Savannah Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorneys

Four Attorneys, 42+ Years, & Trustee-Level Insight for Your Repayment Plan

Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a reorganization bankruptcy that lets you repay some or all of your debts through monthly payments to a bankruptcy trustee over three to five years. It may be the right path when you can’t keep up with current debts, have assets worth protecting, or don’t qualify for a Chapter 7 filing. Individuals, including the self-employed and sole proprietors, can file under Chapter 13.

At Barbara B. Braziel Attorney At Law, we’ve devoted more than 42 years exclusively to bankruptcy and debt relief for Georgians. Our team of four attorneys: Barbara B. Braziel, James B. Wessinger III, Jeanette Prewitt, and Jennifer Jackson has guided clients through thousands of Chapter 13 cases in Georgia courts. We offer free initial consultations, zero-dollar-down services, and virtual appointments alongside in-person meetings at our offices in Savannah and Pooler.

In a Chapter 13 case, our team can help by:

• Evaluating your finances to confirm Chapter 13 is a viable option for your situation
• Building a custom repayment plan that addresses priority, secured, and unsecured debts in a workable structure
• Handling all bankruptcy paperwork and court deadlines from petition to discharge
• Negotiating with creditors to improve terms wherever possible
• Representing you at all court proceedings, including the 341 meeting of creditors and plan confirmation hearing
• Enforcing the automatic stay to stop creditor harassment, garnishments, foreclosures, and repossession from the moment you file
• Supporting you throughout the repayment period so you’re not navigating the process alone

Request a free case evaluation with a Savannah Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyer today. Call us at (833) 522-1069 or reach out through our contact page.

The Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Process in Georgia

Chapter 13 is a court-supervised debt repayment plan lasting three to five years. For Savannah-area filers, petitions are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Savannah Division. Here’s how the process typically unfolds.

1. Filing the Petition: You file a bankruptcy petition along with financial documents covering assets, liabilities, income, expenses, and a proposed repayment plan. Before filing, you must complete a mandatory credit counseling course from an approved agency and submit the certificate with your petition.
2. Automatic Stay: Filing triggers an automatic stay that immediately halts most creditor actions, including collections, lawsuits, foreclosures, and wage garnishments. Creditors can’t pursue you while the stay is in effect without obtaining court permission.
3. Repayment Plan Proposal: Your plan categorizes debts as priority, secured, and unsecured. Priority debts such as child support and certain taxes must generally be paid in full. Unsecured debts may be partially repaid based on your disposable income. The court must approve the plan before it takes effect.
4. 341 Meeting of Creditors: Approximately one month after filing, you attend a 341 meeting where the bankruptcy trustee reviews your plan and financial documents. Creditors rarely appear, but the trustee can examine your disclosures in detail.
5. Plan Confirmation Hearing: A bankruptcy judge holds a confirmation hearing to determine whether the plan meets legal requirements. Creditors may object, but a reasonable and feasible plan may move forward if the court confirms it. Once confirmed, you must follow the payment schedule.
6. Plan Payments and Compliance: You make regular payments to the trustee, who distributes funds to creditors. Missing payments can result in case dismissal, and you must stay current on secured debts such as your mortgage to retain the property. If circumstances change, processes are available to address a payment you can’t make.
7. Discharge and Case Completion: After you complete all plan payments, the court may discharge most remaining unsecured debts, including credit card balances and medical bills. Student loans and certain tax debts are generally not discharged. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy remains on your credit report for seven years from your filing date, and completion can leave you with fewer eligible debts.

Chapter 13 is often called a “wage earner’s plan” because it relies on steady income. Qualifying sources include employment, self-employment, business income, retirement income, and Social Security. To find out whether your income and budget can support a repayment plan, a free consultation is a helpful first step.

Pros & Cons of Filing for Chapter 13

Every form of debt relief involves trade-offs, and Chapter 13 is no different. The following is a straightforward look at what Chapter 13 can and can’t do, so you can weigh it against your situation clearly.

Benefits of Chapter 13

Chapter 13 provides the following benefits:

• Stops wage garnishments, creditor lawsuits, harassing phone calls, and vehicle repossession
• Can stop a foreclosure in progress and allow a homeowner to catch up on mortgage arrears through the repayment plan
• In some cases, allows a homeowner to lien strip a second mortgage, meaning eliminate it entirely
• Creates an opportunity to catch up on missed car payments, back taxes, and child support arrears
• After plan completion, remaining credit card debt, medical bills, other unsecured debts, and some tax debts may be discharged

Drawbacks of Chapter 13

Drawbacks of Chapter 13:

• Requires consistent monthly payments to the bankruptcy trustee for three to five years; if an unforeseen circumstance makes a payment impossible, processes are available to address it
• You can’t take out new loans during an active Chapter 13 case without prior court permission
• Student loan debts are generally not discharged
• Some tax debts may remain after discharge depending on your specific circumstances

Our team is committed to walking through every advantage and drawback with you honestly before you file. We can look at your specific numbers so you can make a decision based on your situation, not just the most convenient option.

Who Is Eligible for Chapter 13?

Chapter 13 requires enough disposable income to fund a court-approved repayment plan. The disposable income test looks at what remains after subtracting allowed expenses from your monthly income. Several other requirements also apply.

Other eligibility requirements:

• Your combined secured and unsecured debts must fall below statutory limits as of your filing date. Debt limits are subject to change, so working with an attorney is the reliable way to confirm current thresholds.
• You must complete a credit counseling course from an approved agency within 180 days before filing and submit a certificate of completion with your petition.
• A prior bankruptcy case dismissed within the last 180 days for failure to appear or comply with court orders disqualifies you from filing Chapter 13.
• You must be current on federal and state tax filings and provide proof of filed returns before your case proceeds. We can help you understand what documentation you’ll need and point you toward a budget and financial planning resource if you need help organizing your finances before filing.

Why Savannah Clients Choose Barbara B. Braziel Attorney At Law

Choosing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney shapes the next three to five years of your financial life. Depth of experience, local court knowledge, and a clear understanding of how trustees evaluate repayment plans all matter. Here’s what sets our firm apart for this case type.

42+ Years & 5,000+ Cases:
We’ve devoted more than four decades exclusively to bankruptcy and debt relief in Georgia. Having handled more than 5,000 cases, our team has seen many financial scenarios and knows how to build plans that can hold up under trustee and court scrutiny.

National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees Membership:
Our membership in the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees gives our attorneys insight into how plans are evaluated and confirmed from the trustee’s perspective. That vantage point directly shapes how we structure repayment plans from the start, which can help reduce the likelihood of objections or confirmation delays.

National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Membership:
Our NACBA membership reflects active engagement with developments in consumer bankruptcy law, including ongoing national training. We apply what we learn to cases in Georgia courts, so our clients aren’t working from outdated guidance.

A Team of Four Attorneys:
Barbara B. Braziel, James B. Wessinger III, Jeanette Prewitt, and Jennifer Jackson each bring years of Georgia bankruptcy court experience. You’re not dependent on a single attorney’s availability through a multi-year case.

Personal Understanding of Financial Hardship:
Attorney Braziel raised children as a single mother and experienced financial hardship firsthand. That background shapes the nonjudgmental, client-centered approach our entire firm takes. We know what it feels like to face overwhelming debt, and we don’t treat clients as case numbers.

Accessible from Day One:
We offer free initial consultations, zero-dollar-down services, and virtual appointments alongside in-person meetings at our Savannah and Pooler offices. We also serve clients throughout our areas we serve, so geographic access doesn’t have to be a barrier.

Contact Our Savannah Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorneys Today

If you’re behind on mortgage payments, facing a garnishment, or struggling to see a way through your debt, Chapter 13 may offer a structured path forward. Our attorneys have been helping Georgians file Chapter 13 for more than 42 years. And if Chapter 13 turns out not to be the right fit, we can advise on alternatives so you can make an informed decision either way.

To learn how Chapter 13 may benefit you, call (833) 522-1069 or contact us online.