The Credit Counseling Briefing: Don’t File Bankruptcy Without It!
Prior to filing your petition for bankruptcy protection, you will have to complete a pre-filing Credit Counseling Briefing using an agency that has been approved by the U.S. Trustee's Office.
You can complete your Credit Counseling Briefing in person, but you may also have the option of using the telephone or the Internet. This session will likely include an assessment of your finances, a dialogue about available alternatives to bankruptcy, and a discussion about your budget plan.
When you've finished your Credit Counseling Briefing, you must be issued a certificate of completion to show that you've complied with this requirement.
Your Credit Counseling Briefing must be finished before you file your bankruptcy petition!
If you do not meet this requirement prior to filing bankruptcy, your bankruptcy case could be dismissed.
Locating an Approved Agency
There are inexpensive, interactive, credit counseling briefings available online at www.startfreshtoday.com. Other approved courses can be found through the Department of Justice, on the U.S. Trustee's list. The list is posted online at www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/cc_approved.htm.
Fees
The fees you pay for your Credit Counseling Briefing will depend upon where you live and whether you complete your session in person, over the phone or online. The U.S. Trustee's office estimates a fee of about $50 for the typical Credit Counseling Briefing. At Start Fresh Today, the Credit Counseling Briefing is currently listed at $30.
Completion Deadline
You must complete your Credit Counseling Briefing within 6 months before you file your bankruptcy petition. The Credit Counseling Briefing is mandatory and it is unlikely that you will be exempt from completing the course.
The Credit Counseling Briefing vs. The Debtor Education Course
The Credit Counseling Briefing is a completely different program from the Debtor Education Course. Each must be completed at a different time in the process and each will issue its own separate certificate.
You must complete your Credit Counseling Briefing before you file for bankruptcy; your Debtor Education Course should be finished after filing, but before you receive your discharge.
It is vital to remember that both the briefing and the course are required if you wish to successfully petition for your bankruptcy protection and receive a discharge.
