Chapter 13
Pay what you can, keep what you have
Chapter 13 is a repayment plan that runs three to five years. You make one monthly payment to a trustee, who divides it among your creditors.
Missed mortgage or car payments are spread across the plan, which is how it can stop a foreclosure or repossession. When the plan ends, what is left of the qualifying debt is cleared.
The plan
How a plan unfolds
- 01
Step 1: We list the numbers
Income, bills, what you owe on the house or car, and how far behind you are.
- 02
Step 2: We propose a plan
A monthly payment you can keep up, sized to your income.
- 03
Step 3: The court confirms it
The trustee and creditors can object; Brigitte answers for you.
- 04
Step 4: You pay the trustee
One payment a month, instead of a dozen to different places.
- 05
Step 5: The plan ends
What is left of the qualifying debt is cleared, and the case closes.
Chapter 13 worries
What if I miss a plan payment?
Call the office the same week. A missed payment can sometimes be made up or the plan adjusted; ignoring it is what puts a case at risk.
Can the plan change if I lose my job?
Yes. The court can approve a change when your income drops, and Brigitte files the request.
Do I keep my home?
That is the main reason people choose Chapter 13. You keep it as long as you make the plan payments and stay current on the new ones.