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Winnebago County Bankruptcy Attorney | Debt Resolution Lawyers, Winnebago County IL

Don’t make filing for bankruptcy any harder than it already is. If you have debt that’s piling up and you don’t know where to turn, call our friendly Winnebago County bankruptcy attorneys to schedule a free consultation. Make sure your rights a preserved as you file for bankruptcy or debt resolution. Our cost-effective services are a smooth and affordable solution to your debt complications.
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Smiling womanAttorney Kevin O'Flaherty

"Kevin was extremely professional, responsive and knowledgeable when I came to him for help. I would definitely recommend O'Flaherty Law!"

How can our Winnebago County Bankruptcy Attorneys help you?

Top 3 Qualities to look for in Your Attorney

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We believe your attorney should not speak in legalese

Finding an attorney who is a “real person” can be difficult. Many attorneys surround themselves almost exclusively with other attorneys and are accustomed to speaking in ivory tower legalese.  You should be able to connect with your attorney on a personal level, and he or she should speak to you in plain language that you can understand.  You will be working very closely with this person on issues that are very important to you. It is important that he or she be down-to-earth and someone that you connect with.

We believe your attorney should be accessible

The most common complaint that clients have of their attorneys is that the attorney is unreachable, does not communicate with them regularly, or does not promptly return your calls.  Your attorney should reach out to you about your case regularly and respond within 24 hours to calls and e-mails.  An open line of communication between you and your attorney is essential to building trust.

Learn how we service your area through our Remote Location Approach.

We believe your attorney should be realistic with you about costs and outcomes

Your attorney’s goal should not be to win at all costs.  Rather, it should be to achieve a favorable outcome for you as efficiently as possible.  It is important that your attorney set realistic expectations at the outset as to the costs you should expect, the concerns that the attorney has about the outcome of your case, and the length of time that you should expect your case to take.

Regardless of the nature of your case, we have an experienced attorney who will focus on your individual needs. Our team of attorneys works closely together, bringing each of their different fields of experience to bear in order to optimize our client care.

Client Testimonials

Christi M.

Kevin's firm handled setting up my will and trust recently. They took something that seemed intimidating and made it easy to understand. I've also referred a couple clients to Kevin - he's trustworthy, approachable and very fairly priced.

Marvin

"I've used Kevin and his firm's services since 2011. He gave undivided attention to my cases, advised me on different options and..."

Rachel B.

"Kevin was extremely professional, responsive and knowledgeable when I came to him for help. I would definitely recommend O'Flaherty Law!"

About Winnebago County Bankruptcy Attorneys:

  • We Give You Counsel From experienced Attorneys, Not Info-Tapes! The attorneys at O'Flaherty Law pride themselves on providing personalized service to all of their clients. This means you won't be kept in the dark about the status of your case until the meeting with the trustee towards the end of the bankruptcy case, as is often the case with other attorneys. We care about our clients, and hope to advise you for any legal issues such as estate planning and home purchases, that may arise after your bankruptcy is complete.
  • We Are Affordable!  O’FlahertyLaw understands that expensive legal fees seem very intimidating whenconsidering your options for bankruptcy or debt negotiation.  We promise to put you in the best possible situationto succeed after your bankruptcy or debt negotiation hearing, while stilloffering very affordable rates.  If youcan find a more affordable debt solution, we would like to hear about it.
  • We Have a Wide Network of Resources to Help Get You Backon Your Feet!  Your bankruptcy or debt negotiation hearingis only the beginning of your new life. You will need a network of resources, not just an attorney.  O’Flaherty law has a network of resources suchas lenders, bankers, vehicle solutions, and credit repair solutions to get yournew life started the right way.
Expertise Best Child Support Lawyers in Chicago 201710 Best 2016 Client Satisfaction American Institute of Family Law AttorneysAvvo Clients' Choice 2016 DivorceRising Stars Kevin P. O'Flaherty SuperLawyers.com10 Best Law Firms 2018 Client Satisfaction American Institute of Family Legal Counsel Attorneys Estate Planning Law40 under forty

What to Expect From a Legal Consultation

The purpose of a consultation is to determine whether our firm is a good fit for your legal needs. Although we often discuss expected results and costs, our attorneys do not give legal advice unless and until you choose to retain us.

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Location

Office Address

6785 Weaver Rd., Unit 2B

Rockford, IL 61114

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Hours of Operation

Monday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Tuesday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Thursday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Friday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Attorneys

Meet the Owner

I am personally committed to ensuring that each one of our clients receives the highest level of client service from our team.  Our mission is to provide excellent legal work in a cost-effective manner while maintaining open lines of communication between our clients and their attorneys.  Many of our clients are going through difficult times in their lives when they reach out to us.  They should feel comfortable leaning on the experience and knowledge of our attorneys as their counselors and advocates.  We are here to help!

- Attorney Kevin O'Flaherty, Owner

Check Out Articles and Videos from our Winnebago County Bankruptcy Attorneys

What Are My Options For Dealing With Debt?

Our Winnebago County bankruptcy attorneys will help you understand how to better navigate the bankruptcy process in this companion article.  

Before filing, you are required to complete an online credit counseling course. These are usually relatively short and inexpensive.  Our Winnebago County bankruptcy and debt resolution attorneys will then work with you to help you with information regarding your assets, liabilities, income and expenses. After a meeting with the creditors, your case will be heard in the appropriate court where your bankruptcy will then be discharged.

Read the full article by our Winnebago County bankruptcy attorneys to learn how to prepare for bankruptcy.  

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Keeping Your Assets Under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Winnebago County

Our Winnebago County debt resolution law team wants you to better understand how to hold on to your most precious assets (car, home, etc.) during bankruptcy.

If your vehicle or home is held as collateral, you will most likely have the option to sign a reaffirmation agreement.  This reaffirms the loan without discharging it in the bankruptcy process.  The debt secured by your vehicle or home will not be taken out in the bankruptcy and you will be able to keep your most valuable assets when you are done if this is the case. If you do file for the bankruptcy, the trustee will seek collection of your assets to fulfill your debts. The Bankruptcy Code states that a portion of equity in particular types of property can be exempt from collection. These exceptions on the property you decide to keep in order to avoid the trustee collecting them on your behalf. For example:

  • You are allowed to keep $2,400.00 of equity in your vehicles ($4,800.00 for a married couple filing jointly)
  • You are allowed to keep $15,000.00 of equity in your primary residence ($30,000.00 for a married couple filing jointly); 
  • There is a $4,000.00 wildcard exemption that you can apply to any property of your choice ($8,000.00 for a married couple)

Read an article from our Winnebago County bankruptcy attorneys about keeping your property in bankruptcy.

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The First Meeting Of Creditors In A Winnebago County Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Explained

Once our Winnebago County bankruptcy attorneys file your bankruptcy petition, we accompany you to the “First Meeting of Creditors.”  While this seems intimidating, it's misleading considering creditors rarely attend these meetings.  This meeting is between you, your attorney and the bankruptcy trustee assigned to your case. The trustee asks you preliminary questions and may do the following:

  • Confirm your identity through a photo ID and social security card.
  • Swear you in and put you under oath. 
  • Ask if you've reviewed your schedules before they were filed and ask you to confirm that they are true and correct.  
  • Ask if you have reviewed required notices provided by your attorney regarding bankruptcy and your alternatives. 

Once these questions are put on record and established, the trustee asks you questions regarding your schedules and finances. You can read a transcript of the bankruptcy trustee's usual questions here. ​Once the trustee enters a finding stating that you have no non-exempt assets for collection on your behalf they will recommend  your debts be released.  Once this happens, the case will close for a brief period.  During this time creditors have the right to object to the discharge, which seems intimidating but rarely happens.Read more about the First Meeting of Creditors from our Winnebago County bankruptcy attorneys.

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