Chapter 13 · Malibu
Chapter 13 Attorney for Malibu Homeowners and Families
Malibu homes are among the most valuable in the state, so protecting equity is usually the first goal. Chapter 13 stops a foreclosure or repossession and lets you catch up over 3 to 5 years. Call (310) 362-9071 for a free consultation.
- Median owner home value: $2,000,000+
- Stop a foreclosure or repossession
- Catch up over 3 to 5 years
- Meet in Beverly Hills or by video
Saving a home in Malibu
About 75.4% of homes in Malibu are lived in by their owners, and the median owner-occupied home is valued at $2,000,000 or more. At those values, an owner with a small mortgage can have more equity than California's homestead exemption protects. When that is true, Chapter 7 could put the house at risk, and Chapter 13 is often the safer way to keep it. California's homestead exemption rises with inflation each year. In Los Angeles County, owners generally get the top amount, which is about $744,000 in 2026.
The Census tops out its home value figure at $2 million, and Malibu is at that cap. With that much value, Chapter 13 is how owners keep a home or a burned lot while paying creditors over time.
How long a Malibu Chapter 13 plan runs
Because many Malibu households earn more than the state median for their size, a 5-year plan is common here. A longer plan can mean a lower monthly payment.
Your plan payment is based on your income after reasonable costs. Median rent in Malibu is $3,500 a month. A year of that rent equals about 22% of the city's median household income. Even so, a job loss or medical bill can push rent and other bills onto credit cards fast. Those housing costs count when we build your budget.
When Chapter 13 fits Malibu filers
- You are behind on a mortgage. Past-due payments are spread over the plan while the sale stays on hold. See stop foreclosure.
- You have more equity than the exemptions protect. With home values in Malibu at $2,000,000+, this is common. Chapter 13 lets you keep the property and pay creditors over time.
- Your income is too high for Chapter 7. Chapter 13 has no income limit, stops collection and can wipe out what is left at the end.
- You need to keep a car. Some older car loans can be cut to the car's value.
For fire survivors, Chapter 13 can stop a foreclosure on a damaged home while insurance and rebuilding work move forward.
Where a Malibu Chapter 13 case is heard
Bankruptcy cases from Malibu are assigned to the Northern Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California, at 1415 State Street in Santa Barbara. Malibu is named in the court's rules as part of the Northern Division, even though it is in Los Angeles County.
After filing, you make plan payments to the Chapter 13 trustee, and a judge confirms the plan at a hearing.
Related pages
If your debts are mostly credit cards and medical bills, a Chapter 7 attorney for Malibu may be the faster path. See bankruptcy attorney for Malibu for both options, or read our main Chapter 13 bankruptcy page.
Chapter 13 questions from Malibu
Can Chapter 13 stop a foreclosure on my Malibu home?
Yes, Chapter 13 can stop a foreclosure if it is filed before the sale. The missed payments are then paid over the plan while you keep making current payments.
Will I keep my Malibu home in Chapter 13?
Yes, you usually keep your home in Chapter 13 if you make the plan payments and stay current on the mortgage after filing. That matters in Malibu, where many homes are worth more than the homestead exemption protects.
Can Chapter 13 stop foreclosure on a Malibu home that burned?
Yes, Chapter 13 can stop a foreclosure on a Malibu home that burned, if it is filed before the sale. The plan can account for insurance proceeds and rebuilding timelines.
Free consultation
Protect your Malibu home or car
Call (310) 362-9071 or send the form. Have any sale date or notice ready.
Law Offices of John Asuncion9454 Wilshire Blvd., Penthouse Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(310) 362-9071
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.