Is it possible to reduce my monthly payments to creditors during a bankruptcy?

I am unable to keep up with the monthly payments to my creditors to pay of my debts. I would like to know if there is a way for me to reduce the payments so that I can manage that while also filing for bankruptcy.

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Answered By: Indianapolis Bankruptcy Law Office of Eric C. Lewis

Call now: (317) 623-3030

If you are in a Chapter 13 that has been confirmed, and your situation has changed since confirmation, you can ask the court for a payment modification, in many cases, based on your change in circumstances.

Answer Applies to: Indiana - Replied: 11/18/2011

Answered By: The Stone Law Firm

Call now: (602) 307-5000

Depending on the chapter of bankruptcy that best suits your needs and circumstances, you can eliminate or dramatically reduce payments to unsecured creditors. A knowledgeable bankruptcy attorney can help you to understand the benefits and advantages of the different chapters of bankruptcy.

Answer Applies to: Arizona - Replied: 11/17/2011

Answered By: The Law Offices of Kristy Qiu

Call now: (954) 282-8296

For unsecured debt yes chapter 13 bankruptcy. Or you can file for chapter 7 if you qualify, through chapter 7 all your unsecured debt will be eliminated.

Answer Applies to: Florida - Replied: 11/17/2011

Answered By: Janet A. Lawson Bankruptcy Attorney

Call now: (805) 985-1147

You should consult with an attorney about chapter 13. That is debt repayment plan.

Answer Applies to: California - Replied: 11/16/2011

Answered By: The White Rose Group

Call now: (347) 464-8694

If you are in Chapter 13 bankruptcy, it is possible to amend your Chapter 13 Plan if you are unable to keep up with your payments.

Answer Applies to: New York - Replied: 11/16/2011

Answered By: Bird & VanDyke, Inc.

Call now: (209) 390-8877

Filing a chapter 13 could potentially reduce interest rates, extend payments and reduce market values so that you could keep assets and pay them back at a more reasonable rate.

Answer Applies to: California - Replied: 11/16/2011

Answered By: Philip R. Boardman, Attorney at Law

Call now: (757) 826-2200

The answer depends on whether you are filing a ch. 7 or a 13. If you are filing a ch. 7, then a secured creditor (ex. car loan) may reaffirm the debt on better terms. However, this is voluntary. In a ch. 13, you would put the secured loan insid the bankruptcy. Most of the time, this would in fact reduce the monthly amount required to pay the loan.

Answer Applies to: Virginia - Replied: 11/16/2011

Answered By: Bankruptcy Law office of Bill Rubendall

Call now: (925) 827-2272

The most significant difference between chapter 7 and chapter 13 is that the latter is a payment plan. In chapter 7 you don't pay your creditors. In chapter 13 you propose a monthly payment plan that fits within your budget. Consult with an attorney to discuss your rights.

Answer Applies to: California - Replied: 11/16/2011

Answered By: Judith A. Runyon, Esq. Attorney at Law

Call now: (951) 782-7495

If you qualify for a Chapter 13, it provides for a 5 year repayment of debt, but you need to talk to a bankruptcy attorney to see if you qualify.

Answer Applies to: California - Replied: 11/16/2011

Answered By: Dan Wilson Bankruptcy

Call now: (720) 506-3157

Not enough detail in your question, but I will give it a try. The whole point of bankruptcy is to discharge debt. If by "creditors" you mean debt, a bankruptcy will discharge your obligations. If you are eligible for a Ch 7 and your debts are dischargeable, you will not reduce payments to creditors, you will eliminate them. Eligibility for a Ch 7 depends on your household income. If your income is above the median income in your state you may have to file under Ch 13 rather than Ch 7. Debts that are NOT dischargeable include student loans, most tax debt and domestic support obligations.

Answer Applies to: Colorado - Replied: 11/16/2011

Answered By: Charles Schneider, P.C.

Call now: (734) 237-1523

You can either eliminate all debt in a chapter 7 if you qualify or pay what you can afford to pay in a chapter 13.

Answer Applies to: Michigan - Replied: 11/16/2011

Answered By: The Law Office of Darren Aronow, PC

Call now: (516) 663-0970

If you file a chapter 7 bankruptcy, then you do not pay your creditors during bankruptcy and all the debt will be discharged. If you file chapter 13 bankruptcy, you will be put on a payment plan to repay those creditors based off how much disposable income you have.

Answer Applies to: New York - Replied: 11/16/2011

Answered By: Charles R. Nettles - Attorney at Law

Call now: (512) 443-5545

I'm not real sure that I understand precisely what you are asking. If you file a Chapter 13 reorganization, then all of your debts are lumped together and you make payments to the Court to pay them at a rate that you can afford. The only exception is your mortgage which must be paid according to the terms of the note. If you file Chapter 7, you won't be paying your debts for the most part except for secured debts like your mortgage or car loan. You can request that the mortgage company or the car lienholder modify your loan agreement but they don't have to if they don't want to and you can't make them lower your payment.

Answer Applies to: Texas - Replied: 11/16/2011

Answered By: Law Office of Lynnmarie A. Johnson

Call now: (810) 695-0102

If you are filing a Ch 7 (which it sounds like you are) you can only reaffirm the secured creditors (i.e., mortgage, car, etc) that you can afford. You would not be paying any unsecured creditors since they would be discharged. If you can't afford to pay your secured creditors, you will probably have to give something up (not reaffirm it) or you will have to go in front of the judge and explain why you need to keep it and how you are going to make the payment.

Answer Applies to: Michigan - Replied: 11/16/2011

Answered By: Siegel & Siegel, P.C.

Call now: (212) 721-5300

In bankruptcy you do not pay your dischargeable debt. I am not sure what you mean.

Answer Applies to: New York - Replied: 11/16/2011

Answered By: Paul Stuber, Attorney at Law

Call now: (303) 442-6448

In a bankruptcy not only are debts discharged but contracts are also stopped. In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy you will not longer have to pay creditors for debts and you can end some contracts for monthly payments.

Answer Applies to: Colorado - Replied: 11/16/2011

Answered By: Weber Law Firm, P.C.

Call now: (713) 789-3300

Yes. You can modify your plan to lower the total amount of the payments to be made to unsecured (but not secured or priority) creditors. Consult with your lawyer. He should be well versed in plan modifications if he practices consumer bankruptcy law.

Answer Applies to: Texas - Replied: 11/16/2011

Answered By: Carballo Law Offices

Call now: (510) 886-2772

You might not have to pay at all if you qualify for Chapter 7.

Answer Applies to: California - Replied: 11/16/2011

Answered By: Ashman Law Office

Call now: (404) 768-3509

You don't make monthly payments to creditors while in bankruptcy.

Answer Applies to: Georgia - Replied: 11/15/2011

Answered By: Guardian Law Group PLLC

Call now: (888) 799-4244

That sounds like you are describing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. You may be eligible for a Chapter 7 which would remove all unsecured debts (and their payments) and you decide what secured debts you want to continue with.

Answer Applies to: Utah - Replied: 11/15/2011

Answered By: Grace Law Offices of John F Geraghty Jr.

Call now: (404) 660-2740

Amend your filing to include those debts.

Answer Applies to: Georgia - Replied: 11/15/2011

Answered By: Lake Forest Bankruptcy

Call now: (949) 218-2002

Yes. It's complicated and difficult to do on your own though.

Answer Applies to: California - Replied: 11/15/2011

Disclaimer: The responses above do not form an attorney-client relationship. These answers may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. These attorneys may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

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