Under the new Bankruptcy law, you are required to attend two (2) credit counseling courses--a Pre-Petition Credit Counseling course and a Pre-Discharge Financial Management course. Both courses may be taken in person, on the phone, or online. If you are married filing jointly, each spouse must take the courses separately. To take your credit counseling courses you can go to CCMS Credit Card Management Services. We recommend taking your courses online because it’s the fastest and cheapest method.

Pre-Petition Credit Counseling Course

The Pre-Petition Credit Counseling course includes an evaluation of your personal financial situation, a discussion of alternatives to bankruptcy, and a personal budget plan. The course must be taken within 6 months of filing bankruptcy. Upon completion of the course you will be given a certificate. The course costs around $40 and lasts about 60 to 90 minutes.

Pre-Discharge Financial Management course

The Pre-Discharge Financial Management course takes a little longer and covers information on developing a budget, managing money, using credit wisely, and other resources. It typically costs around $50.