Ch 13 Bankruptcy: What happens if you owe too much to repay in 5 years
<p>As I understand it, Ch 13 bankruptcy protects a person by letting them repay their debts over a period of some 5 years.  What if a person has more debt than they can repay in 5 years? (In the state of Georgia, in the USA.) (Assume the person has filed for Ch 7 less than 8 yers ago, so the only bankruptcy available to them is ch 13.)</p>

<p>According to the <a href="http://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/chapter-13-bankruptcy-basics" rel="nofollow noreferrer">US Courts website</a>, not all debts need to be paid in full in Chapter 13 proceedings:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The plan need not pay unsecured claims in full as long it provides
  that the debtor will pay all projected "disposable income" over an
  "applicable commitment period," and as long as unsecured creditors
  receive at least as much under the plan as they would receive if the
  debtor's assets were liquidated under chapter 7. 11 U.S.C. § 1325.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>If they can't pay even this reduced amount, then they probably don't belong in Chapter 13.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>If the court declines to confirm the plan, the debtor may file a
  modified plan. 11 U.S.C. § 1323. The debtor may also convert the case
  to a liquidation case under chapter 7.</p>
</blockquote>

united-states debt bankruptcy georgia