Pre-Bankruptcy Counseling Classes

Before you file for bankruptcy in Illinois, you’ll need to take a credit counseling course that has been approved for Illinois bankruptcy filers. It’s one of the conditions for bankruptcy in this state. You’ll be required to complete the credit counseling course, and then after you have filed for bankruptcy, you’ll have to take an additional “debtor education” course. But before you take any of these actions, you should first discuss your circumstances with an experienced Chicago bankruptcy lawyer. Once you complete the credit counseling course, you will receive a certification that you must file along with your bankruptcy petition. However, you are not required to take the Illinois credit counseling course if you are:

– on active military duty in a combat zone
– physically or mentally impaired and cannot fulfill the credit counseling requirement

Some individuals may be eligible for a fee waiver in some cases. If you cannot complete the course on time before you are required to file for bankruptcy, you may petition the court to allow you to finish the course after you file. Providers of credit counseling and debtor education courses may not sell information about you to third parties without obtaining your permission, and they may not advertise any product or service to you during the classes.

When you face overwhelming debts that you simply cannot pay, bankruptcy may or may not be the best option for you, and a good Chicago bankruptcy lawyer may be able to suggest options that are more in line with your best long-term interests. If you and your lawyer decide that bankruptcy is in fact the best solution for you, a good Chicago bankruptcy lawyer will protect your legal rights and as much of your assets as the law allows. If you’re even thinking about bankruptcy, make the call at once, and put an experienced Chicago bankruptcy lawyer to work on your behalf.