How Chapter 13 Helps You Catch Up on Missed Mortgage Payments In short: Chapter 13 bankruptcy lets many Philadelphia-area homeowners cure mortgage arrears through a court-supervised repayment plan—usually three to five years—while they resume regular ongoing mortgage payments and keep the home. The automatic stay can stop foreclosure while the plan gets on track. Call (215) 774-3916 for a free consultation with Cibik Law, P.C. Missing a few mortgage payments can feel like a hole you cannot climb out of. Late fees stack. Servicer calls intensify. A foreclosure complaint or sheriff’s sale date may already be on the calendar. Chapter 13 is designed for exactly this situation: you keep the house (if the plan is feasible), catch up the backlog over time, and protect yourself from collection while you do it. This guide explains how Chapter 13 mortgage catch-up works in Pennsylvania, what the plan must include, how it differs from Chapter 7, and what Philadelphia homeowners should bring to a first consultation. What “catching up” means in a Chapter 13 plan When you fall behind on a mortgage, the unpaid past-due amount is called arrears (missed payments, some fees, and related charges). In Chapter 13, your plan can propose to cure those arrears in installments paid through the bankruptcy trustee—while you also make your regular post-petition mortgage payments going forward (often directly to the lender, depending on local practice and your attorney’s strategy). Think of two tracks: Track 1 — Ongoing mortgage: Stay current from the filing date forward Track 2 — Arrears cure: Pay the pre-filing backlog over the life of the plan If both tracks stay on schedule and the court confirms the plan, Chapter 13 is one of the strongest tools available to stop a foreclosure and rebuild a path to keep the home. Related reading: Can bankruptcy stop foreclosure in Philadelphia? How the automatic stay protects you while you catch up Filing Chapter 13 generally triggers the automatic stay, which pauses most foreclosure and collection activity. That pause is what creates the breathing room to propose and confirm a plan. Learn the basics in our guide to the automatic stay. The stay is powerful, but it is not unlimited. If you miss plan payments or fall behind again on the ongoing mortgage, the lender may ask the court for relief from the stay so foreclosure can resume. A confirmed plan only works if the budget is realistic. Chapter 13 vs Chapter 7 for mortgage arrears Chapter 13 is usually the chapter used when the goal is to keep the home and cure arrears. Chapter 7 can temporarily stop a sale through the stay, but it does not create a multi-year arrears-cure plan. Compare options in Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13 in Pennsylvania. Chapter 7 can still help some homeowners by discharging credit cards and medical debt so more income is available for the mortgage—if you can catch up quickly outside bankruptcy or refinance. Strategy depends on income, equity, sale timing, and other liens. What a Philadelphia Chapter 13 mortgage plan typically must show Every case is different, but trustees and judges look for a plan that is: Feasible — your income can support ongoing mortgage + plan payment + living expenses Complete — arrears are addressed; priority and secured claims are treated correctly Good faith — schedules and budget are honest and documented Confirmable — it meets Bankruptcy Code requirements for your household size and income Your attorney will also review second mortgages, HOA claims, property taxes, and whether a loan modification should run alongside the case. Homeowners with equity need exemption and liquidation-analysis advice—do not assume “Chapter 13 always keeps the house” without numbers. How long does it take to catch up? Most Chapter 13 plans last three to five years. The arrears cure is spread across that period. You do not write one giant catch-up check on day one (unless you choose a different workout). The tradeoff is discipline: monthly plan payments and ongoing mortgage payments must continue. If income changes mid-case, plan modifications may be available. That is a separate conversation with counsel—do not silently skip payments. What if a sheriff’s sale is already scheduled? Speed matters. If you have a sale date, tell Cibik Law immediately. Emergency filings are common when a Philadelphia-area homeowner is days away from auction. Earlier filing still helps: better documents, cleaner schedules, and more time to build a confirmable plan. Call (215) 774-3916 with the sale date and lender name Gather mortgage statements, pay stubs, tax returns, and a debt list (see our consultation checklist) Complete credit counseling before filing (your attorney will guide timing) Do not ignore foreclosure notices while you “wait to see” Common mistakes that undermine a mortgage catch-up plan Waiting until the morning of the sale Hiding income, transfers, or side debts from schedules Proposing a plan payment the budget cannot sustain Falling behind on the ongoing mortgage after filing Ignoring a second mortgage, HOA, or tax lien Assuming Chapter 7 will “fix” arrears the same way Chapter 13 does How Cibik Law helps Philadelphia homeowners Cibik Law, P.C. represents individuals and families in bankruptcy matters across the Philadelphia region. The firm focuses on practical plans—stopping foreclosure pressure when possible, curing arrears through Chapter 13 when it fits, and giving clear advice when another path is better. Free consultation: (215) 774-3916 · Contact page. FAQ — Chapter 13 and missed mortgage payments Can Chapter 13 stop a foreclosure sale in Philadelphia? In most consumer cases, filing Chapter 13 triggers an automatic stay that can stop a pending foreclosure sale. You must still propose a feasible plan that cures arrears and keeps ongoing payments current. Do I have to pay the full past-due amount at once? Usually no. Chapter 13 is designed to let you cure mortgage arrears over the life of a three-to-five-year plan while you resume regular mortgage payments. What if my income changes during the plan? Tell your attorney promptly. In many cases, a plan modification can be requested. Do not skip trustee or mortgage payments without legal advice. Is Chapter 7 better if I am behind on my mortgage? Chapter 7 can pause foreclosure temporarily but generally does not create a multi-year arrears-cure plan. If keeping the home and catching up is the goal, Chapter 13 is often the better fit—subject to income and budget review.