Before Filing
Also known as:
Pre Bankruptcy Counseling
Credit Counseling Course
Budget Briefing Course
After Filing
Also known as:
Post Bankruptcy Counseling
Debtor Education Course
Financial Management Course
Bankruptcy Counseling Frequently Asked Questions
Many of your questions about the bankruptcy counseling course and the bankruptcy counseling certificate will be answered on this page.
Counseling Courses
| Course | Single or Joint | |
|---|---|---|
| Online Counseling Course - Either Pre or Post | $29 | |
| Telephone/In-Person - Pre Filing Only | $49 | Call 1-866-686-9032 |
| Home Study - After Filing Only | $49 | Call 1-866-686-9032 |
Counselors are Ready to Help
| Our consumer credit counselors are ready to assist you with the bankruptcy counseling and certification process, so you can make well-informed decisions together with your legal counsel. Our certified, experienced counselors review your budget and present information to prepare you for the future. | Credit Counselors available by phone: Monday-Thursday 8am - 10pm Friday 8am - 8pm Saturday 9am - 5pm All times Eastern |
Counseling Course Details
The pre bankruptcy counseling course, sometimes called the credit counseling course or the budget briefing course, taken online, will require approximately one hour to complete including contact with a counselor, who will review your financial data, answer your questions, and issue your counseling certificate to you when the course is complete.
The post bankruptcy counseling course, also known as the debtor education or financial management course, takes two hours to complete, which is required by the US Department of Justice. When the financial management course online component is completed, a counselor with review your course data, answer your questions, and issue your debtor education certificate when all is complete.
Counseling certificates can be emailed to you and/or your attorney. Usually these are available within an hour or two of completing the counseling course. You can also retrieve it any time by logging into your account.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Counseling Certificate
With Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the most common type of filing, is considered a liquidation of most of one’s assets for the benefit of creditors. While this legal procedure allows nearly all debt to be discharged, there are limits to protected assets.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Counseling Certificate
With Chapter 13 bankruptcy, a debtor repays debts under a three to five year plan that is supervised by the court. Chapter 13 was encouraged by the 2005 revision to law, which sought to force more debtors to repay more of the debts under bankruptcy than previously required.