If you are a Georgia resident that is looking to file for bankruptcy, then you will be required to go through credit counseling before you can file.
You will need to take this counseling session from an agency that is approved by the U.S. Trustee in Georgia, and will need to complete the course within six months before you file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy or else the sessions will expire and you will need to re-take the counseling before attempting to achieve bankruptcy protection again.
The government in Georgia believes that this provision will help to teach residents financial responsibility and show them how to boost their credit after bankruptcy in hopes of being in a better place financially in the near future. In addition to undergoing counseling, you will need to take a debtor education course before you can get a bankruptcy discharge. This course will inform you of your responsibilities as a debtor and make sure that you are not inclined to repeat your previous behaviors after you receive your discharges and emerge from bankruptcy.
It is very important that you choose an approved credit counseling agency and an approved debtor’s course. If you choose someone that is not on the list to help you complete these requirements, then you may end up having to retake your counseling and courses. You can read a list of approved agencies for bankruptcy counseling in Georgia by clicking here. You can also look at the approved list of debtor education agencies in Florida by clicking here. A Marietta bankruptcy attorney can also help you to choose an approved agency that can assist you in meeting these requirements.
There are some exceptions in which some individuals may not need to take these cases, but those are rare so it is best to expect that you will have to take the courses rather than battle with the court for an exemption. Talk to a Marietta bankruptcy lawyer at Blevins & Hong today if you need more information about these courses or about bankruptcy in general.
