To finish your case successfully, sometimes beyond paying your Chapter 13 plan you may need to pay a debt directly and do some other things. The bankruptcy court’s approval of your payment plan (at the Confirmation Hearing) happens about 2-to-4 months after filing your case. At that point your Chapter 13 case is fully on its way. You likely … Read More
The Chapter 13 Confirmation Hearing
At the Confirmation Hearing (which you almost never need to attend) the bankruptcy judge “confirms” (approves) your Chapter 13 payment plan. The Chapter 13 Plan As we said last week about the Meeting of Creditors, a Chapter 13 case is all about “the plan.” The plan is your financial road map during the 3 to 5 years that you … Read More
The Chapter 13 Meeting of Creditors
At the Chapter 13 Meeting of Creditors you, your lawyer, & the trustee discuss your payment plan and any creditor & trustee questions. The Chapter 13 Payment Plan The core of your Chapter 13 “adjustment of debts” case is the payment plan. The plan is a detailed outline of who you will pay, how much, and when. A Chapter … Read More
Your Chapter 13 Trustee
The Chapter 13 trustee is an important player in your “adjustment of debts” case so it helps to know how to deal with him or her.
Voluntarily Dismissing Your Chapter 13 Case
The Bankruptcy Code explicitly says that, at the request of the person in a Chapter 13 case, the bankruptcy “court shall dismiss” the case.
Modify Your Chapter 13 Plan After Court Approval
It’s good to know that your Chapter 13 payment plan can be changed during the 3 to 5 years the case lasts to address changing circumstances.
Changing Your Chapter 13 Payment Plan
Before committing to a Chapter 13 “adjustment of debts” it’s good to know that its plan can likely be “modified” if your situation changes.
The Power of the Co-Debtor Stay
If protecting your co-debtor from having to pay your debt is a high priority, Chapter 13 has a remarkable tool for doing that.
Different Types of Debts in a Chapter 13 Plan
The laws about the treatment of different types of creditors can often be used in your favor to pay who you want or need to pay.
Protect a Fraudulent Transfer without Paying Anything More
If you owe “priority” debts like income taxes and/or support payments, you may be able to pay no more while protecting a transferee.
Stop the Undoing of a Fraudulent Transfer through Chapter 13
Overall, Chapter 13 can be more powerful and more flexible than Chapter 7. That often also applies to a fraudulent transfer.
Innocent Fraudulent Transfers
Selling or giving away something innocently, without trying to hurt your creditors, could still give the trustee the right to get it back.
Trustee and U.S. Trustee Adversary Proceedings
Usually it’s not hard to avoid getting into a dispute with your trustee. But you need to know the law and follow it.
When a Creditor Doesn’t File a Proof of Claim in Chapter 13
If a creditor doesn’t file a timely proof of claim on a debt in your Chapter 13 case, you pay nothing on that debt.
Bankruptcy Roles: Debtor, Creditor, Lawyers, Clerk, Trustee, and Judge
Bankruptcy is a lot easier to understand and much more comfortable to go through when you know who’s who.