Missouri’s exemptions set a hard floor under every Chapter 13 plan filed in the state — a $15,000 homestead exemption and $3,000-per-vehicle allowance that are meaningfully lower than what neighboring states like Kansas offer. Because Missouri doesn’t let filers choose federal exemptions instead, that floor is fixed, and it directly shapes how much unsecured creditors have to be paid through a Missouri repayment plan.
How Chapter 13 Works in Missouri
You file a petition and propose a repayment plan lasting three to five years. A standing Chapter 13 trustee collects your monthly payment and distributes it — secured debts first, then priority claims, then whatever’s left goes to unsecured creditors. You keep all your property throughout, and at the end of the plan, remaining qualifying unsecured debt is discharged.
The exemptions you’re entitled to claim set your plan’s “liquidation test” floor — the minimum unsecured creditors must receive, equal to what they’d get if your assets were sold in a hypothetical Chapter 7. Missouri requires 730 days (2 years) of residency in the state before you can use Missouri's exemptions. Filers who moved more recently may have to use the exemptions of the state they lived in before.
Why Missouri Filers End Up in Chapter 13
Mortgage arrears are the most common driver — a period of missed payments a filer wants to catch up on without losing the house. Income above the means test threshold is the second major factor: Missouri’s median income figures push some steady-income filers above the Chapter 7 cutoff, landing them in Chapter 13 even when they don’t have significant assets to protect.
Vehicle loan restructuring is also common. Missouri’s $3,000 vehicle exemption is modest, and Chapter 13’s cramdown option can restructure an underwater car loan to the vehicle’s actual value — useful in a state where reliable transportation is close to mandatory outside the St. Louis and Kansas City metros.
Do You Qualify for Chapter 7 Instead? The Means Test
If your household income falls below Missouri’s median for your household size, you may qualify for Chapter 7 instead of a multi-year repayment plan. Missouri’s current median income figures:
- 1 person: $64,972
- 2 people: $82,075
- 3 people: $100,228
- 4 people: $118,530
- Each additional person: add $11,100
Filers above the median for their household size generally must commit to a five-year plan; those below can propose three years.
Mortgage Cure in Missouri
Filing Chapter 13 triggers the automatic stay, halting foreclosure immediately regardless of how far along the process is. The plan spreads mortgage arrears across its three-to-five-year duration while you resume making regular payments going forward. By completion, you’re current as if the default never happened.
Vehicle Treatment and Cramdown
Missouri exempts $3,000 in equity per vehicle. Married couples filing jointly can each claim $3,000 for separate vehicles, or combine both exemptions for $6,000 on one jointly-owned vehicle. If your car loan was originated far enough before filing and the vehicle is worth less than the remaining balance, Chapter 13 can cram the loan down to the vehicle’s current market value at a court-approved interest rate — often the difference between a workable plan and one that collapses under an unaffordable payment.
Which Federal District Do You File In?
Missouri has two federal bankruptcy districts. Eastern District of Missouri - St. Louis, Cape Girardeau, Hannibal
Western District of Missouri - Kansas City, Springfield
Which district you file in depends on where you’ve lived for most of the past six months.
How Much Does a Chapter 13 Attorney Cost in Missouri?
Chapter 13 attorney fees in Missouri typically run $3,600 to $4,600, on top of the 313 federal filing fee. Missouri courts use a “no-look” fee guideline for standard cases, and most of the fee is paid through the plan rather than upfront.
Common Mistakes Missouri Filers Make
Assuming exemptions work like a neighboring state’s. Missouri’s homestead and vehicle exemptions are meaningfully lower than Kansas, Texas, or Florida — filers who’ve moved from a more generous exemption state sometimes underestimate their liquidation test floor.
Missing required tax filings during the plan. Chapter 13 filers must file tax returns on time every year the plan is active — a missed deadline can trigger a motion to dismiss.
Not accounting for a non-filing spouse’s income in the means test, which looks at total household income.
Underestimating the 730-day residency rule’s effect on exemption planning. Recent transplants to Missouri may be limited to their prior state’s exemptions, which changes the liquidation test math entirely.
A Realistic Example
Consider a filer we’ll call Marcus, living outside Kansas City in the Western District. He works in freight logistics and fell four months behind on his mortgage after a medical emergency. He owns his home with about $22,000 in equity and drives a truck worth $11,000 with a loan balance close to that amount.
Missouri’s $15,000 homestead exemption doesn’t fully cover his $22,000 in equity — a $7,000 gap that sets his liquidation test floor higher than it would be in a more generous exemption state. His attorney factors this into the plan payment calculation. His vehicle equity, once the $3,000 exemption is applied, adds a smaller additional gap.
His income lands above Missouri’s median for a household of three, so he commits to a five-year plan. The mortgage arrears are spread across the plan while he resumes regular payments. Five years later, the mortgage is current and the remaining unsecured debt is discharged.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Missouri
Can Chapter 13 stop foreclosure in Missouri?
Yes. Filing triggers the automatic stay, which halts foreclosure immediately no matter how far along the process is. Your plan then spreads the mortgage arrears across three to five years while you resume regular payments.
Does Missouri allow federal bankruptcy exemptions in Chapter 13?
No. Missouri is an opt-out state, so filers must use Missouri’s own exemption list, which sets the liquidation test floor for the plan. Federal non-bankruptcy exemptions — Social Security, veterans’ benefits, most retirement accounts — still apply regardless.
How long does a Chapter 13 plan last in Missouri?
Three to five years. Filers with household income above Missouri’s median for their household size generally must propose a five-year plan; those below the median can propose three years.
Can I keep my car in a Missouri Chapter 13?
Yes — Chapter 13 doesn’t require giving up property. If your car loan is old enough and the vehicle is worth less than the loan balance, the plan may also cram down the loan to the vehicle’s current value at a lower interest rate.
What is the Missouri bankruptcy means test income limit?
It depends on household size and updates periodically. Current thresholds are roughly $64,972 for one person, $82,075 for two, $100,228 for three, and $118,530 for four, with $11,100 added per additional person.
Which bankruptcy district do I file in if I live in St. Louis or Kansas City?
St. Louis falls under the Eastern District of Missouri; Kansas City falls under the Western District. Your filing district depends on where you’ve lived for most of the past six months.
Where to Verify the Details
Missouri’s exemption statutes are published in the Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 513. For current means test figures, check the U.S. Trustee Program website. District-specific filing information is available through the Eastern District and Western District of Missouri bankruptcy courts.
Alternatives to Chapter 13 in Missouri
If you pass the means test and don’t need to cure a mortgage or restructure vehicle debt, our Chapter 7 guide for Missouri explains how straight liquidation might discharge your debt faster. For a state with a more generous exemption system, see our Chapter 13 guide for Texas. For a look at debt trends in a neighboring state, see our average debt data for Illinois.
Last reviewed by American Debt Guide Editorial Team. Figures on this page reflect Missouri bankruptcy exemption amounts and federal filing data as of July 2026.