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Chapter 13 debt limits
The Chapter 13 debt limits are the ceilings on how much secured and unsecured debt a person can owe and still be eligible to file under Chapter 13. 1
Talk to a lawyerHow do the Chapter 13 debt limits work?
For cases filed on or after April 1, 2025, unsecured debts must be under $526,700 and secured debts under $1,580,125. 1
Only noncontingent, liquidated debts count, measured on the date the petition is filed. A contingent claim depends on a future event. A liquidated claim is for a fixed amount of money. 2
The limits have changed more than once. From June 21, 2022 to June 21, 2024, a temporary law set a single combined limit of $2,750,000. When it expired, the separate limits came back, and they are now adjusted for inflation. 2
Adjustments come on April 1 every three years, and a new amount does not apply to cases filed before it takes effect. That is why the limits that matter are the ones in effect on your filing date. 3
Self-employed people and people with an unincorporated business can be eligible. Whether a particular debt counts, and on which side, depends on the facts, so check with a bankruptcy lawyer before relying on the numbers. 1
What are the Chapter 13 debt limits now?
| Cases filed | Unsecured debts under | Secured debts under |
|---|---|---|
| On or after April 1, 2025 1 | $526,700 1 | $1,580,125 1 |
| Before April 1, 2025, when the separate limits applied (amounts from April 1, 2022) 2 | $465,275 2 | $1,395,875 2 |
| June 21, 2022 to June 21, 2024 2 | One combined limit of $2,750,000 2 |
Confirm the limits in effect on your filing date before you file.
Common questions
Do married couples get double the limit?
No. Spouses who file together are measured against the same limits on their combined debts. 2
Sources
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