Chapter 7 bankruptcy is generally more damaging to credit initially because it involves liquidating assets and stays on your credit report for 10 years, whereas Chapter 13 stays for 7 years and demonstrates an effort to repay debts through a structured plan, which may soften the impact over time.
Why is a Mortgage Secured Debt? A mortgage is what's called a secured debt because it is backed up by collateral. In this case, the collateral is your home.
If you file for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your secured debt may be discharged, but the lender is also able to repossess the property that secured the debt. In other words, if you have a mortgage on your home and file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the mortgage debt may be discharged but the lender can take back your home.
In many cases, a bankruptcy discharge can eliminate your personal responsibility for secured debt, so the lender can't sue you for unpaid amounts. However, the lien on the property doesn't automatically go away. The lender can still take back the collateral if you stop making payments.