Bankruptcy Court in Chicago - Arrive Prepared

Everyone understands the general process surrounding bankruptcy court. You hire a bankruptcy attorney, fill out the necessary paperwork and the court discharges you of your debt.

It sounds easy enough but many people do not know what to expect when they arrive at bankruptcy court.

Most of us associate a courtroom with what we see on television programs which usually focus on criminal court. Your first trip to bankruptcy court will be your first meeting with your trustee. The trustee is the person who will handle the payments against your debt once you file bankruptcy. If you file chapter 13 bankruptcy they will distribute your payments until the bankruptcy filing is complete and if you file chapter 7 they will liquidate your assets and distribute the money between your creditors.

This initial meeting is likely to take place in the trustee's office. They will explain how the creditors meeting will work and when it will take place. You will be under oath at this meeting and your creditors will ask you a series of questions. The meetings should only last about 30 minutes.

When it's time to go to bankruptcy court you will need to bring with you a few important documents:
1. Social Security Card
2. Photo I.D.
3. Deed to your house
4. Details of car loan debt

If you are filing chapter 13 you will also need your pay stubs and most recent tax return details. These will prove your income to the court.

Your time at bankruptcy court is short. Your qualifications for bankruptcy will not be questioned at this time. If any of your creditors have an issue with your filing they may file a lawsuit after the creditors meeting. This happpens very rarely but if it did you would need an additional court date. Your bankruptcy attorney would advise you how to proceed in this situation.

If no creditors have objections then you will receive notification of your discharge. Due to the increased volume of bankruptcy filings it may take longer than usual to be discharged.

Once you have been discharged of your debts you have a fresh start and can begin working to improve your spending habits and building your credit.

Chang and Carlin
The content found on the Chang & Carlin site is not legal advice and is purely for informational purposes. The information contained herein is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney and does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are interested in obtaining information about chapter 7 bankruptcy, chapter 13 bankruptcy, foreclosure services, real estate legal services, you are encouraged to call our law firm at 866-790-8601 or Request a Free Legal Evaluation. Chang and Carlin serves clients in Chicago, Schaumburg, Joliet, Warrenville, Waukegan, Illinois.