Credit Counseling

Credit counseling is a course that is taken by chapter 7 and chapter 13 debtors before the bankruptcy case is filed. The course must be provided by an agency that is approved by the U.S. Trustee’s Office. The purpose of the course is to determine if there is an alternate way to handle debt outside of bankruptcy. Upon course completion, debtors will receive a certificate that should be presented with the bankruptcy petition.

Personal Financial Management

A personal financial management course is a course required for chapter 7 and 13 individual debtors that is taken after bankruptcy filing. The course must be taken through an agency authorized by the United States Trustee. An individual in a chapter 11 case may be required to complete the personal financial management course if applicable by law. After course completion, the course provider may file the Personal Financial Management Course Certificate on behalf of the debtor. If the course provider does not file the certificate for the debtor, the debtor must file Official Form B423 Debtor’s Certification of Completion of Post-petition Instructional Course Concerning Personal Financial Management. Failure to timely file proof of course completion may result in the case being closed without the issuance of a discharge.

Please visit the Office of the U.S. Trustee section of the court’s website and access the U.S. Trustee Program link for the most recent information on approved credit counseling agencies and personal financial management instructional course providers. For additional information regarding credit counseling and personal financial management requirements, reference Code and Rules located on the Rules and Procedures section of the court’s website.