Can Creditors Take Your Car or Attach Your Checking Account for Payment?

Question: Can creditors take your car or attach your checking account for payment?

Answer: Once it has a judgment, a creditor can enforce the judgment against bank accounts and cars, subject to exemptions. Illinois has a $2450 exemption for a car. Illinois also has a $4000 “wildcard” exemption (for any personal property not otherwise exempted) that can be applied to a bank account. In addition, certain types of funds, such as Social Security and pension benefits, are exempt and remain exempt after you have deposited them in a bank account.