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Chapter 13 Debt Limits Increasing after April 1, 2019

Published April 10, 2019 by Sasser Law Firm
Chapter 13 Debt Limits Increasing

Individuals who are considering seeking bankruptcy protection may benefit from the recent increase in the amount of debt you can have and qualify to file for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy reorganization.

Debtors can only qualify for a Chapter 13 reorganization if their total unsecured and secured debts are less than the limits set in the federal Bankruptcy Code. The bankruptcy code provides for an automatic adjustment to the debt limits every three years to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index.

The Chapter 13 debt limits increased by approximately 6.2 percent as of April 1, as published by the Judicial Conference of the United States.

As a result of the debt limit increase, more individuals who are self-employed or own a small business and have regular income may qualify for Chapter 13 reorganization of their debts. The advantages of a Chapter 13 petition include being able to protect your home from foreclosure proceedings and adjusting the payment schedules of certain secured debts to lower the payments.

The new limits apply to debts in Chapter 13 petitions submitted after April 1.

If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, the board-certified bankruptcy attorneys of Sasser Law Firm in Cary can meet with you to discuss whether Chapter 13 may be an option for you. We will review your situation for free and discuss your options. If you decide to have us file a Chapter 13 petition on your behalf, you will not need to pay any legal fees upfront. As part of a Chapter 13 filing, all fees and related costs can be rolled into your eventual re-payment plan.

Changes to the Chapter 13 Debt Limit for 2019

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows people to develop a plan to pay all or a portion of their debts over three to five years. However, Chapter 13 bankruptcy has special eligibility requirements:

  • Individuals, not businesses, apply for Chapter 13 protection, though it is primarily used by the self-employed.
  • The filer must have a steady income.
  • The individual’s debt must be within caps set for secured and unsecured debt.

Every three years the debt limits on bankruptcy filings are adjusted according to changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), as required by Section 104(a) of title 11, United States Code.

For Chapter 13 bankruptcies, the debt limits are divided between unsecured debts and secured debts. If your debts exceed either cap, you can’t file under Chapter 13.

How Much Debt Do You Need to File Chapter 13?

As of April 2019, the adjusted debt limits to qualify for Chapter 13 are:

  • $419,275 for a debtor’s noncontingent, liquidated unsecured debts (up from $394,725).
  • $1,257,850 for a debtor’s noncontingent, liquidated secured debts (up from $1,184,200).

The new limits reflect a 6.2 percent increase from the caps set in 2016 rounded to the nearest $25.

When Did the Bankruptcy Code Increase Take Place?

The new debt limits apply to bankruptcy filings on or after April 1, 2019.

If you are unsure of the amount of debt you face, Sasser Law can help you determine what you owe and discuss options with you.

Options for Debtors Who Exceed Chapter 13 Debt Limits

Each bankruptcy case is unique, but there are certain options that are commonly considered when a prospective filer’s debt exceeds the Chapter 13 limits:

  • Chapter 11. Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganizes a business to pay debts. However, under Chapter 11, the business must sell its assets and the repayment plan must be approved by creditors, which many see as onerous.
  • Chapter 20. Under this infrequently used strategy, the debtor lowers his total amount of unsecured debt by first going through a Chapter 7 liquidation. Once he has obtained a “discharge” of unsecured debt, the debtor should be able to meet requirements of Chapter 13 and be able to restructure his remaining debt.

In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you work to develop a payment plan that provides for paying unpaid mortgage payments, auto loans, and other debts. It consolidates your debt into a monthly or bi-monthly payment, which is sent to a bankruptcy trustee who distributes payments to creditors.

Chapter 13 also allows you to restructure some loans, such as a car or truck loan, which may help protect co-signers if there are any.

In exchange for a Chapter 13 repayment plan that the bankruptcy court finds acceptable, the debtor is protected from debt collectors during the three- to five-year length of the court-approved plan.

In the end, the bankruptcy judge who presides over your case will decide what is allowed within the federal bankruptcy code. Our experienced bankruptcy attorneys are well known to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina in downtown Raleigh, which helps to ensure that the unique needs of your case will be heard.

Contact Our Cary Bankruptcy Attorneys

Whatever financial problems you or your business face, take the first step to deal with them by contacting us today for a free review and a board-certified bankruptcy specialist’s recommendations. There’s nothing to gain by putting off dealing with your debt issues. The Sasser Law Firm can work with you to develop a recovery plan and take immediate action to protect you from creditors.

Contact us now to schedule a free and confidential consultation about your case with an experienced, board-certified North Carolina bankruptcy attorney. Sasser Law Firm provides legal representation to individuals and businesses in Cary, Raleigh, Holly Springs, Garner and elsewhere in Wake County as well as Harnett, Johnston, Durham, Orange, Granville, Vance, Franklin, Warren, Nash, Lee, Chatham, and Moore counties.

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