Washington State Bankruptcy

Prior to filing for Washington State bankruptcy, you will be required to complete a court-approved credit counseling session. This requirement went into place after the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 was passed. If you cannot afford to pay, this session is provided free of charge and you will receive a certificate of completion that you must give to your attorney. If you are going to ask for the fee waiver, make sure you do so in advance. Be sure you choose a counseling organization approved by the United States Trustee’s Office.

There are a few different options when it comes to completion of your Washington State bankruptcy credit counseling briefing. Though it is required, you may be able to complete the session in person, over the phone or online. The bankruptcy credit counseling briefing will include a review of your financial situation, discussion of alternatives to Washington State bankruptcy and will also help you to begin designing a budget plan. These sessions average between 60 and 90 minutes in length.

The average cost of a credit counseling session is, according to the U.S. Trustee’s Office, about $50. Your fee will depend upon where you live and what type of session you attend. The agency must disclose all fees up front and you may request a fee waiver if you cannot afford to pay. This session is mandatory for those filing for either Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

There are very few exceptions to completing the Washington State bankruptcy credit counseling requirement. Exceptions can only be provided by statute and you will want to discuss your possible exception reasons with your attorney way before your filing date. He or she can help you decide if you might qualify for an exception and what documentation you will require. Bankruptcy attorneys and court judges are rarely able to wave the credit counseling requirement.

Once you have completed your Washington State bankruptcy credit counseling course and received your certificate, you will need to give that to your attorney so it can be included with the rest of your paperwork.