Illinois Bankruptcy

Illinois State Bankruptcy Exemptions

735 ILCS 5/12-901. Amount

Sec. 12-901. Amount. Every individual is entitled to an estate of homestead to the extent in value of $ 15,000 of his or her interest in a farm or lot of land and buildings thereon, a condominium, or personal property, owned or rightly possessed by lease or otherwise and occupied by him or her as a residence, or in a cooperative that owns property that the individual uses as a residence. That homestead and all right in and title to that homestead is exempt from attachment, judgment, levy, or judgment sale for the payment of his or her debts or other purposes and from the laws of conveyance, descent, and legacy, except as provided in this Code or in Section 20-6 of the Probate Act of 1975 [755 ILCS 5/20-6]. This Section is not applicable between joint tenants or tenants in common but it is applicable as to any creditors of those persons. If 2 or more individuals own property that is exempt as a homestead, the value of the exemption of each individual may not exceed his or her proportionate share of $ 30,000 based upon percentage of ownership.

§ 735 ILCS 5/12-1001. Personal property exempt

Sec. 12-1001. Personal property exempt. The following personal property, owned by the debtor, is exempt from judgment, attachment, or distress for rent:

(a) The necessary wearing apparel, bible, school books, and family pictures of the debtor and the debtor’s dependents;

(b) The debtor’s equity interest, not to exceed $ 4,000 in value, in any other property;

(c) The debtor’s interest, not to exceed $ 2,400 in value, in any one motor vehicle;

(d) The debtor’s equity interest, not to exceed $ 1,500 in value, in any implements, professional books, or tools of the trade of the debtor;

(e) Professionally prescribed health aids for the debtor or a dependent of the debtor;

(f) All proceeds payable because of the death of the insured and the aggregate net cash value of any or all life insurance and endowment policies and annuity contracts payable to a wife or husband of the insured, or to a child, parent, or other person dependent upon the insured, whether the power to change the beneficiary is reserved to the insured or not and whether the insured or the insured’s estate is a contingent beneficiary or not;

(g) The debtor’s right to receive:

(1) a social security benefit, unemployment compensation, or public assistance benefit;

(2) a veteran’s benefit;

(3) a disability, illness, or unemployment benefit; and

(4) alimony, support, or separate maintenance, to the extent reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor and any dependent of the debtor.

(h) The debtor’s right to receive, or property that is traceable to:

(1) an award under a crime victim’s reparation law;

(2) a payment on account of the wrongful death of an individual of whom the debtor was a dependent, to the extent reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor;

(3) a payment under a life insurance contract that insured the life of an individual of whom the debtor was a dependent, to the extent reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor or a dependent of the debtor;

(4) a payment, not to exceed $ 15,000 in value, on account of personal bodily injury of the debtor or an individual of whom the debtor was a dependent; and

(5) any restitution payments made to persons pursuant to the federal Civil Liberties Act of 1988 [50 U.S.C. § 1989b et seq.] and the Aleutian and Pribilof Island Restitution Act, P.L. 100-383 [50 U.S.C. § 1989c et seq.].

For purposes of this subsection (h), a debtor’s right to receive an award or payment shall be exempt for a maximum of 2 years after the debtor’s right to receive the award or payment accrues; property traceable to an award or payment shall be exempt for a maximum of 5 years after the award or payment accrues; and an award or payment and property traceable to an award or payment shall be exempt only to the extent of the amount of the award or payment, without interest or appreciation from the date of the award or payment.

(i) The debtor’s right to receive an award under Part 20 of Article II of this Code [735 ILCS 5/2-2001 et seq.] relating to crime victims’ awards.

Money due the debtor from the sale of any personal property that was exempt from judgment, attachment, or distress for rent at the time of the sale is exempt from attachment and garnishment to the same extent that the property would be exempt had the same not been sold by the debtor.

If a debtor owns property exempt under this Section and he or she purchased that property with the intent of converting nonexempt property into exempt property or in fraud of his or her creditors, that property shall not be exempt from judgment, attachment, or distress for rent. Property acquired within 6 months of the filing of the petition for bankruptcy shall be presumed to have been acquired in contemplation of bankruptcy.

The personal property exemptions set forth in this Section shall apply only to individuals and only to personal property that is used for personal rather than business purposes. The personal property exemptions set forth in this Section shall not apply to or be allowed against any money, salary, or wages due or to become due to the debtor that are required to be withheld in a wage deduction proceeding under Part 8 of this Article XII [735 ILCS 5/12-801 et seq.].
§ 735 ILCS 5/12-1006. Exemption for retirement plans

Sec. 12-1006. Exemption for retirement plans. (a) A debtor’s interest in or right, whether vested or not, to the assets held in or to receive pensions, annuities, benefits, distributions, refunds of contributions, or other payments under a retirement plan is exempt from judgment, attachment, execution, distress for rent, and seizure for the satisfaction of debts if the plan (i) is intended in good faith to qualify as a retirement plan under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now or hereafter amended [26 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.], or (ii) is a public employee pension plan created under the Illinois Pension Code, as now or hereafter amended [40 ILCS 5/1-101 et seq.].

(b) “Retirement plan” includes the following:

(1) a stock bonus, pension, profit sharing, annuity, or similar plan or arrangement, including a retirement plan for self-employed individuals or a simplified employee pension plan;

(2) a government or church retirement plan or contract;

(3) an individual retirement annuity or individual retirement account; and

(4) a public employee pension plan created under the Illinois Pension Code, as now or hereafter amended [40 ILCS 5/1-101 et seq.].

(c) A retirement plan that is (i) intended in good faith to qualify as a retirement plan under the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [26 U.C.S. § 1 et seq.], as now or hereafter amended, or (ii) a public employee pension plan created under the Illinois Pension Code, as now or hereafter amended [40 ILCS 5/1-101 et seq.], is conclusively presumed to be a spendthrift trust under the law of Illinois.

(d) This Section applies to interests in retirement plans held by debtors subject to bankruptcy, judicial, administrative or other proceedings pending on or filed after August 30, 1989.
§ 805 ILCS 205/25. [Incidents of co-ownership]

Sec. 25. (1) A partner is co-owner with his partners of specific partnership property holding as a tenant in partnership.

(2) The incidents of this tenancy are such that:

(a) A partner, subject to the provisions of this act and to any agreement between the partners, has an equal right with his partners to possess specific partnership property for partnership purposes; but he has no right to possess such property for any other purpose without the consent of his partners.

(b) A partner’s right in specific partnership property is not assignable except in connection with the assignment of the rights of all the partners in the same property.

(c) A partner’s right in specific partnership property is not subject to attachment or execution, except on a claim against the partnership. When partnership property is attached for a partnership debt the partners, or any of them, or the representatives of a deceased partner, cannot claim any right under the homestead or exemption laws.

(d) On the death of a partner his right in specific partnership property vests in the surviving partner or partners, except where the deceased was the last surviving partner, when his right in such property vests in his legal representative. Such surviving partner or partners, or the legal representative of the last surviving partner, has no right to possess the partnership property for any but a partnership purpose.

(e) A partner’s right in specific partnership property is not subject to surviving spouse’s or child’s award.
§ 735 ILCS 5/12-803. Maximum wages subject to collection

Sec. 12-803. Maximum wages subject to collection. The maximum wages, salary, commissions and bonuses subject to collection under a deduction order, for any work week shall not exceed the lesser of (1) 15% of such gross amount paid for that week or (2) the amount by which disposable earnings for a week exceed 45 times the Federal Minimum Hourly Wage prescribed by Section 206(a)(1) of Title 29 of the United States Code, as amended, in effect at the time the amounts are payable. This provision (and no other) applies irrespective of the place where the compensation was earned or payable and the State where the employee resides. No amounts required by law to be withheld may be taken from the amount collected by the creditor. The term “disposable earnings” means that part of the earnings of any individual remaining after the deduction from those earnings of any amounts required by law to be withheld.
§ 215 ILCS 5/238. Exemption

Sec. 238. Exemption. (a) All proceeds payable because of the death of the insured and the aggregate net cash value of any or all life and endowment policies and annuity contracts payable to a wife or husband of the insured, or to a child, parent or other person dependent upon the insured, whether the power to change the beneficiary is reserved to the insured or not, and whether the insured or his estate is a contingent beneficiary or not, shall be exempt from execution, attachment, garnishment or other process, for the debts or liabilities of the insured incurred subsequent to the effective date of this Code, except as to premiums paid in fraud of creditors within the period limited by law for the recovery thereof.

(b) Any insurance company doing business in this State and governed by this Code shall encumber or surrender accounts as defined in Section 10-24 of the Illinois Public Aid Code [305 ILCS 5/10-24] held by the insurance company owned by any responsible relative who is subject to a child support lien, upon notice of the lien or levy by the Illinois Department of Public Aid or its successor agency pursuant to Section 10-25.5 of the Illinois Public Aid Code [305 ILCS 5/10-25.5], or upon notice of interstate lien from any other state’s agency responsible for implementing the child support enforcement program set forth in Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.].

This Section does not prohibit the furnishing of information in accordance with the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 [8 U.S.C. § 611 et seq.]. Any insurance company governed by this Code shall enter into an agreement for data exchanges with the Department of Public Aid provided the Department of Public Aid pays to the insurance company a reasonable fee not to exceed its actual cost incurred. An insurance company providing information in accordance with this item shall not be liable to any owner of an account as defined in Section 10-24 of the Illinois Public Aid Code [305 ILCS 5/10-24] or other person for any disclosure of information to the Department of Public Aid, for encumbering or surrendering any accounts as defined in Section 10-24 of the Illinois Public Aid Code [305 ILCS 5/10-24] held by the insurance company in response to a lien or order to withhold and deliver issued by a State agency, or for any other action taken pursuant to this item, including individual or mechanical errors, provided the action does not constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct. An insurance company shall have no obligation to hold, encumber, or surrender any accounts as defined in Section 10-24 of the Illinois Public Aid Code [305 ILCS 5/10-24] until it has been served with a subpoena, summons, warrant, court or administrative order, lien, or levy requiring that action.
§ 215 ILCS 5/299.1a. Benefits not Attachable

Sec. 299.1a. (a) No money or other charity, relief or aid to be paid, provided or rendered by any society shall be liable to attachment, garnishment or other process or to be seized, taken, appropriated or applied by any legal or equitable process or operation of law to pay any debt or liability of a member or beneficiary, or any other person who may have a right thereunder, either before or after payment by the society.

(b) Any benefit association doing business in this State and governed by this Article XVII [215 ILCS 5/282.1 et seq.] shall encumber or surrender accounts as defined in Section 10-24 of the Illinois Public Aid Code [305 ILCS 5/10-24] held by the benefit association owned by any responsible relative who is subject to a child support lien, upon notice of the lien or levy by the Illinois Department of Public Aid or its successor agency pursuant to Section 10-25.5 of the Illinois Public Aid Code [305 ILCS 5/10-25.5], or upon notice of interstate lien from any other state’s agency responsible for implementing the child support enforcement program set forth in Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.].

This Section shall not prohibit the furnishing of information in accordance with the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 [8 U.S.C. § 611 et seq.]. Any benefit association governed by this Article XVII [215 ILCS 5/282.1 et seq.] shall enter into an agreement for data exchanges with the Department of Public Aid provided the Department of Public Aid pays to the benefit association a reasonable fee not to exceed its actual cost incurred. A benefit association providing information in accordance with this item shall not be liable to any account holder or other person for any disclosure of information to a State agency, for encumbering or surrendering any accounts as defined in Section 10-24 of the Illinois Public Aid Code [305 ILCS 5/10-24] held by the benefit association in response to a lien or order to withhold and deliver issued by a State agency, or for any other action taken pursuant to this item, including individual or mechanical errors, provided the action does not constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct. A benefit association shall have no obligation to hold, encumber, or surrender accounts until it has been served with a subpoena, summons, warrant, court or administrative order, lien, or levy requiring that action.
§ 820 ILCS 305/21. [Benefits not liable for lien, debt, penalty or damages; priority over other debts of employer]

Sec. 21. No payment, claim, award or decision under this Act shall be assignable or subject to any lien, attachment or garnishment, or be held liable in any way for any lien, debt, penalty or damages, except the beneficiary or beneficiaries of a deceased employee who was a member or annuitant under Article 14 of the “Illinois Pension Code” [40 ILCS 5/14-101 et seq.] may assign any benefits payable under this Act to the State Employees’ Retirement System. The compensation allowed by any award or decision of the Commission shall be entitled to a preference over the unsecured debts of the employer, wages excepted, contracted after the date of the injury to an employee. A decision or award of the Commission against an employer for compensation under this Act, or a written agreement by an employer to pay such compensation shall, upon the filing of a certified copy of the decision or said agreement, as the case may be, with the recorder of the county, constitute a lien upon all property of the employer within the county, paramount to all other claims or liens, except mortgages, trust deeds, or for wages or taxes. Such liens may be enforced in the manner provided for the foreclosure of mortgages under the laws of this State.
§ 820 ILCS 405/1300. Waiver or transfer of benefit rights — Partial exemption

Sec. 1300. Waiver or transfer of benefit rights — Partial exemption. (A) Except as otherwise provided herein any agreement by an individual to waive, release or commute his rights under this Act shall be void.

(B) Benefits due under this Act shall not be assigned, pledged, encumbered, released or commuted and shall be exempt from all claims of creditors and from levy, execution and attachment or other remedy for recovery or collection of a debt. However, nothing in this Section shall prohibit a specified or agreed upon deduction from benefits by an individual, or a court or administrative order for withholding of income, for payment of past due child support from being enforced and collected by the Department of Public Aid on behalf of persons receiving a grant of financial aid under Article IV of the Illinois Public Aid Code [305 ILCS 5/4-1 et seq.], persons for whom an application has been made and approved for child support enforcement services under Section 10-1 of such Code [305 ILCS 5/10-1], or persons similarly situated and receiving like services in other states. It is provided that:

(1) The aforementioned deduction of benefits and order for withholding of income apply only if appropriate arrangements have been made for reimbursement to the Director by the Department of Public Aid for any administrative costs incurred by the Director under this Section.

(2) The Director shall deduct and withhold from benefits payable under this Act, or under any arrangement for the payment of benefits entered into by the Director pursuant to the powers granted under Section 2700 of this Act [820 ILCS 405/2700], the amount specified or agreed upon. In the case of a court or administrative order for withholding of income, the Director shall withhold the amount of the order.

(3) Any amount deducted and withheld by the Director shall be paid to the Department of Public Aid or the State Disbursement Unit established under Section 10-26 of the Illinois Public Aid Code [305 ILCS 5/10-26], as directed by the Department of Public Aid, on behalf of the individual.

(4) Any amount deducted and withheld under subsection (3) shall for all purposes be treated as if it were paid to the individual as benefits and paid by such individual to the Department of Public Aid or the State Disbursement Unit in satisfaction of the individual’s child support obligations.

(5) For the purpose of this Section, child support is defined as those obligations which are being enforced pursuant to a plan described in Title IV, Part D, Section 454 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. § 654] and approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(6) The deduction of benefits and order for withholding of income for child support shall be governed by Titles III and IV of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. § 501 et seq. and 42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.] and all regulations duly promulgated thereunder.

(C) Nothing in this Section prohibits an individual from voluntarily electing to have federal income tax deducted and withheld from his or her unemployment insurance benefit payments.

(1) The Director shall, at the time that an individual files his or her claim for benefits that establishes his or her benefit year, inform the individual that:

(a) unemployment insurance is subject to federal, State, and local income taxes;

(b) requirements exist pertaining to estimated tax payments;

(c) the individual may elect to have federal income tax deducted and withheld from his or her payments of unemployment insurance in the amount specified in the federal Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.]; and

(d) the individual is permitted to change a previously elected withholding status.

(2) Amounts deducted and withheld from unemployment insurance shall remain in the unemployment fund until transferred to the federal taxing authority as a payment of income tax.

(3) The Director shall follow all procedures specified by the United States Department of Labor and the federal Internal Revenue Service pertaining to the deducting and withholding of income tax.

(4) Amounts shall be deducted and withheld in accordance with the priorities established in rules promulgated by the Director.

(D) Nothing in this Section prohibits an individual from voluntarily electing to have State of Illinois income tax deducted and withheld from his or her unemployment insurance benefit payments if such deduction and withholding is provided for pursuant to rules promulgated by the Director.

(1) If pursuant to rules promulgated by the Director, an individual may voluntarily elect to have State of Illinois income tax deducted and withheld from his or her unemployment insurance benefit payments, the Director shall, at the time that an individual files his or her claim for benefits that establishes his or her benefit year, in addition to providing the notice required under subsection C, inform the individual that:

(a) the individual may elect to have State of Illinois income tax deducted and withheld from his or her payments of unemployment insurance in the amount specified pursuant to rules promulgated by the Director; and

(b) the individual is permitted to change a previously elected withholding status.

(2) Amounts deducted and withheld from unemployment insurance shall remain in the unemployment fund until transferred to the Department of Revenue as a payment of State of Illinois income tax.

(3) Amounts shall be deducted and withheld in accordance with the priorities established in rules promulgated by the Director.

(E) Nothing in this Section prohibits the deduction and withholding of an uncollected overissuance of food stamp coupons from unemployment insurance benefits pursuant to this subsection (E).

(1) At the time that an individual files a claim for benefits that establishes his or her benefit year, that individual must disclose whether or not he or she owes an uncollected overissuance (as defined in Section 13(c)(1) of the federal Food Stamp Act of 1977 [7 U.S.C. § 2022]) of food stamp coupons. The Director shall notify the State food stamp agency enforcing such obligation of any individual who discloses that he or she owes an uncollected overissuance of food stamp coupons and who meets the monetary eligibility requirements of subsection E of Section 500 [820 ILCS 405/500].

(2) The Director shall deduct and withhold from any unemployment insurance benefits payable to an individual who owes an uncollected overissuance of food stamp coupons:

(a) the amount specified by the individual to the Director to be deducted and withheld under this subsection (E);

(b) the amount (if any) determined pursuant to an agreement submitted to the State food stamp agency under Section 13(c)(3)(A) of the federal Food Stamp Act of 1977 [7 U.S.C. § 2022]; or

(c) any amount otherwise required to be deducted and withheld from unemployment insurance benefits pursuant to Section 13(c)(3)(B) of the federal Food Stamp Act of 1977 [7 U.S.C. § 2022].

(3) Any amount deducted and withheld pursuant to this subsection (E) shall be paid by the Director to the State food stamp agency.

(4) Any amount deducted and withheld pursuant to this subsection (E) shall for all purposes be treated as if it were paid to the individual as unemployment insurance benefits and paid by the individual to the State food stamp agency as repayment of the individual’s uncollected overissuance of food stamp coupons.

(5) For purposes of this subsection (E), “unemployment insurance benefits” means any compensation payable under this Act including amounts payable by the Director pursuant to an agreement under any federal law providing for compensation, assistance, or allowances with respect to unemployment.

(6) This subsection (E) applies only if arrangements have been made for reimbursement by the State food stamp agency for the administrative costs incurred by the Director under this subsection (E) which are attributable to the repayment of uncollected overissuances of food stamp coupons to the State food stamp agency.
§ 305 ILCS 5/11-3. Assignment and attachment of aid prohibited

Sec. 11-3. Assignment and attachment of aid prohibited. Except as provided below in this Section and in Section 11-3.3, [305 ILCS 5/11-3.3] all financial aid given under Articles III, IV, V, and VI and money payments for child care services provided by a child care provider under Articles IX and IXA shall not be subject to assignment, sale, attachment, garnishment, or otherwise. Provided, however, that a medical vendor may use his right to receive vendor payments as collateral for loans from financial institutions so long as such arrangements do not constitute any activity prohibited under Section 1902(a)(32) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. § 1396a] and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any other applicable laws or regulations. Provided further, however, that a medical or other vendor or a service provider may assign, reassign, sell, pledge or grant a security interest in any such financial aid, vendor payments or money payments or grants which he has a right to receive to the Illinois Finance Authority, in connection with any financing program undertaken by the Illinois Finance Authority, or to the Illinois Finance Authority, in connection with any financing program undertaken by the Illinois Finance Authority. Each Authority may utilize a trustee or agent to accept, accomplish, effectuate or realize upon any such assignment, reassignment, sale, pledge or grant on that Authority’s behalf. Provided further, however, that nothing herein shall prevent the Illinois Department from collecting any assessment, fee, interest or penalty due under Article V-A, V-B, V-C, or V-E by withholding financial aid as payment of such assessment, fee, interest, or penalty. Any alienation in contravention of this statute does not diminish and does not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any underlying obligations for which such alienation may have been made as collateral between the parties to the alienation. This amendatory Act shall be retroactive in application and shall pertain to obligations existing prior to its enactment.
§ 40 ILCS 5/22-230. Fund exempt from seizure

Sec. 22-230. Fund exempt from seizure. No portion of the pension fund shall, either before or after its order of distribution by such Board of Trustees to such disabled or retired members of the fire insurance patrol or to the surviving spouse or such minor child or children of the deceased, be held, seized, taken, subject to, or detained or levied on by virtue of any judgment, interlocutory or other order, or any process or proceeding whatever of or issued by any court of this State for the payment or satisfaction in whole or in part of any debt, damages, claim, demand or judgment against such member or surviving spouse or minor child or children but the fund shall be kept secure and distributed for the purpose of pensioning the persons named in this Division, and for no other purpose whatsoever.
§ 40 ILCS 5/4-135. Benefits — Exempt

Sec. 4-135. Benefits — Exempt. No portion of the pension fund shall, either before or after a board’s order of distribution to any retired firefighter or his or her beneficiaries, be held, seized, taken subject to, or detained or levied on by virtue of any process, injunction interlocutory or other order or judgment, or any process or proceeding whatever issued by any court of this State, for the payment or satisfaction in whole or in part of any debt, damages, claim, demand or judgment against any firefighter or his or her beneficiaries, but the fund shall be held, secured and distributed for the purposes of pensioning such firefighter and beneficiaries and for no other purposes whatever.
§ 40 ILCS 5/6-213. Annuities, etc., exempt

Sec. 6-213. Annuities, etc., exempt. All pensions, annuities, refunds and disability benefits granted under this Article and every portion thereof, are exempt from attachment or garnishment process and shall not be seized, taken, subjected to, detained, or levied upon by virtue of any judgment or any process or proceeding whatsoever entered or issued by or out of any court in this State, for the payment and satisfaction in whole or in part of any debt, damage, claim, demand, or judgment against any pensioner, annuitant, applicant for a refund or other beneficiary hereunder.

No pensioner, annuitant, applicant for a refund, disability beneficiary or other beneficiary has a right to transfer or assign his or her pension, annuity, refund or disability benefit or any part thereof by mortgage or otherwise, except that an annuitant or disability beneficiary may direct in writing that a monthly payment be made to such association or organization with which he or his widow may be affiliated by virtue of his fire service, or for hospitalization insurance purposes.

An annuitant may execute under oath a written waiver of his right to receive all or any part of his annuity. The waiver shall take effect upon being filed with the board and shall be irrevocable. The annuity shall thereupon be permanently reduced by the amount waived.

The board, in its discretion, however, may pay to the wife of any above stated person, such proportion of her husband’s annuity, pension, refund or disability benefit as a court may order, or such an amount as the board may consider necessary for her support or for the support of herself and the children, in the event of his failure to provide such support. The board may also retain out of any future annuity, pension, refund or disability benefit payment such amount or amounts, as it may in its discretion set for the purpose of repayment into this fund of any moneys paid to such person through misrepresentation, fraud or error. Any action herein provided to be taken by the board shall, when taken, release the board and the fund from any liability for any moneys retained or paid out as herein provided.

Whenever any annuity, pension, refund or disability benefit is payable to a minor or to a person adjudged to be under legal disability, the board in its discretion when to the apparent interest of such minor or person under legal disability may waive guardianship proceedings and pay such money to the person providing for or caring for such minor and to the wife, parent or blood relative providing or caring for such person under legal disability.

Whenever a pensioner, annuitant, applicant for refund or disability beneficiary disappears or his whereabouts are unknown and it cannot be ascertained whether or not he is living, there shall be paid to his wife under this section the amount which would be payable to her in the event her fireman husband had died on the date of his disappearance. In the event of his subsequent return, or upon satisfactory proof of his being alive, the amount theretofore paid to his wife shall be charged against any moneys payable to him under any of the provisions of this Article as though such payment to his wife had been an allowance to her out of the moneys payable to him as such pensioner, annuitant, applicant for refund or disability beneficiary.
§ 40 ILCS 5/19-117. Exemptions — Assignments

Sec. 19-117. Exemptions — Assignments. All annuities granted under the provisions of this Division shall be exempt from attachment and garnishment process and no annuitant shall have the right to transfer or assign his or her annuity either by way of mortgage or otherwise.
§ 40 ILCS 5/19-218. Annuities exempt from execution — Assignments prohibited

Sec. 19-218. Annuities exempt from execution — Assignments prohibited. All annuities granted under the provisions of “The 1905 Act” or this Division shall be exempt from attachment and garnishment process, and no annuitant shall have the right to transfer or assign his or her annuity, either by way of mortgage or otherwise.
§ 40 ILCS 5/8-244. Annuities, etc., exempt

Sec. 8-244. Annuities, etc., exempt. (a) All annuities, refunds, pensions, and disability benefits granted under this Article, shall be exempt from attachment or garnishment process and shall not be seized, taken, subjected to, detained, or levied upon by virtue of any judgment, or any process or proceeding whatsoever issued out of or by any court in this State, for the payment and satisfaction in whole or in part of any debt, damage, claim, demand, or judgment against any annuitant, pensioner, participant, refund applicant, or other beneficiary hereunder.

(b) No annuitant, pensioner, refund applicant, or other beneficiary shall have any right to transfer or assign his annuity, refund, or disability benefit or any part thereof by way of mortgage or otherwise, except that:

(1) an annuitant or pensioner who elects or has elected to participate in a non-profit group hospital care plan or group medical surgical plan may with the approval of the board and in conformity with its regulations authorize the board to withhold from the pension or annuity the current premium for such coverage and pay such premium to the organization underwriting such plan;

(2) in the case of refunds, a participant may pledge by assignment, power of attorney, or otherwise, as security for a loan from a legally operating credit union making loans only to participants in certain public employee pension funds described in the Illinois Pension Code, all or part of any refund which may become payable to him in the event of his separation from service; and

(3) the board, in its discretion, may pay to the wife of any annuitant, pensioner, refund applicant, or disability beneficiary, such an amount out of her husband’s annuity pension, refund, or disability benefit as any court of competent jurisdiction may order, or such an amount as the board may consider necessary for the support of his wife or children, or both in the event of his disappearance or unexplained absence or of his failure to support such wife or children.

(c) The board may retain out of any future annuity, pension, refund or disability benefit payments, such amount, or amounts, as it may require for the repayment of any moneys paid to any annuitant, pensioner, refund applicant, or disability beneficiary through misrepresentation, fraud or error. Any such action of the board shall relieve and release the board and the fund from any liability for any moneys so withheld.

(d) Whenever an annuity or disability benefit is payable to a minor or to a person certified by a medical doctor to be under legal disability, the board, in its discretion and when it is in the best interest of the person concerned, may waive guardianship proceedings and pay the annuity or benefit to the person providing or caring for the minor or person under legal disability.

In the event that a person certified by a medical doctor to be under legal disability (i) has no spouse, blood relative, or other person providing or caring for him or her, (ii) has no guardian of his or her estate, and (iii) is confined to a Medicare approved, State certified nursing home or to a publicly owned and operated nursing home, hospital, or mental institution, the Board may pay any benefit due that person to the nursing home, hospital, or mental institution, to be used for the sole benefit of the person under legal disability.

Payment in accordance with this subsection to a person, nursing home, hospital, or mental institution for the benefit of a minor or person under legal disability shall be an absolute discharge of the Fund’s liability with respect to the amount so paid. Any person, nursing home, hospital, or mental institution accepting payment under this subsection shall notify the Fund of the death or any other relevant change in the status of the minor or person under legal disability.
§ 40 ILCS 5/7-217. Payment of benefits and assignments

Sec. 7-217. Payment of benefits and assignments. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, all moneys in the Fund created by this Article, and all securities and other property of the Fund, and all annuities and other benefits payable under this Article, and all accumulated contributions and other credits of employees in this Fund, and the right of any person to receive an annuity or other benefit under this Article, or a refund or return of contributions, shall not be subject to judgment, execution, garnishment, attachment, or other seizure by process, in bankruptcy or otherwise, nor to sale, pledge, mortgage or other alienation, and shall not be assignable. Notwithstanding Section 1-103.1 [40 ILCS 5/1-103.1], the changes in this Section made by this amendatory Act of 1991 shall not be limited to persons in service on or after its effective date. All annuities and other benefits payable under this Fund and all accumulated credits of employees in the Fund shall be exempt from state and municipal taxes.
§ 40 ILCS 5/12-190. Annuities etc. Exempt

Sec. 12-190. Annuities etc. Exempt. (a) All pensions, annuities, refunds or disability benefits granted under this Article, and every portion thereof, are exempt from any State or municipal tax, and exempt from attachment or garnishment process and shall not be seized, taken, subjected to, detained or levied upon by virtue of any judgment, or any process or proceeding whatsoever issued out of or by any court for the payment and satisfaction in whole or in part of any debt, damage, claim, demand or judgment against a pensioner, annuitant, refund applicant or other beneficiary hereunder.

(b) No pensioner, annuitant, applicant for refund, disability beneficiary or other beneficiary has a right to transfer or assign his or her pension, annuity, refund or disability benefit or any part thereof, either by mortgage or otherwise, except that an annuitant may direct that a monthly payment be made to the group health or hospital insurance plan administered by his or her former employer or by the pension fund established under this Article.

(c) Whenever an annuity, pension, refund or disability benefit is payable to a minor or a person adjudged to be under legal disability, the board, in its discretion, when in the apparent interest of such minor or person under legal disability, may waive guardianship proceedings and pay such money to the person providing for or caring for such minor and to the spouse or blood relative providing or caring for such person under legal disability. In the event the person under legal disability has no spouse or blood relatives willing to provide or care for him or her, and for whom no estate guardian has been appointed, and who is confined to a Medicare approved, State certified nursing home or a publicly owned and operated nursing home, hospital or mental institution, the board may pay such benefit due such person to the head of the nursing home, hospital or mental institution for deposit to such person’s trust fund account maintained by the certified nursing home, hospital or institution, if such trust fund accounts are authorized or recognized by law. The acceptance of the payment and the endorsement of the payment by the person caring for or providing for a minor or a person under legal disability shall be an absolute discharge of the board’s and the fund’s liability in respect to the amount so paid.

(d) Whenever an employee, pensioner, annuitant, applicant for refund or disability beneficiary disappears or the person’s whereabouts are unknown and it cannot be ascertained whether or not the person is alive, there shall be paid to the person’s spouse the amount which would be payable to the spouse in the event that the person died on the date of disappearance. In the event the missing person returns, or is proved to be alive, the amount previously paid to the spouse shall be charged against any moneys payable to the person under this Article as though such payment to the spouse had been an allowance out of the moneys payable to such person.
§ 40 ILCS 5/3-144.1. [Pensions, refunds or disability pensions exempt]

Sec. 3-144.1. All pensions, refunds or disability pension benefits granted under this Article, and every portion thereof, shall be exempt from attachment or garnishment process and shall not be seized, taken, subjected to, detained or levied upon by virtue of any judgment, or any process or proceedings whatsoever issued out of or by any court for the payment and satisfaction in whole or in part of any debt, damage, claim, demand or judgment against a pensioner, refund applicant or other beneficiary hereunder.
§ 40 ILCS 5/5-218. Annuities, etc. — Exempt

Sec. 5-218. Annuities, etc. — Exempt. All pensions, annuities, refunds or disability benefits granted under this Article, and every portion thereof, are exempt from attachment or garnishment process and shall not be seized, taken, subjected to, detained or levied upon by virtue of any judgment, or any process or proceeding whatsoever issued out of or by any court for the payment and satisfaction in whole or in part of any debt, damage, claim, demand, or judgment against a pensioner, annuitant, refund applicant or other beneficiary hereunder.

No pensioner, annuitant, refund applicant or disability beneficiary has a right to transfer or assign his or her pension, annuity, refund or disability benefit or any part thereof by mortgage or otherwise, except that a pensioner or annuitant may direct in writing that payment be made monthly, in a fixed amount, for hospitalization purposes.

The board, in its discretion, may pay to the wife or unmarried minor child of an annuitant, pensioner, refund applicant or disability beneficiary, such amount out of the annuity, pension, refund or disability benefit as a court may order, or such amount as the board may consider necessary for the support of such wife or child (or both) in the event of his disappearance or unexplained absence or his failure to support his wife or child, or both.

The board may also withhold from any future annuity, pension, refund or disability benefit payments such amount, or amounts, as it may, in its discretion, set for the purpose of repayment of any moneys paid to an annuitant, pensioner, refund applicant or disability beneficiary through misrepresentation, fraud or error; provided that when any pension or annuity is claimed to have been paid erroneously to a policeman who retired prior to the effective date and the policeman has subsequently re-entered the service and resumed contributions to the fund, no part of any future annuity or disability benefit payable to him when he again becomes separated from the service shall be retained or withheld for repayment into the fund of any deficiency due from him on account of any pension or annuity prior to such re-entry if such original pension or annuity was paid without any misrepresentation by the policeman as to his age or period of service in the procuring of such prior pension. Any authorized action taken by the board shall relieve and release the board and the fund from any liability for any moneys retained or paid out as herein provided.

Whenever money is payable to a minor or to a person adjudged to be under legal disability to manage or care for his own estate, the board may, in its discretion when to the apparent interest of the minor or person under legal disability, waive guardianship proceedings and pay such money to the person providing for or caring for the minor, and to the wife, parent or blood relative providing or caring for the person under legal disability.

Whenever a pensioner, annuitant, refund applicant or disability beneficiary disappears or his whereabouts are unknown and it cannot be ascertained whether or not he is living, there shall be paid to his wife or his children, or both, under this section, such amount only as will not be in excess of the amount which would be payable in the event the pensioner, annuitant, refund applicant or disability beneficiary had died on the date of his disappearance; and, in the event of his subsequent return, or upon satisfactory proof of his being alive, the amount theretofore paid shall be charged against any moneys payable to him under any of the provisions of this Article to the same effect as though the payment to his wife or children, or both, had been an allowance to her or them out of the moneys payable to him as such pensioner, annuitant, refund applicant or disability beneficiary.
§ 40 ILCS 5/13-805. Annuities and benefits exempt

Sec. 13-805. Annuities and benefits exempt. All annuities and benefits granted under this Article shall be exempt from attachment or garnishment process and shall not be seized, taken, subjected to, detained, or levied upon by virtue of any judgment, or any process or proceeding whatsoever issued out of or by any court, for the payment and satisfaction in whole or in part of any debt, damage, claim, demand, or judgment against any annuitant or other beneficiary hereunder.

No annuitant or other beneficiary shall have any right to transfer or assign an annuity or benefit or any part thereof, either by mortgage or otherwise except that an annuitant who elects to participate in any group hospital care plan or group medical or surgical plan shall have the right to authorize the Board to deduct the cost of such plan from the annuity check and to pay such deducted amount to the group insurance carrier; provided, that the Board, in its discretion, may pay to the spouse of any annuitant, or disability beneficiary, such amount from the annuity or disability benefit as any court of competent jurisdiction may order, or as the Board may consider necessary for the support of the spouse and children in the event of the disappearance or unexplained absence of the annuitant, or disability beneficiary, or of failure to support the spouse and children.

The Board may withhold from any future annuity or benefit payments such amounts as it may in its discretion require for the purpose of repayment into the Fund of any moneys paid to any annuitant, or disability beneficiary through misrepresentation, fraud or error. The Board, and the members thereof, and the Fund shall not be held liable for any amounts so withheld.
§ 40 ILCS 5/14-147. Annuities, etc. — Exempt

Sec. 14-147. Annuities, etc. — Exempt. Except as provided in this Article, all moneys in the fund created by this Article, and all securities and other property of the System, and all annuities and other benefits payable under this Article, and all accumulated contributions and other credits of employees in this System, and the right of any person to receive an annuity or other benefit under this Article, or a refund or return of contributions, shall not be subject to judgment, execution, garnishment, attachment, or other seizure by process, in bankruptcy or otherwise, nor to sale, pledge, mortgage or other alienation, and shall not be assignable. A person receiving an annuity or benefit, or refund or return of contributions, may authorize withholding from such annuity, benefit, refund or return of contributions in accordance with the provisions of the “State Salary and Annuity Withholding Act”, approved August 21, 1961, as now or hereafter amended [5 ILCS 365/1 et seq.].

The General Assembly finds and declares that the amendment to this Section made by this amendatory Act of 1989 is a clarification of existing law, and an indication of its previous intent in enacting and amending this Section. Notwithstanding Section 1-103.1 [40 ILCS 5/1-103.1], application of this amendment shall not be limited to persons in service on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989.
§ 40 ILCS 5/16-190. Annuities, etc. — exempt

Sec. 16-190. Annuities, etc. — exempt. The right of a person to a retirement annuity or other benefit, to the return of contributions, the retirement annuity or other benefit itself, any optional benefit, any other right accrued or accruing to any person under the provisions of this Article, and the moneys in the fund created by this Article, shall be subject neither to attachment, garnishment, execution, or other seizure by process, nor to sale, pledge, mortgage or other alienation, and shall not be assignable except as in this Article provided. A person receiving an annuity or benefit may authorize withholding from such annuity or benefit for the purposes enumerated in the “State Salary and Annuity Withholding Act”, approved August 21, 1961, as now or hereafter amended [5 ILCS 365/1 et seq.]. The moneys in the fund are exempt from any state or municipal tax.
§ 40 ILCS 5/17-151. Annuities, etc. — Exempt

Sec. 17-151. Annuities, etc. — Exempt. All pensions, annuities, refunds, or death benefits granted under the provisions of this Article are exempt from State and municipal taxes and are exempt from attachment or garnishment process. They shall not be seized or levied upon by virtue of any judgment or any process or proceedings issued out of or by any court for the payment or satisfaction in whole or in part of any debt, claim, damage, demand or judgment.

No pensioner has the right to transfer or assign his pension or any part thereof by way of mortgage or otherwise except for the purpose (1) of establishing and maintaining membership in nonprofit group health or hospital plans approved by the Board and (2) of establishing a living trust, the trustee of which is authorized to engage in the trust business, provided all pension payments so assigned are required to be paid monthly to the trustor or, in the event of his incapacity, expended for his benefit. The Board is hereby authorized to administer all the details involved in establishing and maintaining membership in such health or hospital plans for the benefit of the annuitants, but it shall not be obligated to do so or to continue doing so, if in its judgment such continuance is not desirable.
§ 735 ILCS 5/12-704. Exemptions from garnishment

Sec. 12-704. Exemptions from garnishment. Benefits and refunds payable by pension or retirement funds or systems and any assets of employees held by such funds or systems, and any monies an employee is required to pay to such funds or systems are exempt and are not subject to garnishment under Part 7 of Article XII of this Act [735 ILCS 5/12-701 et seq.].

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