Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a form of bankruptcy that requires the debtor to enter into a plan of debt repayment. It is similar to debt consolidation, but has the backing of Court approval, so your lenders do not have a choice about whether to participate in your proposal. When a Chapter 13 case is filed, a repayment plan is proposed and eventually approved by the Court. The debtor then makes a monthly payment to the bankruptcy trustee and the trustee disburses payments to the lenders.
In order to better prepare yourself for what lies ahead when you file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy it is a good idea to go into it with some background about how Chapter 13 cases work. Three things to know about Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases that will help you understand your case more include:
- A percentage of your unsecured debt will be repaid over the life of your Chapter 13 Plan. The percent you have to repay will depend on how much disposable income you have after paying monthly secured debts.
- You are permitted to pay the value of some pieces of collateral instead of the balance due, most notably your car. You can also pay your car note at a lower interest rate than what the purchase contract provides. This combination results in a lower overall car payment, paid through your bankruptcy.
- A Chapter 13 Plan takes between three and five years to complete, meaning you making monthly payments to the trustee for that time period, and once all plan payments are made you receive a discharge of debts.
It might sound undesirable to remain in a bankruptcy for a few years, but during that time your lenders are not allowed to call you. This gives you the freedom you need to get back to your life and takes the stress of not being able to pay monthly bills off of you. The relief that comes with being able to pay bills without fielding collection calls is enormous. When Chapter 7 is not an option, you can get this relief by filing a Chapter 13. The same rules regarding the automatic stay and discharge of debts apply, so you still get all the benefits of the bankruptcy laws.
For help with your questions about Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, contact us at www.DsouzaLegalGroup.com. We will help by coming up with solutions that help get you back on your feet.
