How does chapter 13 differ from chapter 7?

Chapter 13 (sometimes called a “wage earner plan”) allows an individual to pay his or her debts over an extended period using a court-approved, supervised, and enforced payment plan. Not all creditors need be paid in full and unpaid amounts will be discharged (with some exceptions). Chapter 13 bankruptcy filers help create their own payment plans, which give them three to five years to pay personal debt from their disposable incomes (i.e., whatever is left after necessary expenses, like food and shelter, have been paid). In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, individuals are often allowed to keep their property.