Chapter 13 Trustee

Bankruptcy · Tennessee

Rating: 4.0/5

Chapter 13 Trustee logo

Court-appointed Standing Chapter 13 Trustee for the Middle District of Tennessee, administering bankruptcy repayment plans in Nashville and surrounding areas since 1982.

Official Website

http://www.ch13nsh.com/

Chapter 13 Trustee Review

Henry E. Hildebrand, III has served as the Standing Chapter 13 Trustee for the Middle District of Tennessee since 1982 and as Standing Chapter 12 Trustee since 1986. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a J.D. from the National Law Center at George Washington University. He holds Board Certification in consumer bankruptcy law from the American Board of Certification, is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and the Nashville Bar Foundation, and is of counsel to the Nashville firm Belcher Sykes Harrington, PLLC.

The office administers all Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases filed in the Middle District of Tennessee, serving debtors, their attorneys, creditors, and employers. Services include coordinating Meetings of Creditors, processing plan payments, managing tax refund disbursements, reviewing creditor claims, processing payroll deduction orders with employers, handling requests to incur new debt during a plan, and providing online document upload tools and case access portals for all parties.

What distinguishes this office is the depth of institutional experience and national policy involvement. Hildebrand chairs the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee for the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees (NACTT) and serves on the Board of the NACTT Academy for Consumer Bankruptcy Education. He is an adjunct faculty member at Nashville School of Law and St.

Johns University School of Law, and served as a commissioner on the American Bankruptcy Institute's Commission on Consumer Bankruptcy. The office also operates Financial and IRS Workshops across three classroom locations in Nashville, Columbia, and Cookeville.

This office is a government-administered court function, not a private consumer service. Debtors filing Chapter 13 in the Middle District of Tennessee are assigned to this trustee and cannot select an alternative. The trustee does not represent or advocate for the debtor — their role is neutral administration of the repayment plan on behalf of the court and creditors. Consumers seeking legal representation must hire a separate bankruptcy attorney.

Pros & Cons

Reader-focused summary of the strongest reasons to consider Chapter 13 Trustee and the factors most worth weighing before contracting. Individual outcomes depend on your credit situation and goals.

Pros

  • Standing Trustee since 1982 — over 40 years of Chapter 13 case administration experience
  • Board Certified in consumer bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification
  • Free Financial and IRS Workshops offered at three locations across the district (Nashville, Columbia, Cookeville)
  • Online document upload system available for attorneys and debtors to submit case materials remotely
  • National Data Center and case information portal accessible to debtors, attorneys, and creditors
  • Chairs NACTT Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee — direct influence on national Chapter 13 policy
  • Chapter 12 trustee services also available for family farm and fishing operations

Areas to Consider

  • !Office hours are 8:00am–3:00pm Monday–Friday only — no evening or weekend access
  • !Geographically limited to the Middle District of Tennessee; no service available elsewhere
  • !Trustee is court-appointed and cannot be selected or replaced by the debtor
  • !The office is a neutral administrator, not a debtor advocate — debtors must retain separate legal counsel
  • !No online scheduling or contact form visible on the website; primary contact is by phone only

Verdict Summary

Chapter 13 Trustee works best for consumers who value standing trustee since 1982 — over 40 years of chapter 13 case administration ex and can accept the tradeoff of office hours are 8:00am–3:00pm monday–friday only — no evening or weekend access. Compare against similar providers below before signing any contract.

Services & Features

Services offered

Feature Checklist

Credit Monitoring
All Three Bureaus
Goodwill Letters
Cease Desist Letters
Debt Validation
Credit Education
Identity Theft Protection
Score Tracking
Mobile App
Online Portal
Personal Advisor
Ai Powered

Best For

Before You Contact Chapter 13 Trustee

Before signing up with any Bankruptcy provider, review these safeguards:

Compare Your Needs With Chapter 13 Trustee

Match these decision factors against Chapter 13 Trustee's profile before committing. This rubric mirrors what independent consumer-finance research typically checks for Bankruptcy providers.

Category

Bankruptcy

Service scope

12 services listed

Geographic coverage

1 states

Match to your priorities

  • Budget priority: Pricing published above — factor in setup, monthly, and cancellation fees over the full expected service window.
  • Complexity priority: Consider Chapter 13 Trustee's stated strengths (Standing Trustee since 1982 — over 40 years of Chapter 13 case administration experience) against your specific credit situation.
  • Timeline priority: Bankruptcy typically takes 3-6 months for meaningful outcomes. Providers guaranteeing overnight results are red flags under federal consumer protection law.
  • Recourse priority: Confirm state licensing via your state regulator and check the CFPB complaint database before contracting.
  • Alternatives: Compare against all Bankruptcy providers, DIY options via non-profit counseling agencies, and free CFPB resources.

Pricing

  • Monthly Price: 0
  • Setup Fee: 0
  • Money Back Guarantee: False
  • Guarantee Details:
  • Free Consultation: True
  • Tiers: []
  • Currency: USD

Frequently Asked Questions

What services does Chapter 13 Trustee offer?

Chapter 13 Trustee offers 12 services including Chapter 13 bankruptcy repayment plan administration, Meeting of Creditors coordination and scheduling, Chapter 13 plan payment processing (PO Box 340019, Nashville TN), Tax refund review and disbursement to creditors, Trustee's claim review for creditors, and 7 more. Confirm current service list directly with the provider before contracting.

Who is Chapter 13 Trustee best suited for?

Chapter 13 Trustee's profile signals suggest it may fit: Individuals who have filed or plan to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy in the Middle District of Tennessee; Employers of debtors subject to payroll deduction orders under a Chapter 13 plan; Creditors with claims in Middle District of Tennessee Chapter 13 cases; Bankruptcy attorneys practicing in the Middle District of Tennessee who need trustee procedures, forms, and case access. Individual outcomes vary based on your specific situation.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Chapter 13 Trustee?

Key strengths: Standing Trustee since 1982 — over 40 years of Chapter 13 case administration experience; Board Certified in consumer bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification; Free Financial and IRS Workshops offered at three locations across the district (Nashville, Columbia, Cookeville). Areas to consider: Office hours are 8:00am–3:00pm Monday–Friday only — no evening or weekend access; Geographically limited to the Middle District of Tennessee; no service available elsewhere.

How does Chapter 13 Trustee compare to similar companies?

In the Bankruptcy category, comparable providers include Allmand Law, recovery-law-group, Weston Legal. Each company has different strengths, so compare services, pricing, and consumer complaint records before deciding what to do next.

Where does Chapter 13 Trustee operate?

Chapter 13 Trustee serves customers in 1 states including Tennessee. Confirm current service availability in your state directly with the provider.

How much does Chapter 13 Trustee cost?

Listed pricing for Chapter 13 Trustee: monthly price: 0; setup fee: 0; money back guarantee: False. Pricing may change — verify current fees directly with the provider before signing any contract.

Visit Chapter 13 Trustee

State Consumer Finance Context

This is state-level context for Bankruptcy consumers in Tennessee. It does not confirm that Chapter 13 Trustee or this specific location is licensed.

State regulator: Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions
Consumer protection: Tennessee Attorney General Consumer Protection Division

Credit and debt help rules in Tennessee

Key state rules to check

Payday lending in Tennessee: Legal (max $500)

Usury cap: 24% for consumer finance loans; payday loans regulated under Deferred Presentment Act

Complaint resources

State references

Tennessee allows payday lending with a $500 cap and 15% fee limit. Borrowers are limited to two simultaneous loans. The Department of Financial Institutions regulates all consumer lenders, and complaints can be filed with the Department or the Attorney General.

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Related Questions

Quick Summary

Chapter 13 Trustee — Bankruptcy in Tennessee.

Overall rating: 4.0/5

Court-appointed Standing Chapter 13 Trustee for the Middle District of Tennessee, administering bankruptcy repayment plans in Nashville and surrounding areas since 1982.

Next Steps

  1. Compare Chapter 13 Trustee against similar options above.
  2. Run our borrowing power quiz to see how Chapter 13 Trustee matches your situation.
  3. Check state regulator listings for Chapter 13 Trustee's licensing before committing.
  4. Visit Chapter 13 Trustee once you're ready.

Glossary of Terms

Common terms that come up when comparing Bankruptcy providers. Full glossary at creditdoc.co/glossary/.

Amortization — Loan Amortization
The process of paying off a loan through regular payments that cover both principal and interest. Early payments are mostly interest; later payments are mostly principal.
Why it matters: Understanding amortization explains why paying extra early in a loan saves the most money — you're reducing the principal that interest is calculated on.
Example: Month 1 of a $200,000 mortgage at 6%: your $1,199 payment splits as $1,000 interest + $199 principal. By month 300: only $47 goes to interest and $1,152 goes to principal.
Balloon Payment
A large lump-sum payment due at the end of a loan, after a period of smaller monthly payments. The loan isn't fully paid off by the regular payments — the balloon settles it.
Why it matters: Balloon payments make monthly payments look affordable but create a financial cliff. If you can't pay or refinance at the end, you could lose your home or asset.
Example: A 5-year balloon mortgage on $200,000: you pay $1,054/month (as if it were a 30-year loan), but after 5 years you owe a balloon of $186,108 all at once.
Collateral — Loan Collateral
An asset you pledge to the lender as security for a loan. If you stop paying, the lender can seize and sell that asset to recover their money.
Why it matters: Secured loans (with collateral) have lower interest rates because the lender has less risk. But you could lose your home, car, or savings if you default.
Example: A mortgage uses your house as collateral. A car loan uses your vehicle. A title loan uses your car title. If you miss payments, the lender can foreclose or repossess.
Cosigner — Loan Cosigner
A person who agrees to repay your loan if you can't. They're equally responsible for the debt, and their credit is affected by your payment behavior.
Why it matters: Cosigning helps people with thin credit get approved or get better rates. But it's a huge risk for the cosigner — they're on the hook for the full amount if you default.
Example: A parent cosigns their child's $30,000 student loan. The child stops paying after 6 months. The parent is now legally required to make the payments or face collections, lawsuits, and credit damage.
Credit Bureau — Credit Reporting Agency (Bureau)
A company that collects and sells information about your credit history. The three major bureaus are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Why it matters: Not all lenders report to all three bureaus, so your reports may differ. You should check all three reports because an error on one could be costing you money.
Example: Your car loan only reports to Equifax and TransUnion. Your Experian report doesn't show that good payment history, so your Experian score is 15 points lower.
Credit Freeze — Security Freeze / Credit Freeze
A free tool that locks your credit report so no one (including you) can open new accounts until you lift it. It's the strongest protection against identity theft.
Why it matters: A credit freeze prevents criminals from opening loans in your name, even if they have your Social Security number. It's free by law and doesn't affect your credit score.
Example: Your data was in a breach. You freeze your credit at all 3 bureaus (takes 10 minutes online). A thief tries to open a credit card in your name — denied because the lender can't pull your frozen report.
Credit Mix — Credit Mix (Types of Credit)
The variety of credit accounts you have — credit cards (revolving), auto loans (installment), mortgage, student loans, etc. Having multiple types shows you can manage different kinds of debt.
Why it matters: Credit mix accounts for about 10% of your FICO score. Having only credit cards isn't as strong as having a card, an installment loan, and a mortgage.
Example: Borrower A has 3 credit cards. Borrower B has 2 credit cards, a car loan, and a student loan. Even with the same payment history and utilization, Borrower B's score is typically higher.
Credit Report — Consumer Credit Report
A detailed record of your borrowing history maintained by credit bureaus. It lists every loan, credit card, payment history, collection, and public record tied to your name.
Why it matters: Errors on credit reports are common — 1 in 5 consumers has at least one mistake. Checking your report regularly is the first step to fixing errors that are costing you money.
Example: You pull your free report from AnnualCreditReport.com and find a $2,400 medical collection you already paid. You dispute it, the bureau verifies it's resolved, and your score goes up 40 points.
Credit Score
A 3-digit number (300-850) that summarizes how reliably you've handled borrowed money. Higher scores mean lower risk to lenders and better loan terms for you.
Why it matters: Your credit score determines whether you get approved and at what rate. A 100-point difference can mean thousands of dollars more or less in interest over a loan's life.
Example: On a $250,000 30-year mortgage: a 760 score gets you 6.2% ($1,536/month). A 660 score gets 7.4% ($1,729/month). Over 30 years, the lower score costs you $69,480 more.
Credit Utilization — Credit Utilization Ratio
The percentage of your available credit that you're currently using. If you have $10,000 in credit limits and owe $3,000, your utilization is 30%.
Why it matters: Utilization is the second-biggest factor in your credit score (after payment history). Keeping it below 30% helps your score; below 10% is ideal.
Example: You have 3 cards with a $15,000 total limit. You're carrying $4,500 in balances (30% utilization). Paying down to $1,500 (10% utilization) could boost your score by 20-50 points.
Default — Loan Default
When you fail to repay a loan according to the agreed terms — usually after 90-180 days of missed payments. It's the point where the lender gives up on collecting normally.
Why it matters: Default triggers severe consequences: credit score drops 100+ points, the debt may be sent to collections, you could be sued, and your wages or assets could be seized.
Example: You miss 4 consecutive car payments. The lender declares your loan in default, repossesses your car, sells it at auction for $8,000, and you still owe the remaining $5,000 (called a deficiency balance).
FICO Score — Fair Isaac Corporation Score
The most widely used credit scoring model, created by Fair Isaac Corporation. 90% of top lenders use FICO scores for lending decisions.
Why it matters: FICO has many versions (FICO 8, 9, 10). Mortgage lenders still use older versions (FICO 2, 4, 5), so your mortgage score may differ from what free apps show you.
Example: Your FICO 8 score (used for credit cards) is 740. Your FICO 5 score (used for mortgages) is 725 because it weighs collections differently. Same credit history, different scores.
Hard Inquiry — Hard Credit Inquiry (Hard Pull)
When a lender checks your credit report because you've applied for credit. Each hard inquiry can lower your score by 5-10 points and stays on your report for 2 years.
Why it matters: Multiple hard inquiries in a short period suggest you're desperately seeking credit, which is a red flag. Exception: mortgage and auto loan shopping within 14-45 days counts as one inquiry.
Example: You apply for 5 credit cards in one month. Each application triggers a hard inquiry. Your score drops 25-50 points from the inquiries alone, making each subsequent application harder.
Loan Term (Tenor) — Loan Term / Tenor
How long you have to repay the loan, measured in months or years. A shorter term means higher monthly payments but less total interest paid.
Why it matters: Longer terms feel more affordable monthly but cost much more overall. A 30-year mortgage costs almost double in interest compared to a 15-year mortgage on the same amount.
Example: Borrowing $200,000 at 6.5%: A 15-year term costs $1,742/month ($113,561 total interest). A 30-year term costs $1,264/month ($255,088 total interest). You save $141,527 with the shorter term.
Origination Fee — Loan Origination Fee
A one-time fee the lender charges to process and set up your loan. It covers their costs for underwriting, verifying your information, and preparing paperwork.
Why it matters: Origination fees are usually 1-8% of the loan amount and are often deducted from your loan proceeds — so you receive less than you borrowed.
Example: You're approved for a $10,000 personal loan with a 5% origination fee. The lender deducts $500 upfront, so you receive $9,500 in your bank account but owe $10,000 plus interest.