{
  "version": 1,
  "reviewed": "2026-10-04",
  "terms": [
    {
      "id": "commitment-period",
      "term": "Applicable commitment period",
      "short": "The plan length set by income: three or five years.",
      "body": "Generally three years when income is below the state median, and five years when it is at or above. It can be shorter only if all allowed unsecured claims are paid in full.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "11 U.S.C. § 1325(b)(4)",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/1325"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "automatic-stay",
      "term": "Automatic stay",
      "short": "A pause on most collection actions once a case is filed.",
      "body": "Filing a bankruptcy case automatically stops most collection actions, such as lawsuits and wage garnishments. There are exceptions, and it can be shorter for people with a recent dismissed case.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "11 U.S.C. § 362",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/362"
        },
        {
          "title": "U.S. Courts — Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Basics",
          "url": "https://www.uscourts.gov/court-programs/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/chapter-13-bankruptcy-basics"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "bankruptcy-administrator",
      "term": "Bankruptcy administrator",
      "short": "The official who does the U.S. Trustee's work in Alabama and North Carolina.",
      "body": "In Alabama and North Carolina, bankruptcy administrators perform functions similar to the U.S. Trustee Program, including appointing standing trustees and approving course providers.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "U.S. Trustee Program — About the program",
          "url": "https://www.justice.gov/ust/about-program"
        },
        {
          "title": "U.S. Courts — Credit counseling and debtor education",
          "url": "https://www.uscourts.gov/court-programs/bankruptcy/credit-counseling-and-debtor-education-courses"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "petition-preparer",
      "term": "Bankruptcy petition preparer",
      "short": "A non-attorney paid to type bankruptcy forms.",
      "body": "Preparers may only enter information into forms. They cannot give legal advice, sign for you, or accept court fees.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "11 U.S.C. § 110",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/110"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "chapter-13",
      "term": "Chapter 13",
      "short": "A repayment plan under federal bankruptcy law.",
      "body": "Chapter 13 lets an individual with regular income keep property and repay all or part of their debts under a court-approved plan, usually over three to five years.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "U.S. Courts — Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Basics",
          "url": "https://www.uscourts.gov/court-programs/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/chapter-13-bankruptcy-basics"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "trustee",
      "term": "Chapter 13 trustee",
      "short": "The person who receives plan payments and pays creditors.",
      "body": "A standing trustee is appointed for Chapter 13 cases. The trustee collects plan payments and pays creditors under the plan.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "U.S. Courts — Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Basics",
          "url": "https://www.uscourts.gov/court-programs/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/chapter-13-bankruptcy-basics"
        },
        {
          "title": "11 U.S.C. § 1326(c)",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/1326"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "co-signer-stay",
      "term": "Co-debtor stay",
      "short": "Chapter 13 protection for co-signers on consumer debts.",
      "body": "Unless the court allows otherwise, a creditor may not try to collect a consumer debt from someone who is liable on it along with the person in the plan.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "11 U.S.C. § 1301",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/1301"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "confirmation",
      "term": "Confirmation",
      "short": "The court's approval of a repayment plan.",
      "body": "After a hearing, the court decides whether to confirm the plan. Plan payments usually start before confirmation.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "U.S. Courts — Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Basics",
          "url": "https://www.uscourts.gov/court-programs/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/chapter-13-bankruptcy-basics"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "confirmation-hearing",
      "term": "Confirmation hearing",
      "short": "The court hearing where the plan is approved or not.",
      "body": "Generally held 20 to 45 days after the meeting of creditors. Parties in interest may object to confirmation.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "11 U.S.C. § 1324",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/1324"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "conversion",
      "term": "Conversion",
      "short": "Moving a case from Chapter 13 to another chapter.",
      "body": "A Chapter 13 case can be converted to Chapter 7 at the request of the person in the plan, or by the court for cause.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "11 U.S.C. § 1307",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/1307"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "debn",
      "term": "DeBN",
      "short": "Court notices by email instead of paper.",
      "body": "Debtor Electronic Bankruptcy Noticing is free and voluntary where the court offers it.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "Bankruptcy Noticing — For debtors",
          "url": "https://bankruptcynotices.uscourts.gov/for-debtors"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "discharge",
      "term": "Discharge",
      "short": "The court order that releases covered debts at the end of a plan.",
      "body": "In Chapter 13, the court grants a discharge after plan payments are complete and other requirements are met. Some debts are not discharged.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "11 U.S.C. § 1328",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/1328"
        },
        {
          "title": "U.S. Courts — Discharge in Bankruptcy",
          "url": "https://www.uscourts.gov/court-programs/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/discharge-bankruptcy-bankruptcy-basics"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "domestic-support",
      "term": "Domestic support obligation",
      "short": "Child support, alimony, and similar support owed to a family member.",
      "body": "These debts are not discharged in Chapter 13. Support that comes due after filing must be kept current, and is certified before a discharge.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "11 U.S.C. § 1328",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/1328"
        },
        {
          "title": "U.S. Courts — Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Basics",
          "url": "https://www.uscourts.gov/court-programs/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/chapter-13-bankruptcy-basics"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "fm-course",
      "term": "Financial management course",
      "short": "A course required after filing and before discharge.",
      "body": "Also called debtor education. It must come from a provider approved by the U.S. Trustee Program, or by the Bankruptcy Administrator in Alabama and North Carolina, with limited exceptions. It is separate from the credit counseling done before filing.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "11 U.S.C. § 1328(g)",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/1328"
        },
        {
          "title": "U.S. Trustee Program — Credit counseling and debtor education",
          "url": "https://www.justice.gov/ust/credit-counseling-debtor-education-information"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "hardship-discharge",
      "term": "Hardship discharge",
      "short": "A limited discharge when a plan cannot be finished.",
      "body": "Available only in specific circumstances beyond the person's control and through no fault of the person, when creditors have received at least what they would in Chapter 7 and modification is not possible. It covers fewer debts than a regular discharge.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "11 U.S.C. § 1328(b)",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/1328"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "local-rules",
      "term": "Local rules",
      "short": "Procedures set by each bankruptcy court.",
      "body": "Each bankruptcy court adopts its own local rules, available on its website. Details such as forms and deadlines can differ by district.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "U.S. Courts — Bankruptcy Basics: Process",
          "url": "https://www.uscourts.gov/court-programs/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/process-bankruptcy-basics"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "meeting-of-creditors",
      "term": "Meeting of creditors",
      "short": "A meeting held by the trustee early in the case.",
      "body": "Between 21 and 50 days after a Chapter 13 case is filed, the trustee holds a meeting of creditors. It is sometimes called a 341 meeting.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "U.S. Courts — Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Basics",
          "url": "https://www.uscourts.gov/court-programs/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/chapter-13-bankruptcy-basics"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "motion-to-dismiss",
      "term": "Motion to dismiss",
      "short": "A request asking the court to end the case.",
      "body": "A party in interest or the U.S. trustee (or bankruptcy administrator) can ask the court to dismiss or convert a case for cause, such as a material default under a confirmed plan. The court decides after notice and a hearing.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "11 U.S.C. § 1307(c)",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/1307"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "nondischargeable",
      "term": "Nondischargeable debt",
      "short": "A debt that remains after a discharge.",
      "body": "Examples in Chapter 13 include certain long-term debts like a home mortgage, support obligations, certain taxes, most student loans, and criminal fines.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "11 U.S.C. § 1328",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/1328"
        },
        {
          "title": "U.S. Courts — Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Basics",
          "url": "https://www.uscourts.gov/court-programs/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/chapter-13-bankruptcy-basics"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "pacer",
      "term": "PACER",
      "short": "The federal courts' online records system.",
      "body": "PACER charges $0.10 per page, up to $3 per document, and waives fees for anyone who spends $30 or less in a quarter.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "PACER — Pricing: how fees work",
          "url": "https://pacer.uscourts.gov/pacer-pricing-how-fees-work"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "modification",
      "term": "Plan modification",
      "short": "A change to a confirmed plan.",
      "body": "Before payments are complete, a confirmed plan may be modified at the request of the person in the plan, the trustee, or an unsecured creditor. A modified plan cannot run more than five years from the first payment due under the original plan.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "11 U.S.C. § 1329",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/1329"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "property-of-estate",
      "term": "Property of the estate",
      "short": "What is included in the bankruptcy case.",
      "body": "In Chapter 13, it generally includes property and earnings the person acquires after filing, until the case is closed, dismissed, or converted.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "11 U.S.C. § 1306",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/1306"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "trustee-fee",
      "term": "Trustee percentage fee",
      "short": "The share of plan payments kept by the standing trustee.",
      "body": "By law it is capped at 10 percent for most people. The trustee's office can tell you the rate for a specific case.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "28 U.S.C. § 586(e)",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/586"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "us-trustee",
      "term": "U.S. Trustee",
      "short": "A Justice Department program that oversees bankruptcy cases.",
      "body": "The U.S. Trustee Program covers all federal judicial districts except those in Alabama and North Carolina, where bankruptcy administrators do similar work. It is different from the Chapter 13 trustee who receives your payments.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "U.S. Trustee Program — About the program",
          "url": "https://www.justice.gov/ust/about-program"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "vcis",
      "term": "VCIS",
      "short": "Free case information by phone.",
      "body": "The Voice Case Information System gives basic bankruptcy case information at 866-222-8029, 24 hours a day, at no charge.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "U.S. Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Texas — VCIS",
          "url": "https://www.txnb.uscourts.gov/voice-case-information-system-vcis"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "wage-order",
      "term": "Wage order",
      "short": "An order for an employer to send income to the trustee.",
      "body": "After confirmation, the court may order an employer or other source of income to pay all or part of it to the trustee.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "11 U.S.C. § 1325(c)",
          "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/1325"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}