- Consumer's Choice Award 2019
- Consumer's Choice Award 2020
- Consumer's Choice Award 2021
- Consumer's Choice Award 2022
- Consumer's Choice Award 2023
- Consumer's Choice Award 2024
At Frankfort Law Group, we understand how overwhelming debt can feel. If you live in Riverside, Illinois, facing wage garnishments, harassing calls, or mounting bills, you deserve a clear path forward. Our consumer bankruptcy services are designed to help you assess your options, protect your family, and regain financial stability. We explain the differences between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 in plain language, so you can choose a strategy that fits your situation and goals.
Choosing to pursue bankruptcy is a major decision, but you do not have to navigate it alone. Our Riverside team focuses on listening to your circumstances, outlining practical steps, and guiding you through the filing process with patience and clarity. We work to minimize confusion, prepare accurate documentation, and communicate with creditors on your behalf. Whether you are seeking relief from overwhelming debt or hoping to rebuild credit over time, we tailor solutions that respect your values and priorities.
Consumer bankruptcy can provide a fresh start and a predictable path to financial stability. By stopping creditor calls with an automatic stay, it reduces stress and allows you to reorganize debts within a legal framework. A discharge can relieve most unsecured debts, while Chapter 13 offers a repayment plan that fits your budget. Our team explains eligibility, timing, and potential tradeoffs so you can decide with confidence.
Frankfort Law Group has served families throughout Illinois with dedication and care. Our attorneys draw on years of trial experience to craft practical bankruptcy solutions that protect assets, stabilize finances, and pave a path toward a stronger future. We emphasize clear communication, transparent billing, and respectful service that puts you first. Based in Illinois, we serve Riverside and nearby communities, working with clients from diverse backgrounds and situations.
Understanding consumer bankruptcy means recognizing your options, the timelines involved, and the goals you want to achieve. In Illinois, bankruptcy can provide breathing room from creditor pressure, help you regain control of your finances, and offer a structured process for resolving debts. The right choice depends on your income, assets, and the type of debt you hold. Our approach is to explain each path in clear terms and support you at every stage.
Throughout the case, you will need reliable guidance on paperwork, deadlines, and negotiations. We help you gather financial information, prepare schedules, and communicate with the court, trustees, and creditors. With our assistance, you can focus on rebuilding stability, protecting your family, and moving forward with confidence.
Consumer bankruptcy is a legal process that provides a structured way to address unmanageable debt. In Illinois, most unsecured debts may be forgiven or reorganized, while certain obligations such as child support or taxes may require different handling. The process typically begins with a filing that triggers protections for debtors, followed by a court review and, when appropriate, a discharge that releases you from eligible debts.
Key elements include a comprehensive financial review, timely filing, creditor notification, and a plan or mechanism to resolve debts. The process also involves the automatic stay, meetings with the trustee, and close coordination with counsel. Our team works to prepare accurate documentation, monitor deadlines, and advocate for a favorable outcome while keeping you informed at every step.
This glossary explains essential terms you may encounter during bankruptcy proceedings, including automatic stay, discharge, Chapter 7, Chapter 13, plan payments, reaffirmation, and trustee roles, so you can follow discussions with your attorney and participate confidently in decisions about your financial future.
A court order that temporarily stops most collection activity as a bankruptcy case begins. It gives you time to assess options, protects you from lawsuits, and helps you organize your finances without sudden creditor pressure, providing breathing room to plan next steps.
Chapter 13 is a court-approved repayment plan that allows you to pay all or part of your debts over three to five years while protecting your home and assets. The plan is based on your income, expenses, and priority debts, and it ends with a discharge of remaining unsecured obligations.
This option allows certain debts to be discharged after liquidation of non-exempt assets, subject to eligibility limits and the type of debt. It is designed for individuals with limited disposable income and provides a relatively quicker path to relief.
The official court-ordered elimination of eligible debts, releasing you from personal liability and stopping most creditor collection efforts after successful completion of bankruptcy, which helps you rebuild finances and plan for the future.
Different paths in bankruptcy serve different needs. A streamlined filing can address simple debt structures efficiently, while a comprehensive strategy may be essential when assets, complex income, or priority debts are involved. Understanding these distinctions helps you choose a plan that aligns with your finances, schedule, and long-term goals.
When your finances are straightforward, a simplified filing can resolve unsecured debts efficiently and with fewer moving parts. This approach minimizes complexity, reduces delays, and provides a quicker path to relief, while still protecting essential rights and allowing you to begin rebuilding credit and stability.
If you have steady income, modest assets, and limited priority debts, a targeted approach may adequately address your obligations. This path focuses on timely documentation and careful creditor communications to achieve a solid outcome without unnecessary complications.
A comprehensive approach offers coordinated steps from initial consultation through discharge, ensuring you understand options, deadlines, and potential outcomes. It reduces guesswork, streamlines documentation, and improves communication with creditors and the court, helping you regain financial control with confidence.
Clients who pursue a broad, well-organized plan often experience steadier progress toward debt relief, stronger protections for assets, and clearer timelines. Our team aligns strategies with your personal goals, supporting you as you rebuild credit and restore financial stability over time.
A thorough plan improves the likelihood of a favorable discharge or affordable repayment schedule. By anticipating issues early, we minimize last-minute surprises and preserve your options for future financial growth.
A guided process with ongoing updates helps you feel informed and empowered. We handle paperwork, deadlines, and negotiations, so you can focus on rebuilding your life with less stress.
Begin gathering essential documents early, including recent pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, loan documents, debt notices, and a list of monthly expenses. Organizing these records helps speed up the filing and reduces the risk of missing deadlines. Having a clear financial snapshot also enables your attorney to tailor a plan that fits your current situation and future goals.
Keep lines of communication open with your legal team, creditors, and trustees. Honest updates about income changes, new debts, or asset considerations help adapt the plan as needed and protect your interests throughout the process.
Debt can feel unmanageable, but bankruptcy provides a clear framework to address it. Our Riverside team helps you evaluate options, protect your home, and find a path to financial stability that aligns with your values and priorities.
A well-planned approach reduces stress, clarifies expectations, and offers practical steps to rebuild your credit over time. The right guidance can make a meaningful difference in how quickly you recover and how confidently you move forward.
Persistent wage garnishments, aggressive creditor calls, mounting medical or credit card debt, or a loss of income can make debt management challenging. Bankruptcy provides a legal mechanism to pause collection, reorganize obligations, and restore financial breathing room for you and your family.
When monthly obligations exceed income and threaten essential living costs, a structured plan can prevent ongoing hardship while offering a path to relief.
If preserving assets such as a home or vehicle is a priority, bankruptcy strategies can protect these items while addressing debts in a controlled manner.
When medical bills or credit card debt accumulate beyond what can reasonably be repaid, a discharge or restructured payment plan can reduce monthly burdens and restore hope.
Our Riverside team provides compassionate guidance through every stage of the bankruptcy process. We listen to your concerns, explain options in plain terms, prepare thorough documentation, and advocate on your behalf with creditors and the court. With careful planning and steady support, you can navigate toward a more secure financial future.
Frankfort Law Group leverages a robust Illinois-based team with trial experience to craft practical bankruptcy strategies. We prioritize clear communication, respectful service, and transparent billing to help you feel confident throughout the process.
You gain access to a coordinated approach that covers eligibility, documentation, deadlines, and creditor negotiations. We tailor solutions to your situation, ensuring you understand each step and how it contributes to your financial recovery.
Our focus is on delivering thoughtful guidance, steady support, and outcomes that align with your goals for a fresh start and a more secure future.
From initial consultation to discharge, our team coordinates every aspect of your case. We assess eligibility, collect financial documents, file the petition, and guide you through creditor meetings. Our goal is to keep you informed, minimize surprises, and help you achieve a stable financial path.
During the first stage, we gather your financial information, review debts, and determine the appropriate bankruptcy path. We explain timelines, potential outcomes, and prepare you for the filing hearing with clarity and care.
We compile schedules of assets, liabilities, income, and expenses, ensuring accuracy and compliance with court requirements. Clear documentation sets the foundation for a smooth process and reduces delays.
We file the petition and communicate with the court on your behalf, establishing the automatic stay and initiating creditor notifications to protect your interests from the outset.
In the second stage, you attend mandatory meetings with the trustee and address questions about your finances. We provide guidance, prepare responses, and advocate for favorable terms within the framework of the plan.
We help you navigate the meeting of creditors, respond to inquiries, and ensure that plan details reflect your budget and commitments. Our aim is to keep the process clear and manageable.
Throughout this stage, we monitor deadlines, coordinate document requests, and adjust the plan as needed to protect your assets and financial goals.
The final stage focuses on confirmation of the plan and, when applicable, discharge of remaining eligible debts. We review the results with you, discuss next steps for rebuilding credit, and provide ongoing resources for financial health.
Confirmation proceedings ensure the plan is legally solid and enforceable. We summarize outcomes and outline actions needed to finalize the case.
After discharge, you receive guidance on budgeting, credit rebuilding, and future financial planning to help sustain the relief achieved through bankruptcy.
At the Frankfort Law Group, we take great pride in our commitment to personal service. Clients come to us because they have problems, and they depend upon us to help them find solutions. We take these obligations seriously. When you meet with us, we know that you are only doing so because you need help. Since we started our firm in northeast Illinois, we have focused on providing each of our clients with personal attention. You do not have to be afraid to tell us your story. We are not here to judge you or make you feel ashamed for seeking help. Our only goal is to help you get results and move past your current legal problems.
At the Frankfort Law Group, we take great pride in our commitment to personal service. Clients come to us because they have problems, and they depend upon us to help them find solutions. We take these obligations seriously. When you meet with us, we know that you are only doing so because you need help. Since we started our firm in northeast Illinois, we have focused on providing each of our clients with personal attention. You do not have to be afraid to tell us your story. We are not here to judge you or make you feel ashamed for seeking help. Our only goal is to help you get results and move past your current legal problems.
Chapter 7 typically discharges most unsecured debts such as credit cards and medical bills after the court process concludes. Certain debts, like student loans or tax obligations, may not be dischargeable. Eligibility depends on income, assets, and household size. Our team reviews your finances to determine if Chapter 7 is the right fit and explains any potential exemptions that may affect what you can keep.
A bankruptcy filing can remain on your credit report for up to ten years, depending on the chapter and the reporting practices of lenders. While the filing itself may impact your credit score, many people begin rebuilding credit within a year or two by establishing on-time payments and prudent credit usage. We provide guidance on a practical plan to restore credit over time.
In many cases, you may be able to keep essential possessions, including a home or vehicle, depending on exemptions and the repayment plan. We assess each asset’s value and work to protect those assets through exemptions, lien negotiations, or a carefully structured Chapter 13 plan.
An automatic stay halts most collection activities, including lawsuits, wage garnishments, and creditor calls. It provides breathing room to organize finances, attend hearings, and determine a viable plan without ongoing pressure while the bankruptcy case progresses.
Costs vary based on the complexity of the case and the chapter pursued. We provide a transparent fee structure during your initial consultation and discuss potential court costs, filing fees, and any ancillary services. Financing options may be available to ease the process.
Chapter 7 offers discharge of many unsecured debts with a shorter timeline, while Chapter 13 provides a court-approved repayment plan over three to five years and can protect assets. The right choice depends on your income, assets, and debt mix; we compare these options in plain language during your consultation.
Eligibility depends on income relative to state standards, household size, and debt type. You will need documentation of income, expenses, assets, and debts. Our team helps you gather and organize these documents to present a complete and accurate petition to the court.
Filing bankruptcy can pause wage garnishments and collection actions, providing immediate relief. Whether a temporary halt or long-term solution is best depends on your financial situation and the type of debt involved. We review options to stop harassment while pursuing a stable resolution.
The timeline varies by chapter and case complexity. A typical Chapter 7 can be resolved in a few months, while Chapter 13 typically spans three to five years. We monitor progress, manage deadlines, and adjust plans as needed to keep your case moving forward smoothly.
Bring identification, recent pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, a list of debts and creditors, asset information, and questions about your goals. Having these items ready helps our team prepare your petition accurately and efficiently for the initial consultation.