On April 14, 2020, Illinois Governor Pritzker issued an executive order suspending new collection actions for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation).
In this order, the Governor suspended new garnishments from things like paychecks and bank accounts. It also suspends proceedings to require people to come to court and disclose their assets (also called a citation to discover assets).
This means, during the pandemic, if someone sues you and has a judgement, they cannot start a new proceeding to garnish your wages or bank account.
The suspension is limited to consumer debtors; meaning it does not apply to judgements against businesses or companies.
It also does not apply to domestic support obligations, including child support and spousal maintenance obligations.
It does not get rid of the liability or debt that is already owed. It just delays the ways a creditor (person with the right to enforce the debt) can try to collect on it.
Hopefully this helps people struggling with debt during these challenging times.
As always, do not hesitate to contact any of our team members should you have any questions or comments. Good luck, stay healthy, and abide by the social distancing orders.
DISCLAIMER: This email and any information contained herein is solely for informational purposes. While it is important that you educate yourself, nothing herein should be construed as legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. For specific questions, I always urge you to contact a local attorney for advice pertaining to your specific legal needs.
