Geraci Law Attorney Jonathan Parker at Geraci Law LLC, 55 E Monroe #3400, Chicago, IL 60603 Reports: At her first appointment, a potential client said she wasn’t sure if she wanted to file a bankruptcy case or settle her debts with the money she had saved up for retirement. The attorney she met with called me to get a supervisor’s opinion. I pointed out she could protect her money in an IRA and discharge her debt at the same time, and she signed up to file a Chapter 7.
Geraci Law Attorney Marc Affolter at Geraci Law LLC, 5465 Grand Ave #106, Gurnee, IL 60031 Reports: A client left our office without realizing she had left her purse under my desk. I ran out into the cold to flag down her van. I wasn’t able to catch her in time, but I called her before she got too far. She appreciated that I had answered all of her questions and that I put in the extra effort to get her purse back.
Geraci Law Attorney Jennifer Asbury at Geraci Law LLC, 912 W. McGalliard, Muncie, IN 47304 Reports: Our client was at her court date waiting for her name to be called. I was approached by a child support prosecutor, who was looking for the client because she had another hearing at the same time in another part of the courthouse. I directed the prosecutor to the client, who was able to meet with the prosecutor while I delayed her meeting with the Trustee. Our client was quite pleased, as the prosecutor would have had to delay her court date for several weeks.
Geraci Law Attorney Joseph Blaha at Geraci Law LLC, 2505 N. Mayfair Rd #101, Wauwatosa, WI 53226 Reports: A potential client walked in off of the street. She tearfully told me how she had been struggling ever since her husband passed away. I explained how bankruptcy can help her, and how she’ll be able to sleep better knowing she can live on fixed income. She did not want to hire us that day – but came back two days later, and signed up for a Chapter 7.
Geraci Law Attorney Timothy Stanton at Geraci Law LLC, 4218 N. Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL Reports: I signed up a married couple for a Chapter 13 to save their house from foreclosure. Their previous case with a different bankruptcy law firm had been dismissed after they fell behind on payments. They had given a money order to their attorney to cure the default, but the Trustee never received their payment. I saw clients again at their court date, and they told me how happy they were with our services.
Geraci Law Attorney Brent Ingram at Geraci Law LLC, 2304 Plainfield Rd, Crest Hill, IL 60435 Reports: A client wasn’t able to print out her bankruptcy petition due to printer troubles. I printed out her petition at the office and showed her a website where she can update her printer software online.
Geraci Law Attorney Thomas Barbour at Geraci Law LLC, 5495 East 82nd St., Indianapolis, IN 46250 Reports: A client came into our office worried about a letter he had just received from a title loan company threatening to repossess his car. The client’s case had just been filed and he was paying for the title loan through his Chapter 13 plan. I calmed him down and called the title loan company to make sure they knew about his bankruptcy.
Geraci Law Attorney Christopher Holoyda at Geraci Law LLC, 200 W. Silver Spring Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53217 Reports: A client had scheduled a time to take his Credit Counseling Course by phone after his appointment. Rather than sending him on his way, I got him set him to take the course in our warmest office (it was the coldest day of year, and our other offices were somewhat chilly).
Geraci Law Attorney Mariusz Zatorski at Geraci Law LLC, 8658 S. Cottage Grove Ave #406, Chicago, IL 60619 Reports: During his last visit, one of our elderly clients told me that it’s been difficult for him to work since he fell and bruised his ribs. I asked how and where he injured himself to find out if he had any interest in filing a personal injury suit – but he had fallen at home and no one else was at fault. Despite his discomfort, the client still wanted to see me to ask questions about his case.
Geraci Law Attorney Paul Jensen at Geraci Law LLC, 3640 West 95th St., Evergreen Park, IL 60805 Reports: I reviewed client’s 2014 tax return and showed her how her tax preparer had claimed a substantial business loss for a business that no longer exists. I told the client to amend her tax return as soon as possible.
Geraci Law Attorney Merid Mekonnen at Geraci Law LLC, 625 S. 8th, West Dundee, IL 60118 Reports: Both of our clients forgot to bring their Social Security cards to their court date. Normally the Trustee would have rescheduled their court date, but I managed to pull a copy of their tax transcripts from the IRS’s website between court dates. Their court date went fine and our clients did not have to miss another day of work.
Geraci Law Attorney Shera Bucchianeri at Geraci Law LLC, 7015 W. North Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 Reports: At their consultation, a client described how she had put a $3,000 down payment on a car at a buy here pay here lot. The financing fell through, however, and the car immediately starting having mechanical problems. I did some research and discovered a statute that says that if financing for a vehicle falls through, the seller must return any down payment as long as the vehicle is turned over (Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act (815 ILCS 505/1).
Geraci Law Attorney Nana Yaa Russell at Geraci Law LLC, 96 River Oaks Center #C43A, Calumet City, IL 60409 Reports: I noticed one of our clients having trouble filling out her paperwork during her first appointment. While helping her fill out her forms, I found out she had broken her finger and hurt her shoulder when she was assaulted, and would need to have surgery to treat her injuries. I could tell she was carrying a huge emotional load and listed to her talk about her problems. She was grateful to have someone to listen to her, and when she left the office she gave me a hug and said she felt better already.
Geraci Law Attorney David Lugardo at Geraci Law LLC, 6537 ½ W. Cermak Rd Suite B, Berwyn, IL 60402 Reports: I called our client to follow up on the last few documents we needed to file her case. I found she had been hospitalized after suffering a seizure. She told me she had decided against filing a bankruptcy case, and that her creditors could do whatever they wanted to her. I could tell she was probably medicated and not thinking clearly, so I called her back a few days later to check on her. She was feeling better and had decided to go ahead and file a case after thinking things through. She thanked me for not closing her case.
Geraci Law Attorney Jason Kara at Geraci Law LLC, 1885 N. Farnsworth Ste 6, Aurora, IL 60505 Reports: A client who had recently been laid off mentioned she’s been having trouble working on her resume and finding a job. I searched online and found a calendar of upcoming events at her local library. Her library offers free workshops that include resume building, interviewing, online job search engines. I printed out the information.
Geraci Law Attorney Jennifer Asbury at Geraci Law LLC, 7007 S. U.S. 31 #D, Greenwood, IL 46227 Reports: After his initial appointment, a client was waiting on a coworker to give him a ride home. The client called his coworker several times, but no one answered; then he called a cab service, but the cab never showed up either. I signed our client up for Uber, and a driver showed up 15 minutes later to whisk him home.
Geraci Law Attorney Adam Suchy at Geraci Law LLC, 9939 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60628 Reports: One of our clients needed to drop off a payment to prevent her Chapter 13 case from getting dismissed, but she wasn’t available during normal office hours. To accommodate her schedule, I opened the Halsted office one hour early and drove 90 minutes through snow and rush hour traffic to get there in time.
Geraci Law Attorney Alex Wilson at Geraci Law LLC, 950 W. Ogden Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60515 Reports: One of our clients had not paid her real estate taxes in a while and wasn’t sure how much she owed. I went to the county treasurer’s website and downloaded her tax payment history, which indicated some taxes had been sold. Then I called the Treasurer to find out when the redemption period would expire. Our client appreciated the help.
Geraci Law Attorney Alex Wilson at Geraci Law LLC, 950 W. Ogden Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60515 Reports: A client told me she hasn’t filed tax returns in several years because she hasn’t received W-2’s from her employers. I went on the IRS’s website and helped our client download her W-2’s so she can file her tax returns.
Geraci Law Attorney Christopher Holoyda at Geraci Law LLC 6218 Washington (Rt 20) #E, Racine, WI 53406 Reports: Our clients were not eligible to file a Chapter 7 until March because their income had been higher the previous summer. I stayed late on the last Saturday of February to finish reviewing their case, then filed their case first thing Monday morning to prevent the wife’s wages from being garnished. I called her payroll supervisor just as he was processing payroll, and managed to stop the garnishment time.
Geraci Law Attorney Christopher Hoffman at Geraci Law LLC, 55 E. Monroe Street #3400, Chicago, IL 60603 Reports: A client neglected to grab coffee on her way to our office, so I brought her a steaming cup of Joe with two creams, four sugars.
Geraci Law Attorney Christopher Dyer at Geraci Law LLC 55 E. Monroe Street, #3400, Chicago, IL 60603 Reports: In a Chapter 13 case, creditors filed claims far in excess of the amount of debt we listed, which could have caused our client’s plan to run longer. I filed objections to eight different claims for various legal deficiencies, reducing the amount owed on his bankruptcy by over $60,000. This will allow our client to finish his plan earlier than expected.
Geraci Law Attorney Felicia Petroff at Geraci Law LLC 2505 N. Mayfair Rd #101, Wauwatosa, WI 53226 Reports: During a client’s appointment, I chatted with her about all sorts of things. We discussed our kids and childbirth experiences, her two ex-husbands (and, on a related note, the reasons she’ll never get married again), how she aspired to be a midwife – even the fact that we are both overdue for a haircut, but want to wait until our hair is long enough to donate to Locks of Love. As she left the office, client told me she appreciates all the help we’ve given her and gave me a big hug.
Geraci Law Attorney Robert Crowley at Geraci Law LLC200 W. Silver Spring Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53217 Reports: Our client showed up 20 minutes late for his court date. He was huffing and puffing, and soaked to the skin. I asked if he was O.K., and found out he had gotten a flat tire on the way to the courthouse and had had to walk a mile in the rain and snow. Our client was still recovering from a broken foot, so after his hearing I gave him a ride back to his car so he wouldn’t have to walk another mile on his bum leg.
Geraci Law Attorney David Lulkin at Geraci Law LLC, 4315 E. State St. Ruite B, Rockford, IL 61108 Reports: At their court date, the Trustee said he was missing our clients’ tax return. Instead of having the clients drive all the way back home, I dropped by our Rockford office between meetings and pulled a tax transcript from the IRS’s website. I returned to court with the tax papers and Trustee declared No Assets.
Geraci Law Attorney Kristin Beilke at Geraci Law LLC 4315 E. State St. Ruite B, Rockford, IL 61108 Reports: The Trustee moved to dismiss a Chapter 13 case because our clients had fallen behind on their payments. At the court date, I convinced the Trustee to give our clients more time to get caught up. Being on good terms with the Trustees pays off, and it saves our clients time and money.
Geraci Law Attorney Nathan Curtis at Geraci Law LLC 55 E. Monroe Street, #3400, Chicago, IL 60603 Reports: I met with a client who was nervous about her upcoming gallbladder surgery. I have a friend who just had the same surgery, and described how he was out of the hospital after a couple days, and back to work after a week. She felt better after talking with me.
Geraci Law Attorney Lesley Lueke at Geraci Law LLC 55 E. Monroe Street, #3400, Chicago, IL 60603 Reports: A client could not find his Social Security card in time for his court date. Instead of making client return to court with his card, I convinced the Trustee to verify our client’s Social Security number by reviewing the copy we had on file on our laptop.
Geraci Law Attorney Nicholas Tepeli at Geraci Law LLC 7015 W. North Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 Reports: I helped a disabled client walk to his car and loaded his walker into his trunk. He was very appreciative for the assistance as there was a lot of melting ice outside of the office that day.
Geraci Law Attorney Christine Kuhlman at Geraci Law LLC, 950 W. Ogden Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60515 Reports: A week after our client filed a Chapter 7 case, one of her payday loans withdrew several hundred dollars from her bank account. I called the lender and they agreed to issue a refund to our client immediately.
Geraci Law Attorney Jason Neilson at Geraci Law LLC 4315 E State St. Suite B, Rockford, IL 61108 Reports: One of our older clients wasn’t sure where the courthouse was located. I pulled up a map of Rockford and showed her how to get to the courthouse and where to find parking.
Geraci Law Attorney David Lulkin at Geraci Law LLC, 8658 S. Cottage Grove Ave. #406, Chicago, IL 60619 Reports: A Trustee gave attorney Sharon Hunt a leather binder that one of our clients had left at the courthouse … three years ago! I brought the long-lost binder to our Cottage Grove office and our client picked it up a few days later.
Geraci Law Attorney Jason Kara at Geraci Law LLC 625 S. 8th, West Dundee, IL 60118 Reports: A client mentioned that every year it costs her more money to file her taxes. I found out that her tax preparer charges her $160 to file an EZ tax form. I showed the client how she can go online and file her federal taxes for free and her state taxes for $10. She was thrilled to find out how to save money on filing her taxes.
Geraci Law Attorney Kristin Beilke at Geraci Law LLC, 350 W. Kensington Rd #115, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 Reports: A client and his friend were in the office when I was delivered an Edible Arrangement for my birthday. I offered the strawberries and grapes to them and the other clients in the waiting room.
Geraci Law Attorney Scott Greenwood at Geraci Law LLC, 5465 Grand Ave. #106, Gurnee, IL 60031 Reports: Due to a technical error, a Trustee didn’t receive all the required documents in time to hold a client’s court date. Normally, this would result in a rescheduled hearing date. When I was preparing for court, I recognized the error and rectified it immediately by sending the documents promptly and calling the Trustee to confirm he got them. Our excellent reputation and good working relationship with the Trustee’s office saved this client from having to attend a rescheduled court date.
Geraci Law Attorney Alex Wilson at Geraci Law LLC, 1885 N. Farnsworth Ste 6, Aurora, IL 60505 Reports: A client lost his Social Security card and was worried that someone would find it and start using credit in his name. I helped the client notify the three credit bureaus so they can place an alert on his account.
Geraci Law Attorney Thomas Barbour at Geraci Law LLC, 8313 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46219 Reports: Our client is blind and has to take a cab to and from the office. After her Friday appointment, I stayed late to file her case so she could get her case number before she left, which saved her from making another trip to the office.
Geraci Law Attorney Marc Affolter at Geraci Law LLC, 5465 Grand Ave #106, Gurnee, IL 60031 Reports: Our clients came to their first appointment with their two young children (1 and 2 years old), who were not happy to be there. The older one in particular was restless, running around the office, turning off lights, opening and closing doors. She kept trying to give me her Frozen doll while I was trying to explain bankruptcy options to her parents. Our clients were getting frustrated, but I played along and placed her doll in various poses on my desk as if she were involved in the consultation as well. This kept the daughter happy and occupied so her parents could focus on what I was saying, and we ended up having a very constructive meeting.
Geraci Law Attorney Brent Berning at Geraci Law LLC, 2505 N. Mayfair Rd #101, Wauwatosa, WI 53226 Reports: A client had listed her former college as a creditor, and they were refusing to release her transcripts. I called the school and managed to get them to release the transcripts, even though her student loans were in default.
Geraci Law Attorney Charles Kinzer at Geraci Law LLC, 55 E Monroe #3400, Chicago, IL 60603 Reports: A client was scheduled to drop off a Chapter 13 payment at our downtown office. She arrived during rush hour, however, and wasn’t able to find parking, so I went downstairs and met her on Wabash.
Geraci Law Attorney Lisa Ellmaurer at Geraci Law LLC, 2505 N. Mayfair Rd #101, Wauwatosa, WI 53226 Reports: A secured creditor was trying to collect from a client two weeks after she filed a bankruptcy. I saw that we listed the creditor’s headquarters in Texas on the petition – meaning it would take longer for the local office to receive notice. I called the local attorney and got the creditor to immediately cease collection efforts.
Geraci Law Attorney Lisa Haley at Geraci Law LLC, 8658 S. Cottage Grove Ave #406, Chicago, IL 60619 Reports: One of our Chapter 13 clients brought a Trustee payment to the office in the form of cash. The Trustee only accepts money orders, so I walked her outside and directed her toward the closest Currency Exchange. The client was back in the office 15 minutes later with the money order in hand, happy she didn’t have to lose her parking lot.
Geraci Law Attorney Ann Kramer Geraci Law LLC, 4550 S. 27th St., Milwaukee, WI 53221 Reports: A client tried to file taxes at the library, but they refused to let him print out an instruction manual. He didn’t have a computer, so I printed one out myself and gave it to the client.
Geraci Law Attorney Kristin Schindler Geraci Law LLC, 2304 Plainfield Rd., Crest Hill, IL 60435 Reports: A client brought her four-month-old daughter to her consultation. After the appointment, I carried her diaper bag and red folder out to the car for her.
Geraci Law Attorney Zachary Price Geraci Law LLC, 8313 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46219 Reports: A client brought several large boxes of paperwork to his appointment. He had recently had surgery and was not supposedly to be lifting too much. After the appointment, I carried the boxes out to his car and loaded them into the trunk.
Geraci Law Attorney David Kosk Geraci Law LLC, 6537 ½ W. Cermak Rd Suite B, Berwyn, IL 60402 Reports: A client wanted to file a Chapter 7 because he feels he was tricked into buying a 2007 car with high mileage and worn-out brakes. His payments were $500 per month and the loan was over $30,000. I gave him contact information for a reputable dealership in his area that finances newer vehicles with low mileage and affordable payments.
Geraci Law Attorney Michael Holsen at Geraci Law LLC, 200 W. Silver Spring Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53217 Reports: A creditor sued one of our clients in Circuit Court for a personal loan. After we filed his bankruptcy case, the client came in very concerned about a summons he had just received to appear in court for the same lawsuit. I called several numbers before I eventually got a hold of the creditor, ensured they had notice, and demanded they dismiss their lawsuit immediately. The creditor agreed to do so. The client was very happy I took the time to solve the issue while he was in the office.
Geraci Law Attorney Abraham Pinon at Geraci Law LLC, 4550 S. 27th St., Milwaukee, WI 53221 Reports: This client came to the office in tears because he has been going through a difficult divorce. By the end of the consultation, he felt refreshed and ready to take on the world!
Geraci Law Attorney Steven Camp at Geraci Law LLC, 17055 S. Harlem Ave, Tinley Park, IL 60477 Reports: Our client’s wife passed away before we filed his Chapter 13 case, leaving him tens of thousands of dollars in insurance proceeds. He used the money to pay for funeral expenses and to set up three bank accounts for his minor children. We knew this fact pattern could cause the Trustee to argue for a higher Chapter 13 payment, so we explained the issue and had our client sign a disclaimer. At his court date, the Trustee started asking questions about how he spent the insurance money. I took over the questioning, asking, "What was your wife’s final wish? How did she want you to spend the insurance proceeds?" Our client replied that she wanted him to set the money aside for their children. The Trustee decided not to push for an increase in the Chapter 13 payment.
Geraci Law Attorney Ashley Chike at Geraci Law LLC, 55 E Monroe #3400, Chicago, IL 60603 Reports: Our clients fell behind on their mortgage payments after we filed their Chapter 13. The mortgage company objected and tried to remove the house from bankruptcy protection. I managed to get four continuances – more than the court typically allows – to give our clients more time to get caught up. By the fourth continuance, the clients had cured most of the default and I set up a repayment agreement for the remaining default. Their home is still under bankruptcy protection.
Geraci Law Attorney Mark Levine at Geraci Law LLC, 33 N. Roselle Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60194 Reports: A 70-year-old client and recently took in his younger brother, who was basically homeless. His brother also suffers from numerous health issues and needs frequent rides to and from his many doctor visits. I could tell that the stress and strain of caring for his adult brother was weighing him down, mentally and physically, so I told him about some of the programs that are available in the Northwest suburbs for folks who are in the same situation. I printed out some information and suggested he look into some of these assistance programs, as they may be able to assist his brother and alleviate some of the burden that is now resting on our client’s shoulders.
Geraci Law Attorney Chad Garrapy at Geraci Law LLC, 7007 S. U.S. 31 #D, Greenwood, IN 46227 Reports: One of our clients has diabetes and accidentally left her medication at home. She started feeling faint at her appointment and thought she was going to pass out. Luckily, I had a strawberry breakfast bar left over from lunch, and gave it to her with a glass of water.
Geraci Law Attorney Amanda Lester at Geraci Law LLC, 7007 S. U.S. 31 #D, Greenwood, IN 46227 Reports: After filing a Chapter 13 case with his wife, a client broke his leg in three places. He showed up at court in a wheelchair. His wife was having trouble navigating the waiting room, so I took over pushing his wheelchair and cleared out a space for him in the meeting room. Our clients already felt overwhelmed being in court, but I helped ease their concerns by showing I was there to help.
Geraci Law Attorney Daniel Fasman at Geraci Law LLC, 3640 W. 95th St., Evergreen Park, IL 60805 Reports: After receiving a discharge, a client asked me for advice on rebuilding credit, and what to do in the event of a financial emergency. He emphasized that he wants to stay away from credit cards, but he still wanted one card for emergencies. I recommended a secured credit card and suggested he deposit $50 a paycheck into a savings account.
Geraci Law Attorney Tarek Khalil at Geraci Law LLC, 3640 W. 95th St., Evergreen Park, IL 60805 Reports: To prevent a client’s wages from being garnished, I stayed late to finish my review, filed the case that evening, and faxed the Automatic Stay to his payroll department. I then called his employer to make sure they stopped the garnishment in time.
Geraci Law Attorney Morgan Decker at Geraci Law LLC, 5495 East 8nd St., Indianapolis, IN 46250 Reports: A client owed a debt from an uninsured accident. She had gathered all the documents she needed to file, except a copy of a police report. Our client had not been able to make it to the police station to get a copy in person. I searched online and found a website that allows you to pull police reports for only $7. The client got a copy of the accident report that same day and we filed her case a few days later.
Geraci Law Attorney Jason Shimotake at Geraci Law LLC, 8658 S. Cottage Grove Ave. #406, Chicago, Il 60619 Reports: One of our clients had filed a previous Chapter 13 case with a different law firm. That case had been dismissed after she fell behind on her Trustee payments, even though she had given her attorney a large sum of money to try to save her case. Her case ended up getting dismissed anyway. At her consultation with us, we advised her to go back to her old attorney to get her money back. She was able to get the majority of her funds back.
Geraci Law Attorney John Sadler at Geraci Law LLC, 7725 S. Broadway Suite J, Merrillville, IN 46410 Reports: Our client wasn’t able to find a sitter before her appointment to sign her petition, so she brought along all three of her toddler-age children. Her two oldest were both throwing tantrums. I grabbed a handful of crayons, printed off a few sheets of coloring pages and put them both to work. This put mom at ease and gave our client enough time to review her petition. We filed her case the same day, which stopped a garnishment from coming out of her next paycheck. Our client was thrilled and appreciative that we were able to accommodate her kids.
Geraci Law Attorney Jon Clasing at Geraci Law LLC, 17055 S. Harlem Ave., Tinley Park, IL 60477 Reports: One of our married clients came in alone and informed me that her husband is in the hospital. I offered my condolences and asked if everything was O.K. (ultimately he is going to be O.K.). I also walked her out and as we approached the exit, she thought of a few more questions about her case. She was very happy that I took the extra time with her to explain everything.
Geraci Law Attorney Andrew Golanowski at Geraci Law LLC, 2505 N. Mayfair Rd. Suite 101, Wauwatosa, WI 53226 Reports: While reviewing a Chapter 13 case, I noticed that our clients had not turned over one of the tax refunds from the past few years. Eventually, this would have resulted in the Trustee trying to dismiss their case. Instead I caught the error before it became a problem, and filed a modified plan to pay back the refund and end their plan early.
Geraci Law Attorney Joseph Blaha at Geraci Law LLC, 6218 Washington (Rt 20) #E, Racine, WI 53406 Reports: A man came in to see us because his wages were being garnished. He told me he did not have a lot of time to talk, but wanted to know whether we could help him, "straight up, no bull." I ran his credit report and reviewed his pay stub. I showed him that by filing a Chapter 13, not only will he stop the garnishment and save $150 per paycheck – but the Chapter 13 will also take care of his IRS debt, not to mention all of his credit cards. He came back the following week to sign his petition, and I filed his case.
Geraci Law Attorney Kathyrn Mackenzie at Geraci Law LLC, 4550 S. 27th St., Milwaukee, WI 53221 Reports: One of our Chapter 13 clients dropped by the 27th office to pick up a letter giving permission for him discuss loan modification with his mortgage company. He works for Kohl’s part-time and brought us a few coupons. He told us he normally only gives the coupons to family, but he considers the 27th Street crew his extended family.
Geraci Law Attorney Alexander George at Geraci Law LLC, 2505 N. Mayfair Rd. Suite 101, Wauwatosa, WI 53226 Reports: One of our clients needed to list a debt from an old car accident, but had no idea how to get a hold of the accident report. I did some searching and found out that you can request accident reports from the Wisconsin DMV online.
Geraci Law Attorney Laura Caputo at Geraci Law LLC, 4218 N. Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL Reports: An elderly couple came to see us to clear up $50,000 in credit card. They planned to sell their home and move to the suburbs to be closer to their grandkids, but first they wanted to clear up their debts. They chose Geraci Law L.L.C. based on our reputation – the husband did not even know that his cousin worked at our Cicero Avenue office until they came in for their consultation! I filed their case two days after their first appointment.
Geraci Law Attorney Bridget Spears at Geraci Law LLC, 7007 S. U.S. 31 #D, Greenwood, IN 46227 Reports: As she was signing her petition, a client got a call from Chase for a teller position she had applied for. She is a new mother and was agonizing over returning to work and leaving her baby with a sitter. She asked for my advice on how I do it. I told her it’s hard, but my mom worked when I was growing up and I don’t remember her being absent from my life. I gave her some tips about her upcoming job interview (dress professional, be enthusiastic, and do not curse).
Geraci Law Attorney Robert Crowley at Geraci Law LLC, 2505 N. Mayfair Rd #101, Wauwatosa, WI 53226 Reports: I helped a client fill out paperwork to prevent her wages from being garnished. The garnishment was court-ordered, but our client was exempt based on her income level.
Geraci Law Attorney Andrew Nelson at Geraci Law LLC, 927 S. Mannheim Rd., Westchester, Il 60154 Reports: An older couple dropped by the office one day after driving by and seeing our sign. They had just been contemplating what to do with their debt. They were a little nervous and had a lot of questions, but I took some extra time to discuss their situation. I explained what we can do to help them and set them up on a plan to be debt-free.
Geraci Law Attorney Anthony Shull at Geraci Law LLC, 5495 East 82nd St., Indianapolis, IN 46250 Reports: One of our younger clients mentioned that she hadn’t filed taxes yet because she never filed before and did not know how. I showed her how she can file taxes online and set her up at one of our office computers. She had all the necessary paperwork and did the actual typing and clicking, but I helped her navigate the website and find the right information on her W-2.
Geraci Law Attorney Lacey Stier at at Geraci Law LLC, 5495 East 82nd St., Indianapolis, IN 46250 Reports: A client was unsure how to get from her home in Noblesville to downtown Indianapolis for her court date. She did not have GPS on her phone so I printed off directions for her.
Geraci Law Attorney Sharon Hunt at Geraci Law LLC, 55 E Monroe #3400, Chicago, IL 60603 Reports: The interpreter for one of our deaf clients told me she needed to leave the courthouse early. I informed the Trustee, who agreed to hold our client’s meeting early.
Geraci Law Attorney Jordan Staleos at Geraci Law LLC, 6218 Washington (Rt 20) #E, Racine, WI 53406 Reports: Our client’s ex-husband showed up at her court date with the goal of intimidating her. I advised the client that she did not have to speak to her ex if she did not want to, then stood between the client and her ex prior to the hearing, and walked her out to her car afterward.
Geraci Law Attorney Dale Riley at Geraci Law LLC, 33 N. Roselle Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60194 Reports: One of our Chapter 13 clients lost income after her husband’s hours got cut at work. The Trustee moved to dismiss her case. I reviewed her options with her, and explained she could either: 1. Switch to a Chapter 7, and work with her car creditor and the IRS directly, or 2. Lower her plan payment and continue having the Chapter 13 handle all of her debts. She opted to lower her payment and stay in the Chapter 13. I made sure I lowered her payment as much as possible, reducing it from $1,450 per month to just $410 per month! The court approved her lowered payment, and she is able to continue paying for her car and IRS debt and all of her other debts for half of what her vehicle payment was before filing.
Geraci Law Attorney Shera Bucchianeri at Geraci Law LLC, 7015 W. North Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 Reports: After his appointment, I kept a client company in the waiting room while his wife pulled their car up to the entrance. I found out he sings for his church choir (he’s a natural baritone but he can do a good falsetto as well). I then helped the client out to his car – he uses a walker and his mobility is limited.
Geraci Law Attorney Timothy Stanton at Geraci Law LLC, 55 E. Monroe Street #3400, Chicago, IL 60603 Reports: One of our clients brought her son with her to h er court date, however her Trustee does not allow children at the office. I sent our client down to our office in the same building downstairs and allowed her son to wait in our office while the Trustee held her meeting, which kept client from having to reschedule her court date.
Geraci Law Attorney Lizette Villegas at Geraci Law LLC, 4401 West 63rd St., Chicago, IL 60629 Reports: A client brought her adorable three-year-old son to her initial consultation. The appointment ran smoothly at first as her son kept himself entertained by playing with his mom’s cell phone, but midway through the consultation he grew impatient and began yelling at the top of his lungs, saying "agua, agua!" ("water" in Spanish). I immediately grabbed him a bottled water and handed him a coloring book along with a fresh set of crayons. He was so entertained with his coloring book, by the time the consultation ended, he didn’t want to leave.
Geraci Law Attorney Felicia Petroff at Geraci Law LLC 2505 N. Mayfair Rd #101, Wauwatosa, WI 53226 Reports: A couple Chapter 13 clients dropped by the office to provide their 2014 tax returns. They wanted to ask the Trustee to let them keep their full tax refund this year so they could buy a firmer couch for the wife, who has severe back problems. Our clients were devastated when I told them the IRS would likely offset their refund this year and apply it to their tax debt. With an assist from Attorney Andrew Golanowski, I explained that you can submit a request to the IRS not to offset a tax refund if you suffer from a financial hardship. Our clients did not have a computer at home, so I pulled Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance) from the IRS’s website and helped clients fill it out in the office and fax it to their local IRS office. Our clients should receive a call within the next week on whether they qualify for the waiver. Once they have an answer, we’ll apply to keep whatever they end up receiving.
Geraci Law Attorney Jason Kara at Geraci Law LLC, 625 S. 8th, West Dundee, IL 60118 Reports: During his initial consultation, a client kept mentioning how much he wanted a double cheeseburger. He wanted McDonald’s but was trying to figure out if he had enough money. I just so happened to have a coupon for a free sandwich from McDonald’s in my wallet, and after the appointment I pulled it out and gave it to the client.
Geraci Law Attorney Juan Villalpando at Geraci Law LLC, 17055 S. Harlem Ave, Tinley Park, IL 60477 Reports: After her appointment, I walked an elderly client to her car, holding her arm to prevent a fall. There was quite a bit of snow on the ground, even though Spring started last week.
Geraci Law Attorney Jonathan Parker at at Geraci Law LLC, 55 E Monroe #3400, Chicago, IL 60603 Reports: Our client’s accountant, who is also a tax attorney, told her that she needed to file a bankruptcy to eliminate the income tax consequences created by a 1099-C (Cancellation of Debt). This is wrong, as everyone who works here knows full well. Since the debt has been forgiven, there is no debt to discharge. To address any tax consequences, I explained that she will need to complete IRS Form 982, which I showed her how to fill out so she can take it to her tax preparer.
Geraci Law Attorney Charles Kinzer at Geraci Law LLC, 3640 W. 95th St., Evergreen Park, IL 60805 Reports: A client was preparing her taxes for this year but didn’t have her income statements from the previous years that her accountant wanted. I sent her all four years of taxes that we had in our records and directed her to www.irs.gov to pull the most recent year we didn’t have.
