Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Des Plaines, Illinois

Find the right Bankruptcy attorney in Des Plaines, IL

  • /10
  • Client Overall
    Satisfaction Rate*
*TrustPilot score as of 010118

Find Lawyers

In Des Plaines, Illinois, bankruptcy is a court procedure in which a person or business has some or all of their debts excused (or "discharged"), theoretically allowing them to start with a clean slate, and move on with their lives no longer drowning in debt (and hopefully having learned to better manage their use of credit in the process). Bankruptcy should be treated as an option of last resort, and should not be viewed as a convenient way to get out of debt that you just don't feel like paying. Bankruptcy can have severe consequences, including but not limited to damage to your credit rating. A bad credit score can impact your ability to acquire loans in the future, to rent an apartment, and possibly even your ability to get hired at some jobs (as some employers now run credit checks on prospective employees).

For that reason, it would be advisable to speak with a good Des Plaines, Illinois bankruptcy attorney. This attorney will be able to advise you as to whether or not filing for bankruptcy is a good idea, given your particular situation. This determination is highly dependent on the details of each individual case, so a Des Plaines attorney's advice is truly indispensable.

Types of Bankruptcy in Des Plaines, Illinois

In Des Plaines, Illinois, there are three basic bankruptcy schemes that are most commonly used. They are known as Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11. Being a product of federal law, the procedural rules governing bankruptcy in Des Plaines, Illinois will be very similar to those in any other part of the United States. Chapter 7 bankruptcy requires the debtor to liquidate some of his or her assets in order to pay off as much debt as possible. Once the sale of the assets is verified, and the proceeds handed over to the creditors, the debt is perceived as discharged. Liquidation is basically selling assets to the highest bidder. Not all of the debtor's assets will need to be sold, and many types of property are totally or partially exempt, including homes, cars, retirement accounts, and insurance policies. This means that the debtor can keep them. It should be noted that some types of debts are not dischargeable in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, including student loans, criminal fines, taxes, and child support payments. Even when the bankruptcy process is complete, these debts will have to be paid in full.

Under Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Des Plaines, most of the debtor's debt is not discharged. Instead, the bankruptcy court, working with the debtor and participating creditors, work out a payment plan that allows the debtor to pay off most of his or her debts over a longer period of time, thereby theoretically making the debt far more manageable. Once a payment plan is approved by the court, creditors are prohibited from attempting to collect payment under their original agreements that gave rise to the debt in the first place. Though available to individuals, Chapter 11 bankruptcy is mostly used by businesses. Like Chapter 13, Chapter 11 requires the restructuring of debts. Under this system, the debtor must come up with a plan to reduce debt, cut costs, and improve operations. Once this plan is proposed, it is submitted to the participating creditors, who must approve it by a majority vote before it can be implemented.

One major advantage of Chapter 11 bankruptcy is that it allows businesses to continue their operations while the process plays out. Furthermore, their stock can still be bought and sold.

How Can a Des Plaines Bankruptcy Lawyer Help?

One should not make the decision to file for bankruptcy in Des Plaines easily. Before making any such decision, it would be highly advisable to contact an experienced Des Plaines bankruptcy attorney.

Talk to a Bankruptcy & Finances Law Attorney now!

Life in Des Plaines

Des Plaines, Illinois is a community in Cook County, with a population of about 60,000 people. It is a suburb of the city of Chicago.

Des Plaines, Illinois enjoys a fairly high median household income, and a low cost of living, with the median income being about ,000 per year, and average home prices being around ,000.

Des Plaines, for a city its size, has a robust network of educational institutions, including a community college, and several specialized high school-level institutions, such as one focusing on fostering excellence in science and the arts, and private religious schools of various denominations.

Des Plaines, Illinois is a religiously-diverse city, and has several churches of different Christian denominations, as well as a Jewish temple, and an Islamic community center.

Des Plaines, Illinois is a good place to live for people who value diversity, especially those who work in Chicago, or the surrounding area. Its close proximity to city of Chicago, and its low cost of living, make Des Plaines a good option for young professionals who are ready to settle down.

Furthermore, there are plenty of Des Plaines, Illinois lawyers who are ready to help residents of the city and nearby communities with their legal issues. Des Plaines, Illinois lawyers can handle just about any legal problem one can throw at them.