How we help
Chapter 13 bankruptcy
Chapter 13 lets you keep your house or car and pay what you're behind over three to five years, in one monthly payment you can plan around.
It's for people with steady income who've fallen behind, or who earn too much for Chapter 7. You make one payment a month to a trustee, who pays your creditors. Foreclosure and repossession stop while the plan runs, and some debts that remain at the end are discharged.
The plan has to fit your real budget, so we build it from your actual bills, not a formula.
What a plan can catch up
Mortgage arrears
Car loan arrears
Back taxes
Debts that don't qualify for Chapter 7
Good to know
Before you decide
One payment
Instead of a dozen bills, you make one monthly payment to the trustee. We set it at what your budget can carry.
The long haul
Plans run three to five years. If your income changes along the way, the plan can often be changed too.
If you fall behind
Missing a plan payment doesn't end everything. Call us right away; there are usually ways to adjust.
Questions about chapter 13 bankruptcy
Can Chapter 13 stop a foreclosure sale?
Filing stops most foreclosure sales at once. Then the plan lets you pay the missed payments over time while you keep making the regular ones.
How much will my plan payment be?
It depends on your income, your necessary expenses and what you owe. We work it out with you before you file.
What if I can't finish the plan?
Plans can sometimes be changed, or the case converted to Chapter 7. We'll go over what happens before you ever start.
Talk it through with an attorney
The first meeting is free. You'll leave knowing your options and what happens next.
Our help is free for households that qualify. The court's filing fee is separate; the court can waive it or let you pay it in installments.