Bankruptcy can provide a way out for many Illinois families and individuals who have become buried in insurmountable debt. Both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings can give you an opportunity to ultimately discharge most debts through different means. If you are considering bankruptcy as a solution to your debt, it is important to understand which debts can and cannot be discharged through the bankruptcy process. Before you file, it is a good idea to consult a qualified attorney who can help you make sure that bankruptcy will help you achieve your goal of becoming debt-free. 

What Types of Debt Are Not Discharged During Bankruptcy Proceedings? 

It may not seem fair that some debts can be discharged through bankruptcy, and you are stuck with others. Unfortunately, this is the reality. Whether bankruptcy would be helpful for you depends heavily on what type of debt you are struggling with. Even in bankruptcy, you will generally not be able to discharge: 

• Family support - This includes both child support and alimony. In particular, a child’s right to be financially supported by both parents is considered extremely important and will take precedence. 
• Legal fines - Fines associated with traffic tickets, or fines that are part of a criminal sentence cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. This includes any restitution you have been ordered to pay to a victim. Otherwise, a good many people could file bankruptcy simply to avoid criminal penalties. 
• Taxes - Tax debts, including recent income tax debts, are generally still owed after bankruptcy. 
• Drunk-driving related personal injury liability - If you owe compensation to someone you injured while driving intoxicated, this debt survives bankruptcy as the victim is still entitled to payment. 
• Forgotten debts - It is extremely important to ensure that you have listed all dischargeable debts in your bankruptcy filing. Any debt that you leave off your bankruptcy papers by mistake will not be discharged during these proceedings unless your creditor happens to become aware that you have filed. 
• Student loans - Traditionally, student loans cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. The law has loosened up just a bit on this rule, however - in cases where paying back your student loans would create an undue hardship, it may be possible for them to be included in your bankruptcy. It is critical to seek the advice of an attorney if you believe this applies to you. 

There are other types of non-dischargeable debts that are specific to either Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings. If you are unsure which debts you may or may not be able to discharge in bankruptcy, it is important to consult an attorney before filing. A lawyer can offer you guidance that can help you decide whether bankruptcy is the right solution for you. 

You probably do not want to have to evict a tenant. The eviction process is rarely quick or simple. Generally, formal eviction proceedings are a last resort when a problem tenant refuses to leave on their own. As a landlord, you may face situations where you have little choice but to evict a tenant who is refusing to pay, destroying your property, or engaging in criminal activity. When these situations arise, it can be tremendously helpful to have an attorney who is experienced with eviction proceedings representing you. Renters have a lot of legal protections in Illinois, but there are still valid reasons for evicting a tenant that the courts will typically honor.

What Are Some Legal Reasons for Evicting a Tenant?

The most common reason people get evicted is for nonpayment. However, there are good legal reasons to evict even a tenant who is up to date on rent. Grounds for eviction in Illinois include:

• Damages - Destructive tenants can create extremely costly damages very quickly. Whether they are intentionally causing damages, such as by punching holes in the wall, or passively allowing damages, such as by failing to clean up after a pet, a tenant can be evicted for damaging the rental property.
• Illegal use - If your tenant is using your property for an illegal purpose, you can most likely have them evicted. Common illegal uses of rental housing include prostitution and selling or manufacturing drugs.
• Nuisance - For those who own multi-family buildings, situations may arise where one tenant is a nuisance to the others. Repeated noise violations, harassment, or intimidating behavior by one renter can create an environment that is unsafe or otherwise difficult for others to live in. The disruptive tenant may need to be evicted.
• Nonpayment - You may not want to evict a tenant who is struggling financially and unable to pay rent, but at a certain point, it may become necessary. If your tenant is merely irresponsible or refusing to pay for a nonsense reason, evicting them may come as a relief.

There are also reasons for which you explicitly cannot evict someone. For example, you cannot evict a tenant for making a valid complaint about the property or based on their familial status or membership in a protected class. Victims of domestic violence may have additional protections in some cases, even if nonpayment or noise complaints were a problem. It is best to speak with a qualified attorney before attempting to evict a tenant.

Contrary to popular belief, filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy does not mean that all your debts are wiped. The possibility of discharging a debt depends on its nature.

Dischargeable debts are those that you are not legally responsible for after filing for bankruptcy. They include most consumer debt such as medical bills or credit card debt.

If you are going into retirement, something that you might be considering is eliminating any of your outstanding debts. Part of the issue that people run into during retirement is that they may not have as much income as they had in the past. As a result, paying the debts that accrued earlier in life may not be as easy as it was before.

If you find that you've fallen behind, then one option may be to file for bankruptcy to get a fresh start. If you can pass the Chapter 7 bankruptcy means test, then you may be able to have your unsecured debts discharged after going through the liquidation process.

If you start looking into your estate planning, you know that it begins with dividing assets, but you may quickly realize that you have a lot of debt, as well. You plan to pay this off before you die or to declare bankruptcy or take care of it in some other fashion, but there's no guarantee.

If you pass away and still have debt, does that have to become part of your estate plan? Do your heirs need to pay your debt, and will they inherit it just like they would inherit your assets?