If you are behind on mortgage payments, facing repossession, or struggling to keep up with debt, Chapter 13 bankruptcy may offer a way to regain control. As your Orlando Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyer, I can help you use a powerful legal tool to stop collection actions and create a structured repayment plan.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows you to stop foreclosure, protect your home or car, and repay debt through a structured plan over three to five years.
I work with clients to build a plan that fits their income, protects important assets, and creates a path forward. Contact us or call my office at (407) 749-0080 for a consultation.
Orlando Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Lawyer Guide
- Work Directly With an Orlando Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorney
- Is Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Right for You, or Is Chapter 7 a Better Fit?
- How Does a Chapter 13 Repayment Plan Work?
- What Happens if Your Financial Situation Changes During Chapter 13?
- How an Orlando Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Lawyer Can Help Protect Your Home and Other Property
- How Chapter 13 Stops Collection Actions
- What Happens During a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Case?
- FAQs for Orlando Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Lawyer
Work Directly With an Orlando Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorney
When you need help with Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you should be able to get clear answers from the lawyer handling your case. I work directly with clients from beginning to end.
Direct, One-on-One Approach
You won’t be just another case number at my firm. I take the time to listen to your story, understand your specific financial pressures, and learn what goals are most important to you. I personally handle your case, answer your questions, and guide you through every step of the legal process.
Building a Chapter 13 Plan That Fits Your Budget
Chapter 13 should work in real life, not just on paper. I look at your income, expenses, and overall financial situation to help build a repayment plan you can actually manage. That includes applying legal requirements to your case in a way that supports a practical monthly payment.
Extensive Experience in Debt Relief Solutions
Chapter 13 bankruptcy plays a major role in my debt relief practice. I help clients use it to protect their property, manage overdue payments, and create a realistic path forward based on their income and obligations.
I want to help you find the best solution for your situation. To start the conversation about how I can help as your Orlando Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyer, call me at (407) 749-0080 or contact my office online today.
Is Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Right for You, or Is Chapter 7 a Better Fit?
Not sure whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 is right for you? The key difference is simple: Chapter 7 eliminates debt quickly, while Chapter 13 helps you protect your property and catch up on missed payments over time.
Chapter 7 usually works best for people who need faster debt relief and don’t have enough income to support a repayment plan. Chapter 13 often makes more sense for people with regular income who need time to catch up on missed payments, stop foreclosure or repossession, or protect important assets.
Here is a comparison of the two options:
- Main Goal: Chapter 7 focuses on eliminating qualifying unsecured debt more quickly, while Chapter 13 focuses on reorganizing debt through a structured repayment plan.
- Eligibility: Chapter 7 usually requires you to pass the means test. Chapter 13 generally requires regular income and debt levels that fall within the applicable limits.
- Timeframe: Chapter 7 cases often move faster, while Chapter 13 plans usually last three to five years.
- Property: Chapter 13 can be a better fit when you need to protect a home, car, or other important property while catching up on past-due payments.
How Does a Chapter 13 Repayment Plan Work?
Chapter 13 repayment plans allow you to reorganize your debt based on what you can afford so that you don’t have to sell your property. I can work with you to review your income, expenses, and financial obligations, then build a plan that fits your situation.
Once the court approves the plan, you make one monthly payment to the trustee, who distributes the funds to creditors under the terms of the plan. That may reduce multiple bills to a single monthly payment through the plan.
What Affects Your Monthly Payment?
Your payment depends on your income, your necessary living expenses, and the types of debt you owe. In general, the plan must account for:
- Income and Living Expenses: Your plan is based on your income and your reasonable living expenses, including housing, food, transportation, and other necessary costs.
- Past-Due Secured Debt: If you want to keep property like your home or car, the plan can include payments to catch up on missed amounts over time.
- Priority Debt: Certain debts, such as recent taxes or support obligations, usually must be paid in full through the plan.
How Different Debts Are Treated in the Plan
A Chapter 13 plan can address several types of debt at once. Priority debts usually must be paid in full. Secured debts, such as a mortgage or car loan, can often be brought current over time if you want to keep the property.
Unsecured debts, including credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans, may be paid only in part, with the remaining eligible balance discharged at the end of the plan.
What Happens if Your Financial Situation Changes During Chapter 13?
A Chapter 13 plan is designed to be structured, but it’s not completely rigid. Over the course of three to five years, financial situations can change. Income may go up or down, unexpected expenses may arise, or priorities may shift.
If something changes, you may still have options. In some cases, the repayment plan can be modified to reflect your current income and expenses.
If continuing the plan becomes too difficult, you may be able to convert your case to Chapter 7 or explore other solutions depending on your circumstances. The key is addressing changes early and keeping me informed at all times.
I work with clients throughout the life of their case, not just at the beginning, so we can adjust strategy when needed and keep the case moving forward whenever possible.
How an Orlando Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Lawyer Can Help Protect Your Home and Other Property
One of the main reasons people choose Chapter 13 is to protect important assets while they catch up on debt over time. For many people, that starts with the home. If you are behind on mortgage payments, an Orlando Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyer may help you stop foreclosure and repay the missed amount through a structured repayment plan.
Filing also triggers the automatic stay, which can stop collection actions and give you time to move forward under court protection. Chapter 13 may also help if you’re behind on a car loan and trying to avoid repossession. In some cases, it can create room to catch up on missed payments or make the debt more manageable.
Depending on your situation, Chapter 13 may offer other tools to protect your property and reduce financial pressure. I review those options carefully and help clients build a plan based on what they need to keep and what they can realistically afford.
How Chapter 13 Stops Collection Actions
Filing for Chapter 13 can stop many collection efforts right away through the automatic stay. Once your case is filed, creditors must stop collection actions, including phone calls, letters, lawsuits, wage garnishments, and repossession efforts.
That protection can give you room to catch up, protect your income, and move forward under a court-approved plan. Instead of dealing with constant collection pressure on your own, you can focus on the steps needed to regain control.
In many cases, the automatic stay can pause the following actions:
- Foreclosure Proceedings: A lender cannot move forward with a foreclosure sale while the automatic stay remains in place.
- Repossession Efforts: A vehicle lender may have to stop efforts to take your car.
- Collection Lawsuits: Pending lawsuits over qualifying debts are generally paused.
- Wage Garnishments and Bank Levies: The automatic stay can stop many garnishments and other collection efforts against your income or accounts.
- Creditor Contact: Creditors and debt collectors must stop most direct attempts to collect from you.
What Happens During a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Case?
Filing for bankruptcy involves a series of specific steps and legal requirements. Having a dedicated Orlando Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyer guide you through this process is important for avoiding common mistakes and ensuring your case proceeds smoothly.
I will manage every detail, from preparing your initial paperwork to representing you at your confirmation hearing at the Orlando federal courthouse. My job is to handle the legal complexities so you can focus on your fresh start.
Credit Counseling and Debtor Education
Before filing, you must complete a credit counseling course. A second course is required later in the case before you can receive a discharge. I help you complete both requirements and keep your case on track.
Preparing and Filing Your Petition
Your case begins with a detailed bankruptcy petition that outlines your income, expenses, assets, and debts. As your Orlando Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyer, I work with you to gather the necessary information and prepare your filing accurately.
The 341 Meeting of Creditors
About a month after filing, you attend a brief Zoom meeting with the Chapter 13 trustee. Creditors rarely appear. The trustee asks basic questions about your financial information, and I help you prepare in advance for this meeting and will attend with you.
FAQs for Orlando Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Lawyer
If you are facing foreclosure, Chapter 13 may allow you to stop the foreclosure process immediately and catch up on missed mortgage payments over time. The moment your case is filed, the automatic stay prohibits your mortgage lender from proceeding with a foreclosure. Your Chapter 13 repayment plan will then allow you to catch up on the missed payments or arrearages over a three- to five-year period. As long as you keep up with your ongoing mortgage payments and the plan payments, you can keep your home.
I can analyze your full financial picture to determine if Chapter 13 is the right solution for you. I will prepare and file all the necessary legal documents with the court, which protects you from procedural errors. Most importantly, I will create a customized repayment plan designed to meet your specific goals, whether that is saving your home, protecting your car, or simply getting control over unmanageable debt.
Chapter 13 is specifically designed to help you keep your property. Unlike Chapter 7 liquidation, the goal is not to sell your assets. Instead, you fund your repayment plan using your future income. Florida law provides for certain exempt property that is protected from creditors, and Chapter 13 allows you to protect assets that might otherwise be at risk.
I understand that if you’re considering bankruptcy, money is already tight. I work with clients to discuss the cost clearly and find a manageable way to move forward. In many cases, Chapter 13 can help create structure where there was financial chaos before. By stopping collection actions and organizing debt into a court-approved repayment plan, it may give you a more stable path forward.
A Chapter 13 bankruptcy will appear on your credit report for up to 10 years from the date of the order for relief. However, many people who file are already struggling with late payments, high balances, and collection accounts, which have already damaged their credit scores. By resolving your debts through Chapter 13 and successfully completing your plan, you can start rebuilding a positive credit history much sooner than if you continued to struggle with unmanageable debt.
Let’s Build Your Plan for a Better Financial Future
You don’t have to let debt control your life. Chapter 13 bankruptcy offers a powerful and effective way to protect your property, stop creditor harassment, and reorganize your finances into a single, manageable payment.
As your attorney, I will stand with you, providing clear guidance and dedicated representation at every turn. To schedule a confidential consultation, call Lewis Roberts, PA today at (407) 749-0080 or complete my online contact form to get started.
Attorney Lewis Roberts
The weight of debts that one cannot pay carries financial stress into every waking moment. It is time for this to end. Lewis Roberts, PA, offers solutions to relieve these worries. With over 20 years of experience in helping individuals overcome the burden of debt, bankruptcy attorney Lewis Roberts presents a range of options tailored to each unique situation. Clients can trust his advice on any matter related to debts, as he identifies appropriate options and explains the paths to debt relief clearly and carefully. This ensures that clients make the best decisions for their future. [ Attorney Bio ]
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Lewis Roberts, PA
999 Douglas Ave #2214
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714