During a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you don't fork over any property, but instead make a structured repayment plan. In an ideal world, you pay off your debts in three to five years, and that's that. But certain situations can make you fall behind in your repayment plan payments. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to accommodate such circumstances.

Here are three potential ways to modify your Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan:

We know that filing for bankruptcy is never a pleasant experience, but it is often the most prudent way to get your finances back in order. Between March 2011 and March 2012, over 79,000 people filed for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in the 9th Circuit.

With so many individuals choosing to file for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Arizona and elsewhere in the 9th Circuit, you should be keep in mind these three things before, during, and after you choose to file.

Bankruptcy is full of difficult choices, the first of which involves choosing the right lawyer for you and your case.

Without the right guidance, you could end up with an attorney who's overextended or inexperienced. That's why we've put together five tips to help you find the bankruptcy lawyer who's right for you.

It's tax season. Interestingly, there seems to be a correlation between tax season and bankruptcies. According to the Los Angeles Times, bankruptcies rise after tax refunds are issued.

A study conducted by several universities found that for the 2008 tax year, bankruptcy filings increased 7% after the IRS issued tax refunds.

So in a way, are we seeing a "bankruptcy season" following tax season? Quite possibly. But why is that?

The word "bankruptcy" alone is enough to make people shudder. Part of that is because it's a difficult process, but part of it is also because of bankruptcy myths that make it seem even worse.

Sure, the process isn't pleasant, but many people don't even really understand what that process is. That means they have no way of knowing whether it's the right choice for them.

To help set the record straight, we wanted to break down some common myths about bankruptcy and give some real information about what the process involves. Then you can make an informed decision about whether bankruptcy can help you.

Bankruptcy and foreclosure: Either of them alone is enough to make most people run, but dealing with both together? A nightmare, right?

Actually, bankruptcy might just save you in foreclosure. Admittedly, it's not the way people hope to be saved from foreclosure. But filing for bankruptcy can help you save your house if it's in the process of foreclosure or about to be.

Both foreclosure and bankruptcy come about as a result of significant debt, and neither should be taken lightly. But choosing bankruptcy can have some significant benefits.

When you’re swimming in bills, it can seem like there’s no way to get debt relief. But there are alternatives to bankruptcy, even if your situation seems hopeless.

The benefit of filing for bankruptcy is that the process is well-established. There are specific papers to fill out and sign, certain procedures to follow in court, it’s easier to predict.

If you opt for alternative debt relief, you may have to blaze your own trail.

But the benefit is that you don’t have to deal with the downsides of bankruptcy, which are also mandated. So we have some suggestions of routes you can take that might help you deal with your debt without ruining your credit score.

The idea of filing for bankruptcy is intimidating and, unfortunately, the process is designed that way. Lawmakers don't want to make walking away from debt the easy option.

After all, everyone has some amount of debt. If we could all easily shed that every time it accumulates, it would seriously damage how credit works. But sometimes debt gets out of hand, which is what bankruptcy is for.

But when is there enough debt to file for bankruptcy? That depends on the kind of debt you have and how much you've accumulated.

When small businesses go into bankruptcy, the assumption is that the company is going belly up. It's gone to the Small Business Association in the sky, never to be heard from again. But that's not the way the story has to end.

For businesses that have hit a financial snag but want to keep going, there is Chapter 11. This type of bankruptcy gives you the option to claw your way out of debt.

It's not an easy process, but if you want your business to soldier on, Chapter 11 may give you that opportunity. You just have to decide if it's right for you.

When you're deep in debt, every phone call sounds like a debt collector calling to ask you about overdue bills and late payments. But when they start harassing you with calls, that's when you can put your foot down.

Companies have the right to collect the debts you owe, but they have to be fair about it. That means there are limits on what they can do to get the money from you.

Of course, knowing what those are is easier said than done. No debt collector is going to explain the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to you. But here are some of the things they can't do, no matter how deep in debt you are: