Debtors

You are required to keep your current mailing address up to date throughout the duration of your Chapter 13 case. The mailing address listed on your bankruptcy petition will be used to send all notices, correspondence, and reports. If your mailing address changes, notify your attorney as soon as possible so they can file the necessary documents with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to update your address. If you are not represented by an attorney, contact the U.S. Bankruptcy Court at (804) 916-2400 to obtain information about the required forms and procedures for submitting an address change. Please note: Our office is unable to update your mailing address in our records until the U.S. Bankruptcy Court has received and processed the appropriate address change filing.

Your attorney plays a vital role in helping you successfully complete your Chapter 13 bankruptcy case. It is important to stay in regular communication with your attorney throughout the duration of your plan. If your financial situation, employment, address, or any other important circumstances change, notify your attorney promptly so they can advise you on any necessary action. Keeping your attorney informed can help prevent issues that could affect the success of your case. Bankruptcy Court rules generally require your attorney to continue representing you until your Chapter 13 case is closed or the Court approves the attorney's request to withdraw. If you have questions about your bankruptcy case, your creditors, your legal rights, or the options available to you, your attorney should be your primary source of guidance.

Your first Chapter 13 plan payment is due 30 days after your bankruptcy petition is filed. If payroll deductions have been requested but have not yet started, you must send your plan payments directly to the Trustee by check or money order until your employer begins withholding the payments from your paycheck. The payment amount proposed in your initial Chapter 13 plan may change before your plan is confirmed. Be sure to verify the correct payment amount with your attorney and make all payments in the required amount. If your employment ends or your employer stops deducting plan payments from your wages for any reason, you are responsible for making your payments directly to the Trustee. Payments must continue to be made on time to avoid jeopardizing your case.

Keep in mind that you are ultimately responsible for ensuring your Chapter 13 plan payments are made and received by the Chapter 13 Trustee on time. If you are unable to make a required payment, contact your attorney immediately. Missing plan payments can place your bankruptcy case at risk for dismissal. If the required payments are not made, the Trustee may ask the Bankruptcy Court to dismiss your case.

If you discover that a creditor was not included in your bankruptcy paperwork or that a creditor's mailing address is inaccurate, notify your attorney as soon as possible. Providing complete and accurate creditor information is essential to the success of your case. When a creditor does not receive proper notice of your bankruptcy, the debt may not be treated as intended under your Chapter 13 plan. In addition, if the creditor has a loan secured by your property, an incorrect or missing address could affect how that claim is handled and may impact your rights after your case is completed. If you believe any creditor information is incomplete or incorrect, contact your attorney promptly to discuss whether an update to your bankruptcy filings is necessary.

The payments made to the Chapter 13 Trustee are used to cover the costs of administering your case and to pay approved claims according to the terms of your confirmed Chapter 13 plan. In most cases, payments are distributed in the following general order:

- Administrative expenses, including the Trustee's fee

-Secured claims, domestic support obligations owed before your case was filed, and any remaining approved attorney's  fees

-Priority claims such tax obligations

-General unsecured claims

Because higher-priority claims must typically be paid before general unsecured claims receive distributions, unsecured creditors may not receive payments until later in your Chapter 13 plan. As a result, it is normal for some time to pass before payments are made on unsecured claims.