{"id":286927,"date":"2016-04-04T10:41:50","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:41:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/bankruptcy\/chapter-13\/the-chapter-13-debt-discharge.html"},"modified":"2025-08-17T13:34:24","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T18:34:24","slug":"the-chapter-13-debt-discharge","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/bankruptcy\/chapter-13\/the-chapter-13-debt-discharge.html","title":{"rendered":"The Chapter 13 Debt Discharge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Debts Are Discharged in a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Jordan Walker, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Chapter 13 bankruptcy discharges many debts after you complete a three-\u00a0to five-year court\u2011approved repayment plan and meet other requirements, like completing a financial management course. At discharge, you’re no longer personally liable for most remaining balances on eligible debts, and creditors must stop attempting to\u00a0collect. Many unsecured debts can be\u00a0discharged, including\u00a0medical bills, credit cards, personal loans, certain timely\u2011filed income taxes that were unpaid, loans taken to pay non-dischargeable taxes, some divorce property\u2011settlement obligations (not support), and some civil judgments that a Chapter 7 court order would not discharge. Debts that\u00a0are not eligible to be\u00a0discharged include child support,\u00a0alimony, most student loans, certain taxes, criminal fines,\u00a0DUI\u2011related injury judgments, and ongoing mortgage or car loans you want to keep. A limited \u201chardship discharge” may be available if circumstances beyond your control prevent plan completion.<\/i><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Once agreed to\u00a0in the Chapter 13 bankruptcy process, you must complete the entire\u00a0plan.\u00a0The bankruptcy judge will not\u00a0enter\u00a0the Chapter 13 discharge order unless you’ve held up your part of the bargain. Knowing what to expect\u00a0in a Chapter 13 plan can make the entire process proceed much more smoothly. Let’s see what’s involved.<\/p>\n

Required Elements to Receive a\u00a0Chapter 13 Debt Discharge<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When you file a\u00a0Chapter 13 bankruptcy<\/a>, a\u00a0repayment plan<\/a>\u00a0is developed so you can\u00a0make monthly payments to the bankruptcy trustee. To receive the bankruptcy discharge, you must make all the plan payments and complete the other bankruptcy code requirements:<\/p>\n