Search debt repayment plans, disposable income calculations, plan modifications, mortgage arrears, codebtor stays, and more — backed by real case law.
Chapter 13 allows individuals to keep their property while repaying debts over time, but plan approval depends on meeting strict legal tests — Casey searches millions of court decisions to return verified rulings on repayment plans, income calculations, and creditor objections.
Chapter 13 allows individuals to keep their property while repaying debts over time, but plan approval depends on meeting strict legal tests — Casey searches millions of court decisions to return verified rulings on repayment plans, income calculations, and creditor objections.
Real Scenarios
1
Repayment Plan Confirmation
A Chapter 13 plan must satisfy good faith requirements, the best interests test, and the disposable income test before a court will confirm it. Creditors and trustees regularly challenge proposed plans. Understanding what courts have accepted or rejected is critical.
Prompt:
“What cases denied Chapter 13 plan confirmation for lack of good faith?”
Casey returns decisions where courts analyzed the totality of circumstances, debtor conduct, accuracy of schedules, and whether the plan was proposed with honest intent — helping lawyers and self-represented filers understand what judges actually look for.
2
Disposable Income Calculations
The means test determines how much income a debtor must commit to the plan. Disputes arise over which expenses are reasonable, how to treat irregular income, and whether certain deductions are allowed. These calculations can change the entire outcome.
Prompt:
“How do courts calculate disposable income for Chapter 13 repayment plans?”
Casey surfaces cases interpreting the means test, allowable living expenses, treatment of above-median income debtors, and how courts handled disputes over vehicle ownership costs and housing allowances.
3
Plan Modification After Confirmation
Life changes after a plan is confirmed — job loss, medical emergencies, or income increases. Debtors or creditors may seek to modify the plan, but courts apply specific standards before allowing changes. Knowing those standards matters.
Prompt:
“When can a debtor modify a confirmed Chapter 13 plan due to job loss?”
Casey retrieves decisions addressing post-confirmation modification, the substantial change in circumstances standard, reduced payment proposals, and how courts balanced debtor hardship against creditor interests.
4
Mortgage Arrears & Home Retention
Many people file Chapter 13 specifically to save their home by curing mortgage arrears through the plan. Disputes arise over the amount of arrears, the timeline for cure, and whether the lender can continue foreclosure proceedings.
Prompt:
“What cases allowed debtors to cure mortgage arrears through a Chapter 13 plan?”
Casey returns rulings on mortgage cure provisions, the interplay between state foreclosure timelines and bankruptcy filings, lender objections to cure amounts, and conditions courts imposed for home retention.
5
Codebtor Stay Protections
Chapter 13 extends an automatic stay to codebtors on consumer debts, but creditors can seek relief from that stay. The codebtor stay protects family members and co-signers, and losing it can undermine the entire purpose of filing.
Prompt:
“When do courts lift the codebtor stay in Chapter 13 cases?”
Casey surfaces decisions analyzing the three grounds for lifting the codebtor stay — irreparable harm to the creditor, the codebtor received the consideration, and the plan does not propose to pay the claim in full.
6
Conversion or Dismissal of Cases
When a debtor cannot maintain plan payments, the court may convert the case to Chapter 7 or dismiss it entirely. Trustees and creditors often file motions to convert or dismiss, and debtors need to understand what defenses are available.
Prompt:
“What constitutes cause for dismissal of a Chapter 13 case?”
Casey returns cases where courts evaluated missed payments, unreasonable delay, failure to file required documents, and bad faith conduct as grounds for dismissal — giving filers a clear picture of what triggers case termination.
Real Scenarios
A Chapter 13 plan must satisfy good faith requirements, the best interests test, and the disposable income test before a court will confirm it. Creditors and trustees regularly challenge proposed plans. Understanding what courts have accepted or rejected is critical.
Prompt:
“What cases denied Chapter 13 plan confirmation for lack of good faith?”
Casey returns decisions where courts analyzed the totality of circumstances, debtor conduct, accuracy of schedules, and whether the plan was proposed with honest intent — helping lawyers and self-represented filers understand what judges actually look for.
Chapter 13 is one of the most common ways Canadians and Americans try to keep their homes during financial hardship. In Canada, consumer proposals under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act serve a similar function, letting individuals negotiate reduced repayment plans with creditors while keeping their assets.
Ask Casey your question and get answers backed by real case law — free for the public, powerful for professionals.