Comparison
| Debt | Ch.7 | Ch.13 |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | Yes | After plan |
| Medical bills | Yes | After plan |
| Personal loans | Yes | After plan |
| Superdischarge (Ch.13 Only) | ||
| Willful property damage | No | Yes |
| Non-support marital debts | No | Yes |
| Never Dischargeable | ||
| Child support / alimony | Never | Never |
| Recent taxes | No | Priority in plan |
| Fraud debts | No | No |
| Student loans | Hardship only | Hardship only |
| DUI debts | No | No |
The Chapter 13 Superdischarge
The Chapter 13 "superdischarge" is one of the most powerful but least understood features of bankruptcy law. Under Section 1328(a), a completed Chapter 13 plan discharges certain debts that survive a Chapter 7 discharge. This includes willful and malicious property damage (Section 523(a)(6) as applied to property, not persons), non-support obligations from divorce or separation agreements (Section 523(a)(15)), and certain other debts.
This makes Chapter 13 strategically valuable for debtors who owe debts that would not be discharged in Chapter 7. However, BAPCPA in 2005 narrowed the superdischarge by making more debt categories nondischargeable in both chapters. The debts that remain eligible for superdischarge are still significant for affected debtors. Consult the full list of nondischargeable debts to understand what each chapter covers.
Last updated: March 2026. Not legal advice.
Part of the Bankruptcy Transparency Network