Converting a Bankruptcy Case from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7

In some circumstances debtors may believe that initially filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy is the best route to take, only to discover later that they would be better off filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy instead. A conversion can be required by the court or a voluntary action taken by the debtor, but in both cases, can be achieved swiftly and efficiently with the assistance of skilled legal representation.

At Russell Van Beustring P.C., our dedicated legal team has decades of experience assisting debtors in regaining control over their finances through the tools offered by the bankruptcy system and, thus, will be able to clearly guide you through whatever bankruptcy proceedings your circumstances demand as well as advising you on the proper path to take. To learn more about your options for fiscal recovery, call our experienced Houston bankruptcy attorneys today at 713-973-6650.

Reasons for Conversion

There are a variety of reasons for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case to be converted to a Chapter 7, both voluntary and mandatory. The court may force you to convert to Chapter 7 only “for cause,” such as in the following situations:

• You fail to file a Chapter 13 plan on time
• You fail to make Chapter 13 plan payments
• There is an unreasonable delay in your case which causes unfair harm to your creditors

In other situations you may actually choose to convert your Chapter 13 to a Chapter 7, as with the following:

• Your income situation changes in such a way that you will no longer be able to make Chapter 13 payments
• You decide that you no longer wish to retain the property which you filed for Chapter 13 to protect

Simply converting to Chapter 7 does not make you eligible for Chapter 7 however, and it is important that you work with an experienced attorney to ensure that you will pass the means test before converting your case.

Contact Us

If you are concerned about the status of your bankruptcy filing and have questions about whether Chapter 13 is right for you, the experienced team of Houston bankruptcy lawyers at Russell Van Beustring P.C., have the answers you are looking for. To learn more about converting Chapter 13 bankruptcy to Chapter 7 and any other bankruptcy issues, call us for a free consultation today at 713-973-6650.