Wage Earners Reorganization (Chapter 13 Bankruptcy)

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Basics

You can save your home from foreclosure and discharge other debt with a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, also known as a "wage earners reorganization."

Filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy for wage earners creates an "automatic stay" which immediately stops foreclosures and all other collection activities by creditors. You then file a plan to deal with the different types of debt you have. A typical plan provides for repayment of some or all of your debt through monthly installment payments over a period of three to five years, but there are many possible variations. A Chapter 13 plan can be funded not only with wages, but also with business income or contributions from relatives.

Using Bankruptcy to Stop Home Foreclosure

If a foreclosure has begun, you should contact us as soon as possible prior to the law day or foreclosure sale. In a typical "cure and maintain" plan, you will resume making current mortgage payments, beginning with the next payment contractually due under after the filing, and pay the arrears in installments through the plan. Upon completion of the plan, your mortgage will be current.

In many cases, paying the mortgage (even with the arrears) will be easier than before because you will also be able to discharge some or all of your unsecured debt. It is often possible to pay zero to unsecured creditors, like credit cards and medical bills.

If you have a second mortgage or a home equity line of credit (a HELOC) that has become completely unsecured because of a decline in your home's value, you may be able to avoid that mortgage completely. In such situations, we will ask the court to determine the value of the property. If it is less than the balance of the first mortgage, the court will find that the second mortgage is wholly unsecured, and it will be treated in the plan just like your credit card debt and discharged upon completion of the plan. We can obtain a similar result with certain judgment liens.

The bankruptcy lawyer at Lawrence & Jurkiewicz, LLC represents clients throughout the greater Hartford area and the Litchfield County area. We help individuals and families gain control of their debt with sound advice, a caring heart, and a compassionate soul. We know one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to bankruptcy. We will meet with you to review your financial circumstances and help you decide whether to file for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. We want to help you make the right decision for you and your family. Please call (860) 264-1551 or contact us for a free consultation.