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Chapter 13 Plan Form

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IN THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE

In Re:

Chapter 13

Debtor

Case No.

CHAPTER 13 PLAN

The future earnings of the Debtor are submitted to the supervision and control of the Court and the Debtor's employer shall pay to the trustee the sum of $ (monthly, bi-weekly, weekly, etc.) for months.

From the payment so received, after deduction of allowed Trustee's commission, the Trustee shall make disbursements as follows:

Full payment in deferred cash payments of all claims entitled to priority under 11 U.S.C. § 507.

Debtor's Counsel Fees

Priority Taxes

Other Priority

Subsequent to (or pro rata with) dividends to priority creditors, holders of allowed secured claims shall retain the liens securing such claims and shall be paid as follows:

Long term or mortgage debt - ARREARAGE ONLY, to be paid to ()

$ (total amount of arrears). Debtor shall continue to make regular payments directly to .

Secured debt - Payments to: in the amount of $

for payment in full of the net balance/value of property (strike one).

Other secured debt(s) to be treated as follows:

Subsequent to (or pro rata with) dividends to secured creditors, dividends to unsecured creditors whose claims are duly proved and allowed as follows:

General unsecured creditors will be paid % of their allowed claim on a pro rata basis.

(If applicable) The following leases or executory contracts of the Debtor will be treated as follows:

Title to the Debtor's property shall revest in the Debtor on confirmation of the plan.

A proof of claim must be filed in order to share in distributions under the Plan. Proofs of claim, in duplicate, shall be delivered or mailed to the Clerk of the Court, United States Bankruptcy Court, 824 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801.

Debtor's Signature

Date

Joint Debtor's Signature

Date

Attorney for Debtor(s)

Date

Local Form 103 (pg. 2)

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What the Chapter 13 Plan Form is

The Chapter 13 Plan Form is the written proposal debtors file with the bankruptcy court to repay creditors under Chapter 13 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. It describes monthly payment amounts, treatment of secured and priority claims, duration (commonly three to five years), and any proposals to cure arrears or strip liens. The plan is reviewed by the chapter 13 trustee and must be confirmed by the court to bind creditors; confirmation can modify contractual rights subject to statutory and local rule constraints. Supporting schedules and trustee worksheets are normally filed alongside the plan.

Why the Chapter 13 Plan Form matters

A properly prepared Chapter 13 Plan organizes repayment, preserves assets by avoiding liquidation, and sets terms creditors must follow after court confirmation. Accuracy reduces objections, speeds confirmation, and clarifies obligations for the debtor, trustee, and creditors.

Why the Chapter 13 Plan Form matters

Who completes and relies on the Chapter 13 Plan Form

Typical participants who prepare, file, or rely on the plan and why.

  • Debtor(s) filing Chapter 13 — Individual debtors with regular income proposing a court-approved repayment schedule over three to five years.
  • Bankruptcy attorney — Prepares the plan, ensures compliance with local rules and statutory requirements, and represents the debtor at confirmation.
  • Chapter 13 trustee — Reviews feasibility, administers plan payments, and may object when funding or treatment is incorrect.

Essential parts of a professional Chapter 13 Plan Form

A complete plan clearly allocates payments, describes creditor treatment, and attaches required schedules and calculations. Courts expect precise math, citations to applicable code sections where required by local rules, and explicit instructions for trustee disbursements.

Payment Schedule

Detailed monthly payment amounts, start date, and trustee disbursement instructions that match the debtor's budget and trustee worksheet precisely.

Plan Duration

State the proposed term (commonly 36 or 60 months) and explain how the term complies with disposable income and priority claim treatment.

Cure of Arrears

Specific cure amounts and timelines for pre-petition mortgage or vehicle arrears, showing how arrears will be paid through the plan.

Priority Claims

Treatment of priority tax and domestic support obligations, with amounts, payment timing, and references to required tax claim proof.

Secured Claims

How secured creditors will be treated: maintained, surrendered, lien strip, or cramdown; include collateral descriptions and valuation if required.

Schedules & Exhibits

List attached schedules (A/B, I, J), proofs of income, and any valuation or lease exhibits that support feasibility and creditor treatment.

Step-by-step: completing and filing a Chapter 13 Plan

Follow a consistent sequence: prepare, attach schedules, confirm feasibility, file, serve parties, and attend hearings.

  • 01
    Draft the Plan: Populate payment, creditor treatment, and exhibits; reconcile with Schedules I and J.
  • 02
    Attach Supporting Schedules: File required bankruptcy schedules, means test, and paycheck stubs as directed by local rules.
  • 03
    File with Court: Submit plan and schedules via the court’s e-filing system (CM/ECF) or as permitted by local procedure.
  • 04
    Attend Confirmation: Appear at the confirmation hearing; be prepared to address trustee or creditor objections.

Digital workflow settings for e-filing and signatures

Configure your document and e-signing workflow to match court requirements and the trustee's expectations before filing.

Field Configuration
Document Type Chapter 13 Plan | PDF/A preferred for archival
Signer Order Debtor → Attorney → Trustee (when trustee signature required)
Notifications Send copies to trustee and relevant creditors after filing
Authentication Email link or two-factor for higher-assurance signers

How electronic completion and submission typically flows

A standard e-workflow reduces manual steps: prepare the plan, collect signatures, file, and serve copies to required parties.

  • Prepare Document: Assemble plan, schedules, and supporting exhibits into a single PDF package.
  • Collect Signatures: Use an eSignature tool with an audit trail to gather debtor and preparer signatures.
  • File with Court: Upload to CM/ECF or file per local court guidance and docket appropriately.
  • Serve Creditors: Provide service to the trustee, U.S. Trustee, and creditors per local rules.

Digital signing and e-filing requirements

Confirm the court and trustee accept electronic submissions and which signature formats are allowed.

  • File Format: PDF or PDF/A
  • Court Integration: CM/ECF compatible uploads
  • Audit Trail: Timestamped signature log

Comparing eSignature vendors for Chapter 13 Plan signing workflows

Common selection criteria include price, bulk send, audit trail, HIPAA availability, and any envelope or usage caps — signNow is listed first for comparison.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Vendor trial varies Vendor trial varies Vendor trial varies Vendor trial varies
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Typical timelines and deadlines to track

Timing varies by court, but certain procedural events are common. Track local rules and trustee notices to avoid missed deadlines.

Petition Filing:

File the petition and plan to trigger the automatic stay and case opening.

341 Meeting:

Meeting of creditors usually held about 20–40 days after filing for trustee examination.

Confirmation Hearing:

Hearing scheduled per local rules; commonly within 30–90 days after filing.

Payments Start:

Payments typically begin 30–60 days after filing, per trustee instructions.

Plan Duration:

Plan terms are commonly 36–60 months depending on disposable income.

Security and compliance considerations for electronic plans

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3; AES-256 at rest
Identity: Multi-factor signer authentication
Audit Trail: Tamper-evident timestamps and logs
Compliance: ESIGN and UETA compliant
HIPAA Support: BAA available where required
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001

Penalties and risks of incorrect Chapter 13 Plans

Plan Rejection: Court may deny confirmation if infeasible
Case Dismissal: Failure to prosecute may lead to dismissal
Conversion: Court can convert to Chapter 7 in certain cases
Claims Objections: Inaccurate treatment triggers creditor objections
Sanctions: False statements can incur sanctions
Tax Consequences: Unresolved tax claims may remain collectible

Practical tips for accurate and efficient plan preparation

Adopt repeatable checks to reduce objections and confirmation delays.

Verify consistency across filings
Compare numbers on the plan, Schedules I and J, and the trustee worksheet line-by-line before filing. Inconsistent income, deductions, or payment amounts are the most common sources of trustee objections and creditor challenges; reconciling these reduces the need for amendments or contested confirmation hearings.
Follow local rules
Review the local bankruptcy court’s standing orders for Chapter 13 plans and confirmation procedures. Courts vary on required language, supporting exhibits, and proof-of-service methods; following local preferences reduces rejections and shortens time to confirmation.
Preserve proof of service
Retain signed service certificates and electronic service logs. Proper service to the trustee, United States Trustee, and listed creditors prevents procedural objections and may be required to validate the court’s notice record.
Use reliable e-signature records
When using electronic signatures, choose a platform that provides an immutable audit trail including signer identity, timestamp, and IP address. A clear audit record supports admissibility, attribution, and post-confirmation enforcement if questions arise.

Real-world examples of Chapter 13 plan use

Two anonymized scenarios show common outcomes and why accuracy matters when filing a plan.

Small Firm Trustee Interaction

A solo practitioner filed a plan with detailed arrearage cures and trustee worksheet attached

  • Trustee confirmed feasibility quickly after a single clarification hearing
  • The case reached confirmation in under 90 days because filings matched trustee expectations and local rules.

Pro Se Debtor Outcome

A self-represented debtor filed an incomplete plan lacking income statements

  • Trustee objected, requesting updated Schedules I and J
  • After submitting corrected schedules and an amended plan, the debtor achieved confirmation but experienced a significant delay and added costs.

Frequently asked questions about the Chapter 13 Plan Form

Answers to common procedural and technical questions about preparing, signing, and filing a Chapter 13 plan.


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