Chapter 7 Outside of the Courtroom

Despite what you may have heard about in the media, not all bankruptcy cases are fought in the court room. In fact, many cases are settled outside of court, which is preferable for both the overworked legal system and you, the debtor.

Even though many bankruptcy cases are resolved outside of the court room, you will be asked to appear in court at least one time during your Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This will happen 30 to 40 days after you have filed for bankruptcy. You will be joined by a court-appointed attorney, as well as any creditors that wish to attend. This meeting is called the "First Meeting of Creditors" and all of your creditors will be invited to attend.

During the meeting, creditors and your appointed trustee are allowed to ask and address questions pertaining to your Chapter 7 filing. However, in some cases, creditors may not appear and your first meeting may only last for a few minutes. While the meeting is a formality of the court, you can use this time to ask the trustee any questions that you may have related to your bankruptcy.

Are you wondering what the bankruptcy process will entail? If so, contact a Chicago Chapter 7 lawyer from our law office to get information today. Our Chicago bankruptcy attorneys have worked with many clients throughout Illinois and would welcome the opportunity to help you get your finances ack on track.