Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Champaign, Illinois

Find the right Bankruptcy attorney in Champaign, IL

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In Champaign, 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 get 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 Champaign, 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 Champaign attorney's advice is truly indispensable.

Types of Bankruptcy in Champaign, Illinois

There are three basic bankruptcy schemes that are most commonly used in Champaign: Chapters 7, 13, and 11. Bankruptcy is a creation of federal law, so the process for filing for bankruptcy in Champaign, Illinois will be roughly the same as it would be anywhere else in the U.S. Chapter 7 bankruptcy requires the debtor to liquidate some of his or her property, and use the funds to pay creditors. While this doesn't sound like much of a relief at first glance, the upshot is that once the eligible property is sold, and the proceeds directed to the creditors, all of the debtor's eligible debts are deemed paid in full, regardless of how much the creditors actually ended up getting. Not all of the debtor's property has to be sold off - the debtor will usually be allowed to keep things like a house, at least one car, some types of personal property, retirement accounts, and insurance policies. It should be noted that some debts are not dischargeable, and will have to be paid in full even if the debtor files for bankruptcy. This includes student loans, taxes, and criminal fines.

The other form of bankruptcy most commonly used in Champaign is Chapter 13. It allows a person to pay off their debt over a longer period of time, often consolidating it into one periodic payment. In this system, the amount of money the debtor owes is not actually reduced, but the payment of the debt is made far more manageable. This gives the debtor some breathing room, allowing him to continue to earn a living while slowly paying down his debts, and gives some security to creditors that they will eventually collect all or most of what they're owed. 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.

During the Chapter 11 process, a business can usually continue its operations, and the stock can be traded, even if it is de-listed from a major stock exchange.

How Can a Champaign Bankruptcy Lawyer Help?

The need to weigh all the options and consider the costs and benefits of applying for bankruptcy in Champaign cannot be overstated. If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, it would be a good idea to speak with a Champaign bankruptcy attorney beforehand.

Talk to a Bankruptcy & Finances Law Attorney now!

Life in Champaign

Not only in champaign the name of an alcoholic drink, but it is also the name o a city in Illinois. Champaign is located about 135 miles south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis.

Champaign is home to many start-up technology companies and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Top employers include Kraft Foods, Parkland College, PlastiPak, Hobbico, Amdocs and Devonshire Group. Other employers include the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, State Farm Research Center, Science Application International Corporation, Riverglass Inc., Tekion, Volition, Inc., and Yahoo!

The legal force also has a significant presence in Champaign. Thus, the legal needs of employers and residents can easily be handled by Champaign attorneys.

Popular attraction include the Tower at 3rd, the City Building, Campustown, the Art Theater, and Historic Virginia Theatre.