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Illinois bankruptcy exemptions help you understand which items such as a house or car are at risk of losing if you file bankruptcy. Unfortunately, bankruptcy exemptions in Illinois are complex.
The purpose of this article is to:
Illinois Bankruptcy Exemptions
Illinois exemptions determine what assets you may be able to protect when filing. The homestead exemption is one of the most important protections available.
In Illinois, the homestead exemption protects equity in your primary residence. The amount depends on whether you are filing alone or jointly.
| Exemption Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Automobile | $2,400 | Applies to equity in a vehicle |
| Tools of Trade | $1,500 | Used for work or business purposes |
| Wildcard | $4,000 | Can be applied to any property |
| Personal Property | $0 | No separate general personal property exemption listed here |
Bankruptcy exemptions can help you keep specific belonging when filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In many states, there are bankruptcy exemptions that cover your home, vehicle, jewelry, tools of your trade, etc. The bankruptcy exemptions can also help guide your Chapter 13 plan payment.
Here’s a couple of things to note:
Below are some of the most common bankruptcy exemptions for Illinois. Let’s get into the numbers. Please note the below is the best estimate at the time of writing, but check the actual legal text for the most accurate exemption data.
The homestead exemption is often broken down by age and whether you are married.
Single and under 65: $50,000
Single is 65 or older: $50,000
Married and under 65: $100,000
Married is 65 or older: $100,000
Illinois specific homestead bankruptcy exemption text: “I.L.C.S. §§ 5/12-901; 5/12-906. Real or personal property including a farm, lot, & buildings, condo, co-op, or mobile home to $15,000; sale proceeds exempt for 1 year” (Source)
The automobile bankruptcy exemption in Illinois is $2,400.
The tools of the trade bankruptcy exemption in Illinois is $1,500.
The wildcard bankruptcy exemption in Illinois is $4,000.
The personal property bankruptcy exemption in Illinois is $0.
Below is specific special handling of bankruptcy exemptions in Illinois.
Here are other common exemptions. There may be limits to the amount of the bankruptcy exemption, so please be sure to check each one individually.
Not covered here include less common exemptions such as illness benefits, firefighter pensions, retirement involving stock. However, we encourage you to research the official Illinois legal text for more information.
You may have too much equity in a belonging, which makes you consider other options. For example, let’s say you own a boat outright that is valued at $100,000. With the wildcard exemption in Illinois, you may be at risk of losing that vehicle.
There’s an opportunity to still do the Chapter 7 bankruptcy, but the trustee may liquidate the boat to pay off some of the creditors. You have a couple more prominent options:
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Illinois is called wage earner's bankruptcy where you pay a monthly payment plan. You would be set up on a 3 or 5-year plan that would be a set monthly rate based on what you can afford. This option is generally more expensive than a Chapter 7 after legal fees, but it is a valid option for many folks who are above the exemptions
Debt Settlement is where a company or you negotiates a lower amount owed with the creditors directly because of the financial hardship that is preventing you from paying your bills. For example, a debt settlement company would try to negotiate a $10,000 credit bill down to $5,000. This option would still negatively affect your credit and there are fees associated with this option, but it is a valid option for many and can be quicker than a Chapter 13 bankruptcy depending on how aggressive you are with negotiating and paying off the debt.
Debt Management is where a company negotiates a lower interest rate with your creditors because of financial hardship. For example, a debt management company would try to negotiate a credit card’s interest rate from 22% to 8%. This option is often the most expensive of the debt relief options and can work best for credit cards, but debt management is a valid option for many folks.
Understand what items you may lose when filing bankruptcy to help you make a more informed decision. The bankruptcy exemptions in bankruptcy exemptions calculator or reach out to us directly at support@tryascend.com if you have any questions.
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