Bankruptcy, credit counseling, and debtor education: 6 things to know

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What to expect before and after filing for bankruptcy.

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If you’re thinking about declaring bankruptcy, then you’ll need to know something about credit counseling, because it’s typically required before and after the bankruptcy filing process.

Bankruptcy-related credit counseling is highly regulated at both the federal and state levels to protect your rights and interests. The Federal Trade Commission regulates all credit counseling agencies, while the Department of Justice (DOJ) pays special attention to agencies that provide bankruptcy-related counseling services.

It’s a bit like financial therapy. Don’t be frightened of credit counseling or let it cause you a lot of stress—it’s beneficial for anyone with a debt load that’s become unmanageable. Here’s a rundown of the most important bankruptcy-related credit counseling rules and expectations to help you get the most out of the experience.

If you’re seeking bankruptcy protection under chapter 7, chapter 11, chapter 12, or chapter 13, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 mandates that you complete credit counseling within 180 days before filing. Even if your debts are primarily business related, credit counseling is a necessary part of the bankruptcy process.

Credit counseling before bankruptcy must be substantive and personalized, and include:

Pre-bankruptcy credit counseling aims to provide individuals with comprehensive financial evaluations, as well as determine whether bankruptcy can be avoided. You can expect your credit counseling session to last approximately 60 minutes.

Strictly speaking, credit counseling is not required after filing for bankruptcy—but debtor education typically is. Debtor education is closely intertwined with credit counseling; both services are often provided by the same credit counseling agencies.

Also known as a credit counseling course, debtor education is designed to provide expert guidance on managing your financial future. Typical debtor education topics include budgeting, money management, and how to use credit responsibly after bankruptcy. At least part of the course is interactive to ensure that you engage with the subject material. As for the time requirement, the minimum duration for a debtor education course is two hours.

Debtor education occurs after you file for bankruptcy, but before any debt is discharged. Your deadline for completing the course varies based on the type of bankruptcy.

The Department of Justice maintains approved lists of credit counseling and debtor education providers. Many agencies provide both services, so you may be able to work with the same provider throughout the bankruptcy process.

Approval is formally granted by the DOJ’s U.S. Trustee Program, which notably does not operate in Alabama and North Carolina. If you live in either of these states, you’ll need to choose an agency that’s approved by a bankruptcy administrator.

The purpose of these formalized approval processes is to ensure that you get high-quality guidance and education both before and after filing for bankruptcy. The DOJ imposes requirements on approved agencies to prevent fraud, misconduct, and abuse.

You may be required to complete credit counseling and receive financial education, but how you do that is mostly up to you. Your primary options include:

Part of a counseling session may be completed in a group setting to educate everyone present about topics like budgeting. Your counseling session is complete only after you interact “live” with a credit counselor, which could be via telephone, online chat, or email.

The requirements for credit counseling are not meant to add your financial burden. Credit counseling agencies set their own fees, which by necessity include fee reduction or fee waiver policies. Many counseling agencies charge fees on a sliding scale, adjusting the cost based on your income.

The DOJ’s U.S. Trustee program mandates that an individual “whose household income is less than 150% of the [federal] poverty level is presumptively entitled to a fee waiver or fee reduction.” The federal poverty level is defined in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Another core aspect of pricing for credit counseling services is fee transparency. Your credit counselor is obligated to disclose all fees before the start of any engagement.

You aren’t really finished with credit counseling (before bankruptcy) or debtor education (after bankruptcy) until you obtain certificates. The certificate of completion for pre-bankruptcy counseling is generally submitted when you file for bankruptcy, while the completion certificate for debtor education must be submitted before any of your debts can be discharged.

The scope of credit counseling can vary significantly, from a years-long relationship with a trusted credit counselor to only a couple of sessions that enable you to satisfy the counseling requirements for bankruptcy.

It’s possible that the counseling process will uncover a viable path to avoiding bankruptcy. If so, it’s worth considering before you officially file. Bankruptcy can give you some breathing room while you work your way through an unmanageable debt load, but afterward, it will require many years of diligent austerity in order to restore your credit.

If you are able to sidestep bankruptcy, you may choose to continue working with the credit counselor as you navigate the debt collection process.