Do I really have to take a credit counseling class?
CAdeepwater1 month ago
My attorney mentioned a class I need to take before filing and another after. Are these legit?
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✓ Verified answer from a licensed attorney — shown first
Required by federal law since 2005. The pre-filing 'credit counseling briefing' has to be completed within 180 days before filing. The post-filing 'debtor education' has to be completed before discharge. Both are 1-2 hours online, $10-$30 each, from a US Trustee-approved provider (list on the USTP website). They're not particularly informative — treat them as a procedural hurdle. Get certificates and give them to your attorney. Missing either one can delay or block your discharge.
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