{"id":11252,"date":"2017-11-03T09:00:07","date_gmt":"2017-11-03T13:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/?p=11252"},"modified":"2026-06-08T12:37:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T16:37:11","slug":"chapter-13-payment-breakdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/staging\/8350\/chapter-13-payment-breakdown\/","title":{"rendered":"How do I know where my Chapter 13 payment is going?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Do<\/figure>\n

When you file Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you send one payment each month to the Chapter 13 trustee. But where does that money actually go? Who gets paid first? When will your car loan be paid off?<\/p>\n

These are fair questions. You work hard to send that money every month. You deserve to know how it is being used.<\/p>\n

The good news is that you can track your Chapter 13 payments. There are tools that show you exactly where your money goes. This article explains how it works in plain English.<\/p>\n

The Short Answer<\/h2>\n

In most Chapter 13 cases, you can track your payments through a free website called the National Data Center, often called the NDC. Shortly after you file, you will get login information to set up your account.<\/p>\n

The site shows how much you have paid in, your most recent payment, and how much each creditor is receiving. You can also request a written breakdown from the Chapter 13 trustee's office. Your attorney can help you read the numbers.<\/p>\n

So you are not in the dark. The information is there, and it is easier to find than most people expect.<\/p>\n

How Chapter 13 Payments Work<\/h2>\n

In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy<\/a> case, you do not pay your creditors directly. Instead, you make one monthly payment to the Chapter 13 trustee. The trustee then divides that money and sends it to your creditors based on a court-approved plan.<\/p>\n

This is one reason Chapter 13 is sometimes called the "wage earner's plan." You make steady payments over three to five years, and the trustee handles the rest.<\/p>\n

Your plan decides who gets paid and in what order. Not everyone gets paid at the same rate. Some creditors get paid before others.<\/p>\n

Who Gets Paid First in Chapter 13?<\/h2>\n

Your monthly payment is split among several types of debts and fees. Here is the usual order of priority:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Trustee fees.<\/strong> The trustee keeps a small percentage to manage your case.<\/li>\n
  2. Attorney fees.<\/strong> Your lawyer's fees can often be paid through the plan.<\/li>\n
  3. Priority debts.<\/strong> These include certain taxes and past-due child support or alimony.<\/li>\n
  4. Secured debts.<\/strong> These are debts tied to property, like a car loan or mortgage arrears.<\/li>\n
  5. Unsecured debts.<\/strong> These include credit cards and medical bills. They are usually paid last, and often paid only in part.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In the Middle District of North Carolina, recent court data showed plan payments were split roughly like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Where the money went<\/th>\nShare of payments<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    Trustee fees<\/td>\nAbout 8.5%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Attorney fees<\/td>\nAbout 8.7%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Priority claims<\/td>\nAbout 4.3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Secured creditors<\/td>\nAbout 67.9%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    General unsecured creditors<\/td>\nAbout 12.1%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Your own case may look different. But this gives you a general idea of how the money is shared.<\/p>\n

    The National Data Center: Your Online Tool<\/h2>\n

    The easiest way to see where your money goes is the National Data Center website. The trustee's office sends your case information to the NDC.<\/p>\n

    After you file, you will receive a letter, either at your meeting of creditors or shortly after. The letter tells you how to set up your account.<\/p>\n

    Once you log in, you can see:<\/p>\n