Chapter 13 Bankruptcy to Stop Foreclosure: Thanks to the automatic stay provision of Chapter 13 bankruptcy, filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy can stop foreclosure immediately in most cases. The automatic stay prevents creditors from making any and all collection actions while the bankruptcy is pending. Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings allow filers to catch up with their past-due payments over a period of three to five years, which means they can exit bankruptcy with no overdue balance. Successful Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings can prevent foreclosure altogether.