Dedicated, Diligent and Understanding Attorney
Dedicated, Diligent and Understanding Attorney

Exploring Chapter 13 With Florida Individuals

When you file a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, you enter into a three- to five-year plan to make monthly payments to a bankruptcy trustee who disburses that money to your creditors. It lets you catch up on your back payments. The plan requires you to pay to the trustee all of your excess income. The concept of excess income in bankruptcy law can be a confusing one, but, in general, it is intended to leave you with just enough money to pay for all of your necessary living expenses. When you file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you can expect to live a frugal lifestyle for a few years. Luxuries are not permitted. But with proper guidance from an experienced bankruptcy attorney, the plan will allow you to maintain a comfortable lifestyle.

I am the attorney to help you. At my firm, Mark S. Steinberg, P.A., I represent clients in Miami and throughout Miami-Dade County with all aspects of Chapter 7, Chapter 13 and Chapter 11.

Chapter 7 Vs. Chapter 13: Which Is For You?

Why file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy rather than a Chapter 7? People file a Chapter 13 instead of Chapter 7 because they have too much income to qualify for Chapter 7, because they are trying to save a home that is in foreclosure, or because they want to keep some of their nonexempt assets that they would have to give up in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Most people who file for bankruptcy can’t afford to pay 100% of their creditors, even over five years. But no matter how much or how little you pay, as long as you make all the payments you agreed to make under the plan, the court will forgive the remaining unpaid balances of any debts that would have been forgiven in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

There is one other important distinction between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. There is no limit to the amount of debt you can have in a Chapter 7. The only qualifying issue is your income. However there are limits to the debt you can discharge in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Currently, to qualify for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, an individual’s unsecured debts must be no more than $383,175 and secured debts must be no more than $1,149,525. These amounts are reviewed on a periodic basis and do change. If you don’t qualify for a Chapter 7 because you have too much income and you don’t qualify for Chapter 13 because you have too much debt, then your only remaining option may be to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Schedule Your Free Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Consultation Today

Speak with me about bankruptcy in a free, confidential initial consultation. You can begin by calling my Miami office at 786-744-4746 or by using my online contact form.

I am a debt relief agent. My firm helps people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.