how long does the prefiling credit counseling course take by access

by Stanley Rolfson 7 min read

60 minutes

How long does the credit counseling course take to complete?

The pre-filing credit counseling course takes approximately 60-90 minutes to complete. The post-filing debtor education course takes a minimum of 2 hours to complete (by law).

Why take a pre-file credit counseling course?

Take our pre-file credit counseling course to receive a certificate of completion in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code. Bankruptcy is a legal way to start all over again financially, but you can’t file for a do-over until you have enrolled in a pre-file bankruptcy credit counseling course.

How long does pre-bankruptcy credit counseling take?

Here are some commonly asked questions (and answers!) about our pre-bankruptcy credit counseling: How long does the counseling take? The counseling takes about 60 minutes, but remember that you can work at your own pace and start and stop as needed. How much does this cost?

How long is a pre-filing credit counseling certificate good for?

How long is my certificate good for? The Pre-filing Credit Counseling certificate expires 6 months from the date counseling is completed. In most cases, the Pre-Discharge Debtor Education certificate must be presented to the court within a certain amount of time after you file your bankruptcy case.

How long is a credit counseling certificate valid?

There is no charge for generation of the certificate. As an approved agency, this certificate is valid for 180 days after the date and time the counseling is completed. A Debt Coach Credit Counseling certified consumer credit counselor will be conducting this session.

How long is bankruptcy counseling good for?

The bankruptcy counseling certificate is valid for up to 180 days from the completion of the counseling session.

How long does bankruptcy stay on your credit report?

Depending on the type of bankruptcy you file, a bankruptcy may remain on your credit report for 7 to 10 years. If, after your session, you choose to enroll in a Debt Management program (DMP), participation in a debt management program may change information which is already on your credit report.

Who can review client information?

The Executive Office for the United States Trustee (EOUST) can potentially review client information as needed. The EOUST has only reviewed and approved Pre-filing credit counseling and Post-filing debtor education services.

What is debt coach?

BV is an independent third-party organization that reviews and monitors entities who provide social services. A Debt Coach is a non-profit agency. We are organized and operate in accordance with Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. A Debt Coach receives funding in the form of grants from banks and other financial institutions ...

What impact will the credit counseling course have on my credit report?

The credit counseling course offered by Abacus has no impact on students' credit reports.

How long is the course?

The pre-filing credit counseling course takes approximately 60-90 minutes to complete. The post-filing debtor education course takes a minimum of 2 hours to complete (by law).

What forms of payment do you accept?

Payments are accepted online or over the phone. We accept major credit cards, debit cards, and money orders (sent by mail). Sage Personal Finance also accepts ACH (elec tronic checks). If you do not have one of these forms of payment, you can purchase a pre-paid VISA, American Express or MasterCard card, from places like a drug store or Wal-Mart, or you can borrow a credit or debit card from a friend or family member.

Do I have to complete the course in one sitting?

No, your progress is saved as you proceed through each course. You can close your browser at any time, and return to the site later. When you log-on again, you will be taken back to the last page that you were on.

How quickly can I receive a certificate of completion?

For both courses, immediately upon finishing the course, you will be provided with a link to your certificate, and you can print a copy. In case you don't have a printer, or just want to have a copy for your record, we also send your certificate to you by fax and/or email when you finish the course. You will be asked for an email address or fax number where your certificate should be sent, and you can provide your attorney's email address and fax if you are working with an attorney. We will deliver it to all of those places to ensure that you get it as quickly and easily as possible. If you do not have email or a fax number, we can send your certificate by mail upon request. Please note that for the credit counseling course, you are required to chat or speak with a credit counselor to complete your course.

How long is my certificate good for?

The Pre-filing Credit Counseling certificate expires 6 months from the date counseling is completed .

What are the courses required for bankruptcy?

Individuals filing bankruptcy must complete a course in credit counseling before filing, and must complete a course in debtor education after filing. These courses are also referred to as the pre-filing and post-filing courses. Abacus Credit Counseling is an approved credit counseling agency, and Sage Personal Finance is an approved debtor education provider.* Together, we offer a convenient and affordable solution for your bankruptcy courses.

What is pre-file counseling?

Pre-file credit counseling is an opportunity to receive advice from an approved counselor on whether there is some other way for you to get back on your feet financially, or is bankruptcy really the only choice . You are not required to accept any suggestions or proposals made by credit counselors, but are required to participate in ...

Where does credit counseling come from?

The counseling must come from a nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency like InCharge Debt Solutions that is approved by the U.S. Trustee program. The agency issues you a Certificate of Credit Counseling as proof that you took the course and you must present the certificate when filing for bankruptcy.

What happens if you don't get a credit counseling certificate?

The agency issues you a Certificate of Credit Counseling as proof that you took the course and you must present the certificate when filing for bankruptcy. Everyone filing for bankruptcy must take the credit course, regardless of what chapter of bankruptcy you file for. If you don’t have a certificate, your case may be dismissed.

How long does it take for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy to settle?

Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases take 4-6 months to settle and Chapter 13 filings can last a year or more. The secret to success with either is almost always predicated on the time spent planning ahead of the actual filing.

How long does it take to get pre-filed for bankruptcy?

The pre-filing course only takes about an hour and it makes you aware of all the other possibilities for dealing with your debt.

Do you have to take credit courses to file for bankruptcy?

Everyone filing for bankruptcy must take the credit course, regardless of what chapter of bankruptcy you file for. If you don’t have a certificate, your case may be dismissed.

How does bankruptcy counseling work?

1. Provide your financial information. In the session, you will provide various pieces of information about your financial situation, including details about why you are filing for bankruptcy. Here are the specifics you will need to provide:

What is Clearpoint pre bankruptcy?

Clearpoint’s online pre-bankruptcy credit counseling (also referred to as “pre-filing” or “pre-petition” counseling) allows you to earn the certificate that is required by US Bankruptcy Code before you can file for bankruptcy.

Is it mandatory to talk to a counselor?

Important note: Chatting with a counselor is a mandatory part of the counseling.

Does credit counseling affect credit score?

Yes, this counseling requires a credit inquiry. This is a “soft” pull of your credit, however, and will not affect your credit score or show on any third party credit report requests. The information from your credit report will allow your counselor to provide the best advice possible, and will help us ensure that the information you provide matches what the credit bureaus have on record.

How long is credit counseling?

The Executive Office of the United States Trustee (“EOUST”) states that “sessions should last approximately 60 minutes .”.

How long do you have to take pre bankruptcy credit counseling?

You have 6 months to take the pre-filing course. Once your forms are filed with the bankruptcy court, you’ll want to get the second course done within 60 days of your meeting of creditors (or before the meeting, if you want). The courses are offered by nonprofit organizations that are pre-approved by the U.S. Trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator).

What to do during a credit counseling session?

During the credit counseling session, you'll speak with a credit counselor about your financial situation. Once done, they may recommend that you consider a repayment plan but oftentimes they'll simply provide you with the bankruptcy certificate to submit to the court along with your bankruptcy forms. The certificate is how you prove ...

How long is the debtor education course?

As a result, the debtor education requirement is a 2-hour course. When done, you'll receive a certificate of completion that you have to submit to the bankruptcy court.

How long is a certificate of completion good for?

You get the certificate of completion after you’ve completed the course. It’s good for 180 days.

Do you need credit counseling for Chapter 7?

Is credit counseling required for Chapter 7? Yes, individuals who file any type of bankruptcy (Chapter 7, Chapter 13, or Chapter 11) have to complete this requirement. The credit counseling requirements exist to make sure that everyone filing bankruptcy knows about all available debt relief options .

Do you need to take bankruptcy classes if you have no financial management skills?

Of course, this instructional course is required even if the reason for your bankruptcy filing had nothing to do with your financial management skills.

How long does the counseling session generally take?

You go at your own pace. Typically, most of our clients take an average of somewhere between 60 to 90 minutes to complete the entire session, but more or less time may be appropriate depending on your particular situation. While our course is not timed, you do want to make a good faith effort to fill out the financial questionnaire to the best of your ability.

How long is a credit counseling certificate good for?

Your certificate of completion of credit counseling is valid for 180 days (about 6 months). After this time, the certificate expires, and you are required to retake the session all over again to receive an updated certificate. This is because your financial situation can change drastically over this long period of time, and so our counselors are required to conduct a new credit counseling session. You can simply log in to your pre-existing account, and you will have the option to reset it, and start from the beginning again.

What is the purpose of Credit Counseling?

The first credit counseling session is generally required to be completed prior to filing for bankruptcy. Many clients take our course before they even meet with a bankruptcy attorney. However, there is no requirement that you have to be considering bankruptcy or that you file bankruptcy in order to take our course. Our counselors make no assumptions that you will necessarily be filing for bankruptcy. Our course is available to anyone in financial trouble, or to anyone who simply wants to learn more about their finances.

What information do I need to take the course?

We ask for information related to your income and monthly budget expenses, along with your debts, what factors led you to seek counseling, information regarding any lawsuits, garnishments, or foreclosures you may be facing, and we may ask about any assets you may have. Estimates are fine. There is no section of our course that requires you to have exact amounts. Do keep in mind though that your counselor is basing their advice to you off of the numbers you are providing to them, so the more accurate you are, the better off you will be.

How do I sign up for the course?

When signing up for the credit counseling session, you need to create a brand new account, which you can do here. You will also want to have your court district handy.

What does a financial counselor do?

Specifically, the counselor will be analyzing your current financial situation, discussing the factors that caused that financial situation, and assist in developing a plan to respond to those financial problems without incurring negative amortization of debt.

What is a credit counselor?

Specifically, the counselor will be analyzing your current financial situation, discussing the factors that caused that financial situation, and assist in developing a plan to respond to those financial problems without incurring negative amortization of debt.

How long does it take to get a credit counseling certificate?

A.) The certificate will be issued within one business day after the online portion AND the mandatory online secured messaging with credit counselor has been completed. Please note that during the online registration of the class you will be asked for your email address and your attorney's email address (if applicable). Once you have completed the entire instruction, the Certificate of Completion will be emailed to your primary email address on file, and a notification will also be emailed to the attorney's email. If the attorney desires direct access to your certificate, please contact us and request us to email it to your attorney. Attorneys can register on our site under the attorney tab on our site and get direct access to his/hers clients' certificates.

Who wrote the pre-filing class?

A.) Both online classes (the pre-filing class and the pre-discharge class) were written by Susan Wright. She is a talented writer and has a great knowledge in the financial sector. She holds the following certifications and designations:

What is $0$ BK class?

A.) $0$ Bk Class, Inc. is approved to provide Pre-Filing Credit Counseling and Pre-Discharge Debtor Education in all districts of the US.

Does a pre filing certificate of completion require a credit counseling course?

A.) Yes, your Certificate of Completion will have all the required information that you will need for a Pre-Filing Course Certificate of Completion. The Online Credit Counseling Class offered at MyOnlineBankruptcyClass.com has been approved by the US Trustee to issue certificates evidencing completion of a credit counseling course in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code. Approval does not endorse or assure the quality of a provider's services.

How long is counseling in motion?

Counseling in Motion is an online session. This online session will take at minimum 60 minutes in duration. Counseling in Motion will require verification of the person who is taking this course prior to course commencement and before completion of the course. After completing the course you will have personal interaction with one of our certified bankruptcy counselors who will review with you the factors that caused your current conditions and help you develop a plan to respond to any further financial problems.

How long is bankruptcy counseling certificate valid?

You will only receive the certificate if you complete the entire session. There is no charge for the generation of the certificate. As an approved agency, this certificate is valid for 180 days after the date and time the counseling is completed.

How long is bankruptcy counseling good for?

The bankruptcy counseling certificate is valid for up to 180 days from the completion of the counseling session.

How long does bankruptcy stay on your credit report?

Depending on the type of bankruptcy you file, a bankruptcy may remain on your credit report for 7 to 10 years. If, after your session, you choose to enroll in a Debt Management program (DMP), participation in a debt management program may change information which is already on your credit report.

What does a bankruptcy counselor do?

If you are completing this process in-person or by phone, your counselor will ask you questions about your budget, assets, creditors, and factors that led you to consider bankruptcy. After reviewing all your information, your counselor will conduct an analysis of your financial situation and explore your options with you and develop an individualized action plan for dealing with them. Upon completion of this counseling, your counselor will provide you copies of all this information.

What is debt coach?

BV is an independent third-party organization that reviews and monitors entities who provide social services. A Debt Coach is a non-profit agency. We are organized and operate in accordance with Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. A Debt Coach receives funding in the form of grants from banks and other financial institutions ...

Who can review client information?

The Executive Office for the United States Trustee (EOUST) can potentially review client information as needed. The EOUST has only reviewed and approved Pre-filing credit counseling and Post-filing debtor education services.