How long does a Chapter 13 plan last?

Three years if your income is below the state median, and up to five years if it is above. You receive a discharge of remaining qualifying debt when you complete the plan.

Can I keep my house and car in Chapter 13?

Usually yes, if you keep up with the plan payments and any ongoing mortgage or car payments. Curing the past-due amount over the plan is the core reason many people choose Chapter 13.

What happens if I miss a plan payment?

Missing payments can put the case at risk of dismissal, which would end the automatic stay. If your income changes, the plan can sometimes be modified — contact the firm before missing a payment.

Chapter 13Repayment planKeep your home

Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Texas and Oklahoma

Chapter 13 is a court-approved repayment plan that lets you catch up on a mortgage, keep a financed car, and pay a portion of unsecured debt over three to five years. Free consultation.

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What Chapter 13 is

What is Chapter 13 bankruptcy?

Chapter 13 is a form of bankruptcy that reorganizes debt into a single court-approved monthly payment over three to five years, instead of erasing debt immediately. It lets a filer cure past-due mortgage or car payments over time, stop a foreclosure sale, and keep property, while paying unsecured creditors what the law requires.

When Chapter 13 is the better fit

You are behind on a mortgage and want to stop foreclosure and catch up over time
Your income is above the median, so you do not pass the Chapter 7 means test
You have non-exempt property you want to protect
You need to cure a car loan default to avoid repossession

Can Chapter 13 stop a foreclosure?

Yes. Filing Chapter 13 triggers the automatic stay, which stops a scheduled foreclosure sale. The plan then lets you repay the past-due mortgage amount (the arrears) over three to five years while you resume regular monthly payments, so you can keep the home if you stay current on the plan.

How a plan works

You make one monthly payment to a Chapter 13 trustee, who distributes it to creditors under a plan the court confirms. Secured arrears (like a mortgage) and priority debts (like recent taxes and support) are paid in full over the plan; unsecured creditors receive whatever your disposable income and the value of your non-exempt property require, which is often a fraction of what is owed. Remaining qualifying unsecured debt is discharged when you complete the plan.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every matter is different and depends on its own facts.

No outcome is promised or guaranteed. Descriptions of process are general and are not a prediction about any specific matter.

The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Attorney advertising. This material is for general information and may be considered advertising under the rules of the State Bar of Texas and the Oklahoma Bar Association.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Chapter 13 plan last?: Three years if your income is below the state median, and up to five years if it is above. You receive a discharge of remaining qualifying debt when you complete the plan.
Can I keep my house and car in Chapter 13?: Usually yes, if you keep up with the plan payments and any ongoing mortgage or car payments. Curing the past-due amount over the plan is the core reason many people choose Chapter 13.
What happens if I miss a plan payment?: Missing payments can put the case at risk of dismissal, which would end the automatic stay. If your income changes, the plan can sometimes be modified — contact the firm before missing a payment.