SUBREDDIT: r/personalfinance
TITLE: My college is taking me to court over a $15k debt. Lawyer suggested bankruptcy.
POST: Well, this is it.

I have a ~$15,000 debt owed to a school (U.S., Illinois). Note: it is **not** a student loan. Anyway, the debt has gone to collections, for which I couldn't realistically pay for. I forgot about it for awhile until now when I received a summons to go to court over it. The school (plaintiff) vs. me (defendant). I have about $750 to my name, and rent is coming due in a few days.

I contacted an attorney because I've never been given a summons before. His suggestion was to file for bankruptcy.

I really don't want to file for bankruptcy because I am young, and my fiancée and I are to be married in a few months. Getting apartments (or eventually a house), will be next to impossible with a bankruptcy on my record.

I guess I'm just looking for some advice. Should I contact the school, despite their collection agency having not gotten any money out of me? Or just I just call it quits and contact a bankruptcy lawyer?
TL;DR: 
Owe $15,000 to a school. School is now taking me to court over it. I have no money. Lawyer suggested bankruptcy. Thoughts?