If you file for bankruptcy, you still have an opportunity to keep your house and vehicles. Whether this will be possible depends on four factors: (1) how much equity you have in the property that you are attempting to keep; and (2) whether your equity in the property exceeds the bankruptcy exemption for that type of property; (3) if you have a loan secured by the property, whether the bank will agree to reaffirm the loan despite the bankruptcy; and (4) whether you will be able to afford to continue to make your loan payments after the bankruptcy.

In this article, we explain the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy process in Illinois. We will explain the difference between Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, how to determine if Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is right for you, how to file for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, what to expect from the First Meeting of Creditors, and what happens after the First Meeting of creditors in a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy case.

‍When your bankruptcy petition and schedules are filed, the court will schedule a meeting with the trustee called the First Meeting of the Creditors. Although notice of this meeting is sent to everyone you list as a creditor in your petition, it is extremely rare for a creditor to actually attend.