Money & Debt

Two dollar bills and three coins

Money & Debt

Financial wellness
(14 resources)
Trouble paying bills
Learn about legal responsibility for debts, collection risks, and options for managing and prioritizing payments.
FAQ
Medical bills and debt
Understand medical bills and debt, including hospital billing rules, financial assistance, insurance issues, and legal protections.
FAQ
Budgeting with limited resources
Learn how to create a simple household budget by listing income, tracking expenses, and comparing resources to monthly needs and costs.
How-To
Paying income taxes
Learn about filing requirements for federal and state income taxes, payment plans, and finding tax help.
FAQ
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Identity theft and coerced debt
(6 resources)
Identity theft and coerced debt
Learn about identity theft and coerced debt, including common types of identity theft, spotting problems, and consumer protections.
FAQ
Respond to court papers about collecting debt from identity theft
How to respond to being sued for debt caused by identity theft, including affidavits and court papers.
How-To
Respond to court papers about debt that is not yours
Learn how to respond to lawsuits that try to collect debt from identity theft and name the wrong person as the defendant, or are not collection cases.
How-To
Identity theft affidavit - Credit card and debt buyer cases
File the Illinois Supreme Court Identity Theft Affidavit form in a collection lawsuit to explain to the judge that debt was caused by identity theft.
Form link
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Credit reports and background checks
(3 resources)
Understanding credit reports and scores
Explains what credit reports contain, how credit scores are calculated, and how to correct and improve them.
Guide
Can they check my credit report when I apply for a job?
Covers federal and Illinois law about what employers can and cannot do when you apply for a job.
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Disputing inaccurate information on your credit report or background check
Learn how to dispute inaccurate information on your credit report or background check with the credit bureaus and what your rights are.
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Debt collection
(27 resources)
How a debt judgment can be collected basics
Understand how creditors access wages, bank accounts, and other types of property to collect a debt judgment.
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Responding to a debt collection lawsuit basics
Learn about responding to a debt collection lawsuit.
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Responding to debt collectors
An overview of how to respond to debt collectors and your rights when dealing with them.
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Debt collector letter
This Easy Form makes a letter to a debt collector. You can ask them for proof that you owe the debt, say you don’t owe the debt, or ask them to stop or limit contact. The letter can also explain if you are protected from collection under federal or Illinois law.
Easy Form
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Car loans & repossession
(13 resources)
Understanding car repossession
Understand when your lender can take your car and what your options are.
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Do I pay Illinois taxes when buying a car in another state?
Understand when to pay Illinois car sales tax when you buy a car in another state.
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How do I sell my car?
Explains the taxes and paperwork involved in selling your car
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Get my impounded car back - Chicago
Steps to recover your impounded car in Chicago from finding the location it was towed to paying the fees.
How-To
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Bankruptcy
(20 resources)
Qualifying for bankruptcy
Understand if you qualify for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
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Bankruptcy basics
Understand the basics of bankruptcy, including how it works and what it can do for you.
Guide
Starting a Chapter 7 bankruptcy
Steps to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy from taking a credit counseling course to filling out the forms you need.
How-To
Chapter 13 bankruptcy basics
Explains Chapter 13 bankruptcy as an option of paying your debts instead of wiping them clean.
Guide
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Small claims
(13 resources)
Small claims complaint
This Easy Form helps you make the forms to sue someone for up to $10,000. It can be used to sue a landlord for a security deposit.
Easy Form
Starting a small claims court case
Steps to file a small claims lawsuit for $10,000 or less from the forms you need to preparing for trial.
How-To
Responding to a case filed against me in small claims court
Understand how to respond to a lawsuit filed against you for $10,000 or less.
How-To
Filing costs in a small claims case
Describes the costs of filing a small claims case.
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Loans
(3 resources)
Forgiveness, cancellation, and discharge of student loans
Learn about about different loan forgiveness options, who can qualify, and where to find more resources.
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Your rights as a college student in Illinois
Learn more about how to access transcripts, student debt on credit reports, and withdrawing from school during hardship.

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Student loan acronyms and phrases
Learn the common acronyms and phrases used in student loans.
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Other money and debt issues
(10 resources)
Do gift cards or gift certificates expire?
Covers the difference between federal and state laws that affect the validity of gift cards and certificates, as well as what they mean for Illinois residents. Also offers information on fees and scams associated with gift cards.
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Dividing retirement accounts in a divorce
Explains when the court might divide retirement accounts between divorcing spouses.
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Getting my property back
Explains how to get property back that was wrongfully taken or kept.
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Can't I cancel a contract within 3 days?
Describes how a contract may or may not be canceled depending on the type of contract, like door-to-door sales or loans.
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