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Illinois Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy laws and resources vary from state to state. The following page provides information and resource links for the state of Illinois.
If you are not looking for information regarding Illinois, please use the links on the right to find information for your state.
- Courts - Location and Contact Information
- Bankruptcy Laws
- Approved Credit Counseling/Debtor Education Agencies
- Illinois Attorneys
- Other Bankruptcy Illinois Resources
Illinois Bankruptcy Courts - Location & Contact Information
Illinois bankruptcy courts are divided into three districts, which are further divided into several divisions. Generally, the debtor’s county of residence will determine which district and division the bankruptcy petition is filed. It may also be determined by the location of the debtor’s principal place of business or principal assets.
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
COUNTIES OF JURISDICTION:Eastern Division - Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle and Will Counties
Western Division - Boone, Carroll, Dekalb, JoDaviess, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago Counties
| DIVISION | STREET ADDRESS | MAILING ADDRESS | TELEPHONE |
| Eastern Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 219 S. Dearborn Chicago, IL 60604 |
Same | (312) 435-5694 |
| Western Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 211 S. Court Street Rockford, IL 61101 |
Same | (815) 987-4350 |
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
COUNTIES OF JURISDICTION:Springfield Division - Adams, Brown, Cass, Christian, De Witt, Greene, Logan, McLean, Macon, Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott and Shelby Counties
Peoria Division - Bureau, Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Knox, McDonough, Marshall, Mercer, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Tazewell, Warren and Woodford Counties
Danville Division - Champaign, Coles, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquos, Kankakee, Livingston, Moultrie, Piatt and Vermilion Counties
| DIVISION | STREET ADDRESS | MAILING ADDRESS | TELEPHONE |
| Springfield Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 2nd Floor, Room 226 600 E. Monroe Street Springfield, IL 62701 |
Same | (217) 492-4551 |
| Peoria Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 2nd Floor, Room 216 100 N.E. Monroe Street Peoria, IL 61602 |
Same | (309) 671-7035 |
| Danville Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 1st Floor, Room 130 201 N. Vermilion Street Danville, IL 61832 |
Same |
(217) 431-4820 |
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
COUNTIES OF JURISDICTION:East St. Louis Division - Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Madison, Monroe and St. Clair Counties
Benton Division - Alexander, Clark, Clay, Crawford, Cumberland, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Saline, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White and Williamson Counties
| DIVISION | STREET ADDRESS | MAILING ADDRESS | TELEPHONE |
| East St. Louis Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 750 Missouri Avenue East St. Louis, IL 62201 |
Same |
(618) 482-9400 |
| Benton Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 301 West Main Street Benton, IL 62812 |
Same | (618) 435-2200 |
Illinois Bankruptcy Laws and Exemptions
Illinois Exemptions
The U.S. Bankruptcy Code allows individual debtors to exempt certain property from creditor claims based on exemptions under either federal law or state law. Exemptions vary from state to state. Some states have adopted their own set of bankruptcy exemptions that are used in place of the federal exemptions. However, other states give debtors an option to choose between either state or federal exemptions.
For Illinois bankruptcy filings, state exemptions are used. Click the following links for some common bankruptcy exemptions under Illinois Code: homestead exemption, personal property.
Contact an Illinois bankruptcy lawyer for more information regarding Illinois bankruptcy exemptions.
Illinois Means Test
The new bankruptcy laws enacted in 2005 also require that debtors pass a means test before filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. There are two ways to pass the means test:
1. the debtor's annual income (calculated using the average gross income for the six month period prior to filing) must be below the state median. Census Bureau statistics for state median income by family size can be found here.
2. If income exceeds the median income, individuals may still file Chapter 7 bankruptcy based on results ofForm 22A: Chapter 7 Statement of Current Monthly Income and Means-Test Calculation.
Illinois Credit Counseling & Debtor Education Agencies
Pursuant to the new bankruptcy laws enacted in 2005, individuals who file personal bankruptcy (with limited exceptions) in Illinois must:
1. take a credit counseling course from an approved Illinois credit counseling provider within six months before filing bankruptcy; and
2. complete a debtor education course from an approved Illinois debtor education agency prior to receiving a bankruptcy discharge.
Illinois Personal Bankruptcy Attorneys
To find Illinois bankruptcy lawyers in your area, you may want to contact your local bar association or the Illinois State Bar Association:
Illinois Bar - Springfield Office |
Illinois Bar - Chicago Office |
Based on income, free bankruptcy advice and representation may also be obtained from the following organizations: See Illinois Legal Aid's website for information and organizations that provide legal services to low income clients in Illinois.
If you are concerned about the representation provided to you by an Illinois bankruptcy attorney, contact the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois.
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Resources for Illinois Bankruptcy Laws
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois - administrative and procedural information for Northern District of Illinois bankruptcy filings
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of Illinois - administrative and procedural information for Central District of Illinois bankruptcy filings
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois - administrative and procedural information for Southern District of Illinois bankruptcy filings
Office of the U.S. Trustee for Region 11 - oversees the administration of Illinois personal bankruptcy cases and case trustees in the Northern District of Illinois
Office of the U.S. Trustee for Region 10 - oversees the administration of Illinois personal bankruptcy cases and case trustees in the Central and Southern Districts of Illinois
Illinois State Bar Association - information about the Illinois bar, membership, ethics, continuing legal education, and resources for the public.
       
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