• Federal bankruptcy laws now require pre-filing and post-filing credit counseling.credit 3d sign image by onlinebewerbung.de from Fotolia.com
  
  Consumer credit counseling is required prior to filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This requirement was added in order to reduce perceived abuses by debtors in federal bankruptcy filings. Payment of a course fee may be required. Some credit counseling agencies will waive their fees when petitioners have low incomes or other hardships. A directory of approved bankruptcy credit counseling providers for Arizona petitioners is available online at the U.S. Courts website. Many of the approved credit counseling agencies offer their credit courses online.
  
  

Who Must Take Credit Counseling Courses

• Nearly all Chapter 7 bankruptcy filers in Arizona must take and pass the two required credit counseling courses. An exception to this rule is made for filers who have certain mental illnesses (although the court would not let these debtors handle their own cases if this is the case).
  
  

Course Certificate Requirements

• Pre-filing and post-filing credit counseling courses in Arizona require a debtor to know basics about responsibly budgeting their money and approaches to credit that can reduce interest debt and reduce the likelihood of having to file bankruptcy more than once. Debtors will need to know how to manage their money and credit as well as recognizing the importance of maintaining a good credit rating.
  
  

Timing of Taking Counseling Courses

• The pre-filing course must be completed and a certificate issued not more than six months prior to the filing of a Chapter 7 petition in Arizona. You must file your first certificate prior to filing the initial bankruptcy petition and the second certificate must be filed with the court not more than 45 days after the first meeting of your creditors.
  
  

Costs Involved

• Most bankruptcy filers must pay a filing fee. In Chapter 7 cases, the fee can be waived if the debtor meets certain income guidelines related to the established Arizona income poverty line in effect at the time of the filing of bankruptcy. Debtors may request that the bankruptcy court waive or defer bankruptcy filing fees. If required fees are not paid, the bankruptcy case can be dismissed.
  
  

Selecting a Credit Counseling Service

• One important consideration in selecting a counseling course is whether it is available online as opposed to personal attendance. Most credit counseling courses are offered in an online format which can be very convenient for debtors. If you don't have internet access or prefer not to take the course online, there are several agencies located in Arizona that offer the courses in person, including the Credit Advisors Foundation, Take Charge America, Inc., GreenPath, Inc., and Money Management International, Inc. (MMI) (MMI offers in person courses in nine different locations in Arizona).
  
  MMI, Inc.
  
  9009 West Loop South, Suite #700
  
  Houston, TX 77096-1719
  
  877-964-2227
  
  Courses are offered in English and Spanish
  
  Credit Advisors Foundation
  
  7525 E. Camelback Road, Suite #210
  
  Scottsdale, AZ 85251
  
  800-625-7725
  
  Courses are offered in English or Spanish
  
  Take Charge America, Inc.
  
  20620 N. 19th Avenue
  
  Phoenix, AZ 85027-3585
  
  866-750-9634
  
  Courses are offered in English and Spanish
  
  GreenPath, Inc.
  
  401 W. Baseline Street, Suite #206
  
  Tempe, AZ 85283
  
  800-630-6718
  
  Courses are offered in English and Spanish