The role of the trustee for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy is slightly different. However, in both situations, a trustee will be assigned to your case toward the beginning of the process and have the responsibility of keeping your case moving forward. In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the role of the trustee will be to sell off assets that are nonexempt and administer the bankruptcy estate. Not all Chapter 7 bankruptcies include selling off assets. In fact, most of them do not. In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the trustee is responsible for collecting monthly payments and distributing them to creditors. This is the only person who can collect payments under the repayment plan.