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This is a region with a diverse economy, but the recession finally got here. It appeared to happen overnight to most observers, but any Chicago bankruptcy lawyer will admit that they had seen the storm brewing for awhile. The average Chicago bankruptcy lawyer seeing many more clients and possible clients than a year ago. No region of the country is immune and the devastation that the tanking economy has brought about has hurt many. Bankruptcy lawyers are in the advance guard of trying to bring debtors and creditors together to resolve the problem of owing and paying, in the hope that enough settlements will help to stabilize the local economy.

Many individuals who have had to seek court relief for their debts are in shock to be in such a position. Until recently they had been timely bill paying citizens. However, the perfect storm of economic disaster has taken its toll wave upon wave. First to roil the seas in this region was the burst of the real estate bubble. Add to that adjustable rate mortgages that suddenly increased hundreds and thousands of dollars, job losses and fallout from the financial meltdown, and Chicago has been tossed around a bit on the stormy economic seas. Because these people were not used to — or expecting– to see their finances sink in so many areas, they kept waiting and hoping for clearer skies, but the waves kept coming. They never prepared to be swamped, and when it happened they had no program and no idea.

Most sought out professional help only when the situation became hopeless — or hopeless in their eyes. When they finally did retain a bankruptcy lawyer they were able to present their cases, and receive guidance that set them on a path to recovery and provided some relief to their creditors.

Many were able to find a good lawyer by asking relatives and trusted friends. It was probably surprising to them that so many of those same have had to retain professional help and restructure their finances through the courts. Others found competent lawyers on the internet or through community or church organizations.

Once in consultation with their lawyers they were able to determine if a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 filing was necessary — and which one. Chapter 7 is a filing that means liquidation of all but exempt assets to pay creditors and Chapter 13 is a reorganization of finances and a schedule to repay all or most creditors. In some cases the bankruptcy lawyer may have advised to hold off on filing or not to file at all. Each case is different, and there is no template, and it is not a “do-it-yourself” project.

Many a bankruptcy attorney in Chicago has found an unlikely role in helping to balance and stabilize the local economy, case-by-case. It is a truly necessary and worthy function for both debtors and creditors.

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