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Law Offices of Christopher A. Benson, PLLC

What Happens At Credit Counseling Before Filing Bankruptcy?

  • By: Christopher Benson
  • Published: September 9, 2014

If you are filing either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you will be required to complete a bankruptcy counseling session within six months of your filing. The counseling can be done on-line, over the phone or in person.

You might be wondering why that is a requirement if you have already done your homework and decided that bankruptcy is your best option.

The bankruptcy counseling requirement was added to the bankruptcy process in 2005, when bankruptcy laws tightened, making it harder to discharge credit card debt and introducing the means test, which is designed to keep those who have the means to pay back their debt from filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

In pre-bankruptcy credit counseling, you’ll be informed about the bankruptcy process from start to finish, learn about all the advantages and disadvantages of bankruptcy protection, and you’ll also get a personal budget analysis. Your counselor will talk to you about how you got to the point of filing bankruptcy.

After the counseling session, you’ll receive a certificate that is needed by the court for your filing.

I provide a free consultation and provide you a step by step guideline for everything you need to do including recommended credit counseling courses.

Together, we will find a solution to your financial issues and give you a fresh start.

We are centrally located just off I-5 in Federal Way so that we can better serve our clients from Tacoma, Auburn, Lake Tapps, Kent and Seattle.

Over the past 32 years, the Law Offices of Christopher A. Benson has helped over 2,300 of Washington clients take control of their financial situation. We can stop your garnishment and change your monthly payments for all your combined unsecured debt, and if you have had more than $600 garnished within the last 90 days, we can get all of the money back in most cases. But you have to act quickly–call (253) 815-6940 for your free consultation, or email us today. Evening and weekend appointments available.

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