Galina Rakhman Karpel

The process in Illinois takes, on average, from the filing of the complaint to the eviction by the sheriff, nine months. Foreclosure defense in court is seldom successful in defeating the foreclosure action but may prolong the foreclosure by as much as 24 months. If the property is not residential or is abandoned, the process can be substantially shortened. More often than not, the only realistic option is to file Bankruptcy, but in either case, we will work each case to its best outcome.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Allows a person to consolidate the debt while making convenient monthly payments to a trustee. A payment plan is proposed which repays the debt over a three to five year period. The amount of the monthly payment and the length of the repayment plan is based upon the following factors: Monthly income of the person, monthly expenses of the person, and amount and nature of the debt.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: Also known as "Fresh Start" bankruptcy, allows a person to eliminate most or all of his debt while being allowed to keep whatever property he may have. It also allows unsecured debt such as medical bills, personal loans and most credit card charges to be easily eliminated. In many cases, a person may keep their home or car, provided that they continue to make current payments and are up to date on the loan.

We take a highly aggressive approach in dealing with insurance companies, and we push for a timely settlement with a maximum award. We are experienced with alternative dispute resolution (ADR), including mediation and binding arbitration, as well as litigation and negotiation. We work with expert witnesses and a private investigation team to locate witnesses, serve papers, document injuries and prove negligence and damages.