With only limited exceptions, Section 109(h) of the Bankruptcy Code requires that all individual debtors who file for bankruptcy relief receive a briefing that outlines the available opportunities for credit counseling and provides assistance in performing a budget analysis. The briefing must be given within 180 days before the bankruptcy case is filed. The briefing may be provided individually or in a group (including briefings conducted by telephone or on the Internet) and must be provided by a nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency approved by the United States trustee or bankruptcy administrator. The clerk of the bankruptcy court has a list of the approved budget and credit counseling agencies and this list is available to you.
In addition, after filing a bankruptcy case, most individual debtors must complete a financial management instructional course before he or she can receive a bankruptcy discharge. The clerk has a list of approved financial management instructional courses and this list is available to you.
