRA by contract, not by testamentary disposition, Debtor’s receipt of the money was not by bequest or devise.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT”
“OPINION DENYING MOTION TO DISMISS”
“OPINION DENYING CONFIRMATION OF DEBTOR’S PLAN”
“OPINION DENYING CONFIRMATION OF DEBTOR’S PLAN”
“OPINION AND ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT L&L GOLD’S MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION”
“OPINION AND ORDER DENYING MOTION TO DISMISS”
“GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART CROSS-MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT”
“GRANTING FRANKENMUTH CREDIT UNION’S MOTION FOR RELIEF FROM STAY”
“OPINION GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS”
“SUSTAINING TRUSTEE’S OBJECTION TO PLAN”
“DENYING PLAN CONFIRMATION”
“Plaintiff’s Motion is granted as to the § 523(a)(6) claim and denied as to § 523(a)(2) claim”
“Defendant’s Cross-Motion is denied as to the § 523(a)(6) claim and granted as to the § 523(a)(2) claim”
“GRANTING THE CHAPTER 13 TRUSTEE’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT”
Draft for Judge Applebaum with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Applebaum, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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