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On June 21, 2022, the President signed S. 3823 Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment and Technical Corrections Act.   Among other things, this increases the debt limits in Chapter 13 cases to a total of $2.75 Million in secured and unsecured debts.  As with the prior law, this retains the application of this limit only to non-contingent, liquidated debts.  Please note that, absent further action by Congress, this increased dollar amount will sunset in 2 years.

Both Creditors and Attorneys representing Debtors are now offered the option of foregoing paper checks and instead obtaining their monthly disbursements via electronic fund transfer ("EFT").  Payment by EFT is faster and more secure than traditional payment methods.  If you are interested in exercising this option, please contact our system manager, Melanie, at melaniea@simonch13trustee.com,for further information.  

Please note that most documents requested/needed by my office are submitted via a secure portal through bkdocs.us. If you are represented by an attorney, they will submit all required documents; however, if you are acting pro-se, you can go to the website and register to submit your documents.   

For reference, categories are:

Tax Return Submission – tax returns ONLY

Bank Statements – self-explanatory

Pay Stubs – self-explanatory

Vehicle/House Loan Requests – all requests to incur debt

Affidavits/Waivers – all waivers & affidavits     

341 ID – picture identification and social security verification

Correspondence – Legal (Local)  – all other misc. correspondence sent to our office

My office authorizes the submission of plan payments electronically through either E-Pay or TFS.  If you are interested in using either of these methods, please contact your attorney for further information and eligibility. If you are not represented by an attorney, you may contact my office for questions regarding electronic payments.    

Effective with ALL cases filed on or after August 1, 2011, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois has mandated the use of a new uniform Chapter 13 Plan. The Chapter 13 Plan form is available to the public at the Benton and East St. Louis offices of the U.S. Bankruptcy Clerk and on the Court's website. Also with the implementation of this new Plan, the Court has also published a Chapter 13 Procedures Manual on its website. Practioners and pro-se debtors/creditors are strongly urged to familiarize themselves with its contents.  

The attached documents set forth the procedures required for payment of pre-petition real estate tax claims through my office. Please note that the specific interest rates listed, if any, are those requested by the corresponding  county. 

Please remember that failure to follow these procedures exactly will result in a objection.