When is chapter 13 preferable to chapter 7 for a debtor?
Chapter 13 is usually preferable for a debtor who (1) wishes to repay all or most of his or her unsecured debts and has the income with which to do so within a reasonable time, (2) has valuable nonexempt property or has valuable exempt property securing debts, wither of which would be lost in a chapter 7 case, (3) is not eligible for a discharge under chapter 7, (4) has one or more substantial debts that are not dischargeable under chapter 7 but are dischargeable under chapter 13, or (5) has sufficient assets with which to repay most debts, but needs temporary relief from creditors in order to do so.