In a chapter 13 bankruptcy case, a person makes payments towards their debts in a three to five year repayment plan. Upon successful completion of the payment plan, that person (known as the “debtor”) receives a discharge of most of their remaining debts with a few exceptions. Although Minnesotans who earn more than the median income for their household size in the State of Minnesota must file a chapter 13 bankruptcy case, rather than a chapter 7 case, any individual with regular income can file a chapter 13 case. In addition to providing the benefit of allowing a person to receive a discharge of their debts, typically after only having to pay a small portion of total debt, a chapter 13 also is a good opportunity to help a person afford their vehicle payments.
