What does the trustee do in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case?

The trustee has many functions and duties throughout a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case, but none more important than the administration of the Chapter 13.  Now, what I mean by administration is the trustee has the duty to first make sure that the debtor has proposed a plan that is confirmable.  Two, the trustee then has to administer the payments that come through from the debtor and administer those to the various creditors pursuant to the terms of the Chapter 13 plan.  Child support arrearages get paid first.  Administrative fees get paid next.  Attorneys’ fees can often get paid next or pro rata or in some kind of certain amount along with mortgage arrearages and auto payments.  The Chapter 13 plan is what’s going to govern how the Chapter 13 trustee makes monthly disbursements.
The Chapter 13 trustee has to report to the court on a confirmation hearing as to whether or not the debtor has proposed a plan that meets the requirements of the Bankruptcy Code.  The trustee also has the duty and obligation to examine the debtor under oath at a 341 Meeting of Creditors.  So the trustee has his hands on throughout the entire case, from the filing to the 341 Meeting of Creditors to the confirmation hearing and to the distribution of assets throughout the entire 3 to 5 year payment plan.
The trustee has the obligation to bring a Motion to Dismiss should the debtor fall behind and the trustee has to answer questions of the debtor throughout the case since the trustee is actually working on behalf of the debtor and getting paid an administrative fee for his or her duties under the Bankruptcy Code.