What Happens if You Miss a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Plan Payment?

Utah Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyers

Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows you to consolidate your debts, combining them into one affordable monthly payment. But because the repayment plan period is quite long –typically between three and five years – you could end up missing a payment at some point.

If an unexpected car repair, medical emergency or personal crisis impacts your finances and makes it impossible for you to pay a scheduled Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan payment, you may face serious consequences. Here’s what you need to know – and how to keep your financial hiccup from bringing your dreams of a fresh start to an end.

The Court May Not Confirm Your Repayment Plan

When you file for Chapter 13, the bankruptcy court won’t automatically confirm or approve your repayment plan. The review process can take several months, and if you don’t keep up with your payments during that time, the court may decide against confirming your debt reorganization plan.

Creditors Might Be Able to Resume Collection Activities

An automatic stay goes into effect as soon as you file for bankruptcy, stopping your creditors from taking any collection action – including repossession and foreclosure. If you default on your Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan payments, your creditors may obtain court permission to resume their debt collection efforts.

Your Bankruptcy Case Could Be Dismissed

If you fail to make your scheduled Chapter 13 plan payments, your bankruptcy trustee could ask the court to dismiss your case. And if the judge agrees that you have failed to comply with your repayment plan requirements, you won’t obtain the debt relief you need.

What Are Your Options for Avoiding these Consequences?

If you run into financial troubles and miss a Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan payments – or even a few payments – all may not be lost. Depending upon your situation, you may be able to save your bankruptcy by:

  • Curing your default – If you or your bankruptcy lawyer is able to demonstrate that you had a legitimate financial crisis and are now in a position to get back on track, you can ask the court for more time to catch up on the missed payments.
  • Modifying your repayment plan – If you can’t keep up with your plan payments because your income or expenses have changed, you can request that the bankruptcy court reduce the amount you need to pay each month.
  • Reinstating your bankruptcy – If your case has been dismissed due to missed plan payments, you or your bankruptcy lawyer can attempt to get it reinstated if you’re able to completely cure your default.
  • Converting to Chapter 7 – If you can no longer afford your bankruptcy plan payments, you or your lawyer may be able to convert your case from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

You may also have other options, such as requesting a hardship discharge or filing a second bankruptcy claim. So don’t despair if you miss any plan payments – instead, consult with an experienced bankruptcy lawyer.

For expert legal advice in the northern Utah area, turn to the professional team at the Law Office of Davis & Jones, P.C., in Salt Lake City. Contact us and schedule a free consultation to discuss your Chapter 13 bankruptcy case today.