A common misconception about bankruptcy is that it’s a financial endgame, halting aspects of your economic and personal life. With Chapter 7, however, your finances are given a fresh start, free from most debts you faced before filing. With Chapter 13 your options are even broader to keep your life as unaffected as possible throughout the case. When you file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Windom, MN, especially with the help of Behm Law Group, Ltd., you can easily integrate your bankruptcy case and repayment plan into your everyday finances.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy is designed to offer you a fresh way to handle your debts while keeping the situation fair to you and your creditors alike. With the system of reorganizing your debts that Chapter 13 provides, you can keep your financial situation manageable and still provide your creditors with the debts they are owed. During the structuring of a Chapter 13 repayment plan, your income is broken down into two basic types: discretionary and disposable.
Disposable Income
With any household, certain amounts of the total income from wages are taken automatically from paychecks and salaries as income taxes. After income tax requirements are met, remaining net income values are considered disposable income. This income can be used for any household necessities and payment obligations such as loan installments and rent.
Discretionary Income
After all household necessities and financial obligations outside of income taxes are met, the remaining income amount is considered discretionary income. This amount can be used to save, spend, or invest based on the household choices.
For example, if you make a salary of $85,000 and you file “Married Joint” on your tax forms, you will have an income tax percentage of 7.85% in the state of Minnesota. That means you will have a disposable income amount of $78,327.50. If you take 75% of that to pay bills, purchase food, fill your gas tank, and meet any other debts and tax requirements, you will have a remaining discretionary income of $19,581.87. You can choose to save, spend, or invest that amount as you wish.
Discretionary vs. Disposable in a Repayment Plan
These described options for disposable incomes and discretionary incomes are viable in a household that is not currently filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. How these incomes are treated in a household working through a Chapter 13 repayment plan period are very different. After income taxes and basic household necessities are met, your discretionary income is considered your only disposable income. In a Chapter 13 repayment plan, you must dedicate all your remaining disposable income to paying back your unsecured creditors.
To determine what your disposable income amount may be and to find out more information about the structure of repayment plans with Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Windom, MN, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200 today.
