Legal Question in Bankruptcy in Illinois

There is a Bankruptcy Court in Rockford which I don't believe is an hour and a half from Rock Island. The rules governing bankruptcy filings are difficult for attorneys who know what they are doing, they are almost insurmountable for a non-lawyer. A Ch. 7 is generally around a $1000.00 or less and if you are no longer paying your other bills, you should be able to afford that. You may also be able to find some pro bono help through the court. Good Luck.

While attorneys file the cases electronically, that is after being registered and trained to use the system. You should be able to mail your documents and payment to the court, but that may result in a couple times being returned and needing to be resent in order to correct likely errors--still better than multiple trips to get errors corrected. Check with the clerk's office. Understand that you will have to attend a meeting of creditors.

That said, as you can tell by my assuming errors when you try to file, I do not recommend filing bankruptcy on your own. There are too many complex issues. I have seen several posts on this site for debtors who filed on their own and are seeking counsel concerning complications. Most of them will have a hard time finding an attorney to get involved to unwind the mess without the attorney charging several times what would originally have been paid.

The scope of this space does not afford an opportunity to assess the situation and advise you. I recommend you assemble for legal consultation: (1) your income information for April 2012 through the present, including wages and unemployment during that period; (2) all your bills (copies neatly assembled, back pages included); (3) last four years� tax returns; (4) a credit report (use www.annualcreditreport.com to obtain free report if not requested in last year); and (5) other information that may apply, such as copies of lawsuits. Call at your earliest convenience to afford the most opportunity in which to be advised about your best course. You are not required to use an attorney in your area.