In 2005 when Congress reformed the US Bankruptcy Code, they required debtors filing bankruptcy to take an approved pre-filing credit counseling class as well as a post-filing debtor education class. Companies that offer the classes must be approved by the US Trustee’s Office. The first course is designed to evaluate your financial situation and explore alternatives to bankruptcy. The second course educates debtors about budgets, managing money and credit.

For more information about these two courses read, “Filing for Bankruptcy: What to Know: Approved Credit Counselors and Debtor Educators.”