Credit Counseling – Post-Petition Financial Management Course

...now browsing by category

 

There are actually two different credit counseling requirements in order to file both before and after filing

Sunday, May 17th, 2009

Yes that is correct.  The first one is the pre-filing credit counseling requirement.  All individuals who file must have completed this one with very narrow exceptions. It has to be done within 180 days before filing. The law is unclear and still developing on whether you can do it the same day that you file, but you must do it before you file.  Without this counseling you are ineligible and the case will be dismissed by the judge.

The other one is the post-filing financial management course which is shorter and tends to cost less and can be done entirely on the internet without a telephone component.  This course is required before a discharge can issue. The certificate and in some judicial districts Form 23 a sworn certification that you took the class must be filed.  In Chapter 7 you must take the class within 45 days of the first setting of the creditors meeting. Some courts will close the case without a discharge if this deadline is not adhered to, requiring a motion to reopen and a new filing fee.