A Chapter 7 case stays on your credit report for ten years, a Chapter 13 stays on your credit report for seven years. 

You should make sure that the attorney you choose is experienced in bankruptcy, and will be there when you need them to answer questions and take care of problems. Bankruptcy is a specialized area with complicated laws and rules and even has its own court. It is therefore our advice that you hire only an attorney that concentrates their practice in bankruptcy rather than a general practitioner. You should also be sure that the attorney you choose handles both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases so that you know all of your options.

Our office has served the Central Illinois area since 1965, and therefore if a problem comes up in your case two or three years after you file, our office will be there for you unlike some attorneys that leave the area or stop handling bankruptcy cases. Our firm's attorneys have handled thousands of cases, both simple and complex.  We also have a full support staff that will always be available to help answer your questions.

The attorney will meet with you, answer any questions that you have and then discuss your options. There is no charge for this consultation in non-business cases. You are welcome to have your first appointment be just for information, or if you are sure that you want to file something under bankruptcy we can generally prepare the paperwork at the appointment as long as you have the court costs with you.

You want to be sure to make a list of your debts with names, mailing addresses, account numbers and your best estimate of the amounts owed so that we can fully discuss your options. If you file a bankruptcy case and forget a debt you will have time to add them to your list later, and we provide you with a copy of the list that is with the court. It is also helpful if you know the value of any real estate that you own, and the payoff amounts on any mortgage or vehicle loans.

In most cases your case can be filed the next business day after your appointment. This immediately stops creditor collection action like lawsuits, garnishments and telephone calls. Unlike some other attorneys that let your case sit for days or even weeks before it is filed with the court - just because you have signed the papers and paid the attorney does not always mean that you are under court protection. We move quickly to get you immediate relief by having the case filed right away and having a case number issued.