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Avoid Mistakes When Planning and Filing Illinois Bankruptcy Cases

The best-planned bankruptcy cases go unnoticed. A few debtors glide through the system without attracting attention and receive full discharges in record time. Luck is not involved, but rather each successful debtor begins planning strategically a few weeks or months in advance. These debtors know something that you don’t.

Free - 2010 Bankruptcy Strategies Explained

"Illinois Chapter 13 Payments"

Following confirmation of a plan, all Illinois bankruptcy cases filed under Chapter 13 require regular payments to a trustee. All "disposable income" must be paid to the trustee, according to definitions, guidelines and discretion allowed each court.

11 U.S.C. §1326(a)  "(1) Unless the court orders otherwise, the debtor shall commence making the payments proposed by a plan within 30 days after the plan is filed.(2) A payment made under this subsection shall be retained by the trustee until confirmation or denial of confirmation of a plan. If a plan is confirmed, the trustee shall distribute any such payment in accordance with the plan as soon as practicable. If a plan is not confirmed, the trustee shall return any such payment to the debtor, after deducting any unpaid claim allowed under section 503(b) of this title."

New privacy rules went into effect December 1, 2003 for all Illinois bankruptcy courts. Previously, the social security number for each debtor was made publicly available through the clerk's office in all cases. The new rule now requires only the last four digits to be made publicly available because of the rise in identity theft. Concerns regarding inclusion of the names and ages of minor children within schedules remain hotly debated. The Illinois Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District issued a standing order on February 17, 2004 because of the dischargeability of attorney fees. In a case under Chapter 7 of the Code, where the debtor's attorney agreed to represent the debtor upon the condition of a later written agreement to pay attorney fees after filing, the Court will now allow an attorney to withdraw if the debtor refuses to sign the agreement.

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Information for consumer debtors filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 in Aurora, Chicago, Cicero, Elgin, Joliet, Naperville, Peoria, Rockford, Springfield, and Waukegan. State and county bar referral information included, plus legal summaries of state and federal law requirements, lawyer directory, law firm and attorney fee guidelines, and court contact information. Illinois Bankruptcy Laws, Courts & Lawyers | ©Copyright 1997 through 2010 - All Rights Reserved.