When/how to do credit counseling

[bkbkbk]

I haven't talked to a bk lawyer yet. When and how should I do the credit counseling course?

[lrprn]

I haven't talked to a bk lawyer yet. When and how should I do the credit counseling course?

If you plan to file with a lawyer, some do the pre-filing credit counseling right in the office. Add this question to the others you'll ask during your initial consultation visit.

If you want to do it before seeing a lawyer on your own, the certificate is good for six months before you file. Here's the list of approved US Trustee-approved pre-filing courses - http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/cc_approved.htm . Select your state from the drop-down list. Courses can be done in person, over the phone, or over the Internet. Typical cost ranges from $30-50 and if you file with a spouse, the spouse has to take the course as well. Many course agencies are set up for married couples to take the course at the same time for a slightly reduced price.

If you do a search here in the forums, there are multiple threads discussing specific approved agencies. We used Hummingbird Credit Counseling and were very pleased - http://www.hummingbirdcreditcounseling.org/ccfe.php . Others have mentioned CCCS agencies and were pleased with those as well.

No matter what you decide to do, just make sure that the agency is approved by the US Trustees and that you do the course within six months of filing.

[SinkingFast]

Personally,............. I'd get out, Consult around, and find the attny you want to work with first.

As Lrprn noted, some attnys include the pre BK and Debtor Ed Cert fees in their costs. You go to the attny's office to do the Sessions. Or you enter the Attny's ID at the Credit Counseling website. Or you go to an office in your town for a face to face that is billed direct to your attny.

We were Consulting around. Had decided to file. Went ahead and got our Certs. Found our attny. Then waited, waited, waited. We filed when we did because our Certs were about to expire. We possibly could have waited a few more months to file BK if we hadn't gotten our Certs when we did.

If you aren't under the gun, legally,............. No Foreclosure, no law suits, no garnishments,............ You can afford to wait as long as possible to file. The more time you put between filing and your CC use, the better. Plus, if anything major happens in between, you can include that in your BK as well.

BK is like a magic bullet. You only get to pull the trigger once. Then not again for a long, long time, if need be. Use it wisely.