Bankruptcy Help for Business and Individuals

Chapter 13 Eligibility

A chapter 13 bankruptcy is also called a wage earner’s plan. It enables individuals with regular income to develop a plan to repay all or part of their debts.
Under this chapter, debtors propose a repayment plan to make installments to creditors over three to five years. If the debtor’s current monthly income is less than the applicable state median, the plan will be for three years. If the debtor’s current monthly income is greater than the applicable state median, the plan generally must be for five years. In no case may a plan provide for payments over a period longer than five years. During this time the law forbids creditors from starting or continuing collection efforts.
Chapter 13 offers individuals a number of advantages over liquidation under Chapter 7. Chapter 13 offers individuals an opportunity to save their homes from foreclosure. By filing under Chapter 13, individuals can stop foreclosure proceedings and may cure delinquent mortgage payments over time. However, debtors must still make all mortgage payments that come due during the Chapter 13 plan. Chapter 13 also allows individuals to reschedule secured debts (other than a mortgage for their primary residence) and extend them over the life of the chapter 13 plan, thereby lowering the payments. Chapter 13 also has a special provision that protects third parties (co-signers) who are liable with the debtor on “consumer debts.” Chapter 13 acts like a consolidation loan under which the individual makes the plan payments to a Chapter 13 trustee who then distributes payments to creditors.

Any individual, even if self-employed or operating an unincorporated business, is eligible for Chapter 13 relief as long as the individual’s unsecured debts are less than $394,725 and secured debts are less than $1,184,200. No individual may be a debtor under Chapter 13 or any Chapter of the Bankruptcy Code unless he or she has, within 180 days before filing, received credit counseling from an approved credit counseling agency either in an individual or group briefing.

To learn more, contact our offices at (949) 450-8500 for your FREE consultation.
The staff is extremely professional, timely, knowledgeable and diligent. One thing that impressed me the most is that they are very honest.

Call now: (949) 450-8500

HALLSTROM KLEIN & WARD LLP
IRVINE, ORANGE COUNTY, CA
privacy policy
© 2022 Hallstrom Klein & Ward LLP. All rights reserved.
Experienced Bankruptcy Attorneys Who Care