Cambridge Credit Counseling
Bankruptcy Counseling

Filing for bankruptcy is quite possibly one of the biggest decisions you will make in your lifetime; one that should be taken very seriously. If you are thinking about filing for bankruptcy, first and foremost - talk to an attorney prior to enrolling in bankruptcy counseling!

It is important to note that we are not a law firm and cannot offer you legal advice of any kind! However, we can provide you with the required bankrupcty counseling certificates that you need in order to complete your bankruptcy filing.

The bankruptcy counseling process is completed in two phases: Pre-Filing Credit Counseling and Post-Filing Debtor Education. Both will need to be completed in order to finalize your bankruptcy filing. If you sign up for both bankruptcy counseling courses, you will receive a $10.00 discount!

The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 launched a new era: With limited exceptions, people who plan to file for bankruptcy protection must get credit counseling from a government-approved organization within 180 days before they file. They also must complete a debtor education course to have their debts discharged.

The Department of Justice's U.S. Trustee Program approves organizations like Cambridge to provide the mandatory credit counseling and debtor education. Only the counselors and educators that appear on the U.S. Trustee Program's lists can advertise that they are approved to provide the required bankruptcy counseling.

Counseling and Education Requirements

As a rule, pre-bankruptcy credit counseling and pre-discharge debtor education may not be provided at the same time. Credit counseling must take place before you file for bankruptcy; debtor education must take place after you file.

In general, you must file a certificate of credit counseling completion when you file for bankruptcy, and evidence of completion of debtor education after you file for bankruptcy – but before your debts are discharged. Only approved counseling organizations and debtor education course providers that have been approved by the U.S. Trustee Program may issue these certificates. To protect against fraud, the certificates are produced through a central automated system and are numbered.

Pre-bankruptcy Credit Counseling

A pre-bankruptcy counseling session with an approved credit counseling organization like Cambridge should include an evaluation of your personal financial situation, a discussion of alternatives to bankruptcy, and a personal budget plan. A typical counseling session should last about 60 to 90 minutes, and can take place in person, on the phone, or online. Cambridge is required to provide the counseling free of charge for those consumers who cannot afford to pay. If you cannot afford to pay a fee for credit counseling, you should request a fee waiver from us before the session begins. We are required to discuss any fees with you before starting the counseling session.

Once you have completed the required counseling, you will get a certificate as proof. Cambridge will not charge an extra fee for the certificate.

Post-Filing Debtor Education

Our debtor education course will include information on developing a budget, managing money, using credit wisely, and other resources. Our debtor education course is provided online only and will take longer to complete than the pre-filing counseling – about two hours. As with pre-filing counseling, if you are unable to pay the session fee, you should seek a fee waiver from the debtor education provider. Check the list of approved debtor education providers at the bankruptcy clerk's office in your district, or by visiting the website for the Department of Justice, Executive Office of United States Trustees.

Once you have completed the required debtor education course, you will receive a certificate as proof. This certificate is separate from the certificate you received after completing your pre-filing credit counseling. Cambridge does not charge an extra fee for the certificate.