What Are The Credit Counseling Requirements For Bankruptcy?

In 2005, Congress passed and the president signed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA), a bankruptcy reform law. One of the new requirements BAPCPA imposes on a bankruptcy debtor is to receive credit counseling from an approved credit counseling agency before the bankruptcy filing. A lawyer experienced in consumer credit and bankruptcy law can help educate debtors about the credit counseling requirements.

Credit Counseling Briefing

Specifically, a debtor must receive an “individual or group briefing” from a nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency within 180 days before filing for bankruptcy. The briefing can be in person, by telephone or via the Internet. The law provides that the briefing must “[outline] the opportunities for available credit counseling and [assist] such individual in performing a related budget analysis.” If a debt management plan is developed in the course of the required counseling, it must be filed with the bankruptcy court.

Approved Credit Counseling Agencies

In most states, the U.S. trustee maintains a list of approved credit counseling agencies for use in the court districts in those states. In Alabama and North Carolina, this list is approved by bankruptcy administrators. The list of approved agencies is available on the U.S. courts website. An approved agency is first on the list for a six-month probationary period, renewable in one-year increments. Approval can be revoked at any time. Interested persons can ask the court to review the approval of any agency.

To obtain approval, an agency must have qualified, experienced counselors who provide adequate counseling and have no financial interest in the counseling outcome; handle client funds securely; maintain an independent board of directors; charge reasonable and sliding scale fees; make certain disclosures; possess financial security to oversee repayment plans of clients; and maintain “quality, effectiveness, and financial security of the services it provides.”

Exceptions To The Credit Counseling Requirement

There are some exceptions to the counseling requirement for certain debtors in particular situations. First, the court may waive the counseling requirement if there are “exigent circumstances” and the debtor made a request for counseling that an agency was unable to provide within five days. Second, a debtor is excused from the requirement if incapacitated by mental illness or deficiency, if physically impaired such that he or she is unable to participate with reasonable effort or if on active military duty in a combat zone. Third, counseling is not required if the trustee or administrator in a particular court district determines there are not enough approved credit counseling agencies available.

Speak To A Bankruptcy Lawyer

Consumers considering bankruptcy as a future option should investigate the credit counseling requirement well before the anticipated bankruptcy filing. Experienced consumer and bankruptcy law attorneys can provide needed information about the counseling and about bankruptcy in general.

At Bankruptcy Clinic, we assist our clients with every step of the bankruptcy filing process. You can talk to our experienced Rockford lawyer in a free consultation by calling us at 815-962-7084 or sending us an email.