{"id":286957,"date":"2016-04-04T10:41:53","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:41:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/bankruptcy\/what-is-bankruptcy\/bankruptcy-credit-counseling.html"},"modified":"2024-06-07T15:02:13","modified_gmt":"2024-06-07T20:02:13","slug":"bankruptcy-credit-counseling","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/bankruptcy\/what-is-bankruptcy\/bankruptcy-credit-counseling.html","title":{"rendered":"Bankruptcy: Credit Counseling Before Filing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Bankruptcy: Credit Counseling Before Filing<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Susan Mills Richmond, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Filing bankruptcy is a lot more involved than many people think. Not only will you have to fill out the necessary forms, but you must also attend credit counseling. The United States trustee won’t approve your petition until you complete this step.<\/p>\r\n

If you file a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you must get credit counseling within 180 days before filing your bankruptcy petition. You also must complete an educational course on debt management before the bankruptcy court will discharge your debts.<\/p>\r\n

The government enforced bankruptcy counseling and debtor education requirements to ensure that consumers learn these important facts about bankruptcy and reduce the likelihood of filing for bankruptcy again.<\/p>\r\n

This article overviews the requirement to seek credit counseling services before becoming eligible for bankruptcy. For related information on housing and credit counseling, visit Housing and Credit Counseling<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Pre-Bankruptcy Counseling and Education Requirements<\/h2>\r\n

You must complete credit counseling before filing your bankruptcy case. You also must take a debtor education class after filing your petition. The courts will not discharge your consumer debts until you prove you completed both courses.<\/p>\r\n

Upon completing your U.S. Trustee-approved counseling and education programs, filers will receive authenticated certificates to file with the court.<\/p>\r\n

Before Filing: Credit Counseling<\/h3>\r\n

You may wonder why the courts require credit counseling before processing your bankruptcy filing. The courts take bankruptcy seriously. They want to ensure you understand that asking the courts to discharge legitimate debts is a last resort. They have deemed it vital that you realize why you are in such a precarious financial position.<\/p>\r\n

Pre-bankruptcy counseling<\/a> with an approved provider should, at the very least, include the following:<\/p>\r\n