Basic Bankruptcy Questions

Many people interested in filing for bankruptcy typically ask the same questions. First and foremost, people wonder who can file for bankruptcy. The simple answer is that any honest individual in financial distress can file for either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy in order to recover their financial stability.

The next question people usually ask is how long a bankruptcy proceeding takes. In the case of Chapter 7 bankruptcy, most cases take about three months to complete from the time of filing to the payment and/or discharge of all debts. Chapter 13 cases also take about three months but are followed by a 3 to 5 year repayment period during which the individual makes monthly payments to the bankruptcy court in order to clear their debts.

People are also usually concerned about what the costs for filing bankruptcy are. The actual court costs are quite low at just $299 for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and $274 for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Of course, lawyer's fees are in addition to these court costs and vary depending upon the Chicago bankruptcy attorney that you choose.

Finally, many people worry that they will have to spend a great deal of time in court if they file for bankruptcy. This is usually not the case and is generally only required if a creditor disputes the discharge of a debt. Other than this circumstance, most of your bankruptcy proceedings can be handled by your attorney.

To get answers about bankruptcy proceedings in Illinois, don't wait to contact Bizar & Doyle, LLC to arrange an initial consultation with our firm.