Chapter 13 · Santa Monica, California
Chapter 13 Attorney for Santa Monica, California Homeowners and Families
Santa Monica homeowners hold some of the most valuable property in Los Angeles County. 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: $1,755,500
- Stop a foreclosure or repossession
- Catch up over 3 to 5 years
- Meet in Beverly Hills or by video
Saving a home in Santa Monica, California
About 27.9% of homes in Santa Monica, California are lived in by their owners, and the median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,755,500. 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.
With a median owner home value above $1.7 million, almost any Santa Monica owner who has paid down a mortgage has more equity than the homestead exemption covers. Chapter 13 is usually how they keep the home while dealing with debt.
How long a Santa Monica, California Chapter 13 plan runs
Because half of Santa Monica, California households earn less than $114,885, many filers here are below the state median for their household size. Below-median filers can often use a 3-year plan instead of 5.
Your plan payment is based on your income after reasonable costs. Median rent in Santa Monica, California is $2,402 a month. A year of that rent equals about 25% 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 Santa Monica, California 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 Santa Monica, California at $1,755,500, 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 own one of the few owner-occupied homes in Santa Monica, California. Only about 27.9% of homes here are lived in by owners, so protecting one is worth planning for.
- You need to keep a car. Some older car loans can be cut to the car's value.
Chapter 13 is also useful for Santa Monica residents with tax debt or income above the state median.
Where a Santa Monica, California Chapter 13 case is heard
Bankruptcy cases from Santa Monica, California are assigned to the Los Angeles Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California, at the Roybal Federal Building, 255 East Temple Street, downtown.
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 Santa Monica, California may be the faster path. See bankruptcy attorney for Santa Monica, California for both options, or read our main Chapter 13 bankruptcy page.
Chapter 13 questions from Santa Monica, California
Can Chapter 13 stop a foreclosure on my Santa Monica, California 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 Santa Monica, California 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 Santa Monica, California, where many homes are worth more than the homestead exemption protects.
Can I keep a Santa Monica rental property in Chapter 13?
Yes, you can often keep a Santa Monica rental property in Chapter 13 if the plan can pay for the equity the exemptions do not cover. We review the numbers before you file.
Free consultation
Protect your Santa Monica, California 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.