Is it better to file chapter 7 or chapter 13?
It depends on your income, type of debts, etc.
Chapter 7 involves liquidation of all assets that are not exempt. You can receive a discharge of your debts through Chapter 7meaning you no longer are responsible for paying the debts.
Chapter 13 allows persons with a steady income to keep property, like a mortgaged house or a car, that they otherwise might lose. In Chapter 13, the court approves a repayment plan that allows you to use your future income to pay off a default during a three-to-five-year period, rather than surrender any property. After you have made all payments under the plan, you receive a discharge of your debts.