Illinois Bankruptcy Lawyers, Debt Relief

Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Illinois with our debt relief directory and get a free BK evalution for a loan modification, chapter 7, 11, 13 or debt settlement that could lead to a fresh start. Find out from a local attorney if bankruptcy is the best for your situation.

Illinois bankruptcy provides troubled debtors with a fresh start because bankruptcy protects consumers against lawsuit from creditors. However, the bankruptcy protection isn't extended until you undergo the mandatory credit counseling and file your bankruptcy with the courts. Until then, credit card debt creditors can still continue to collect on the debts, and your lender can still proceed with the foreclosure if you're behind on your mortgage. And, if you don’t go through the mandatory credit counseling, your bankruptcy case can be dismissed forcing you to go through the expense and trouble of having to re-file.

What is Operation SILVER SCREEN?
United States Attorneys have filed criminal charges against 21 individuals in 11 different districts on a variety of federal bankruptcy fraud counts, it was announced today by Lawrence Friedman, Director of the Executive Office for United States Trustees. The combined group of cases is dubbed "Operation SILVER SCREEN" in recognition of the U.S. Trustee Program's enhanced screening of bankruptcy cases to identify fraud and abuse. The U.S. Trustee Program is a Justice Department component that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws.

"Operation SILVER SCREEN has targeted a wide range of criminal conduct that strikes at the integrity of the bankruptcy courts and undermines public trust in the bankruptcy process," Friedman stated. "The prosecutions announced today demonstrate that the Department of Justice is committed to detecting, investigating, and prosecuting those who violate our bankruptcy laws in a variety of ways. Criminal abuses and schemes will not be tolerated in our bankruptcy system. The U.S. Trustee Program is working with law enforcement agencies throughout the country to ensure this result."

Operation SILVER SCREEN underscores the importance of making sure that everything in your bankruptcy is accurate. A single mistake could cause your case to be dismissed. And, in some cases, criminal charges may be filed. Attorneys are now personally responsible for the accuracy of their clients' cases, which is why filing for bankruptcy is now so much more expensive than it used to be. The attorneys are now taking on a much greater risk, so they have to offset the risk by charging people more.

Avoiding Bankruptcy
Illinois chapter 7 bankruptcy laws and Illinois chapter 13 bankruptcy laws have changed the landscape of filing for bankruptcy. It is now more complicated and expensive to file for chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcy. But, there are two aggressive, but effective ways of avoiding bankruptcy: loan modification and debt settlement. A debt settlement involves getting your creditors to agree to take less than what you owe as full payment for the debt. A loan modification involves negotiating with your mortgage lender for rates and terms that allow you to stay in the loan. Chicago bankruptcy lawyers and other Illinois bankruptcy lawyers can explain your options and advise you on the best one to choose.