Do I Need to Complete ‘Credit Counseling’ Before I Can File for Bankruptcy?

To successfully file for bankruptcy, debtors must complete both a Credit Counseling Briefing prior to filing and a Debtor Education Course before a discharge is entered. These courses must be approved by the U.S. Trustee, and failure to file certification that these courses have been completed at the appropriate time may mean that your case is dismissed or your discharge denied.

If you are planning to file for bankruptcy, the law requires that you complete a U.S. Trustee approved Credit Counseling Briefing before you file your bankruptcy petition. The Credit Counseling certificate must be filed with your petition.

After you’ve filed for bankruptcy, the law requires that you complete a U.S. Trustee-approved Debtor Education Course. This course must be taken after the filing but before you receive your discharge. The Debtor Education Course certificate must be filed with the court before you receive your discharge.

While there are many providers available for these two services, Standard Legal provides a list of companies within its Bankruptcy legal forms software that are online, easy to complete and very affordable.