Pre- & Post-Bankruptcy Counseling
As a non-profit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Justice, we provide the credit counseling required before filing bankruptcy and the debtor education course required afterward — by phone, online, or in person.
National Debt Management is approved by the U.S. Department of Justice to provide pre-bankruptcy credit counseling and the post-bankruptcy personal financial management course, and to issue the certificates the court requires — but we are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice.
Pre-bankruptcy credit counseling
Under the 2005 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, most people must complete credit counseling with an approved agency within the 180 days before filing. A licensed counselor reviews your finances, discusses alternatives to bankruptcy, and helps you build a budget. The session generally takes 60–90 minutes, and once it is complete we issue the certificate of completion the court requires.
Post-bankruptcy debtor education
After filing and before your debts are discharged, the court requires a personal financial management (debtor education) course. It runs about 90 minutes to two hours and covers budgeting, money management, the wise use of credit, and handling a financial crisis. When you finish, we promptly issue your certificate of completion.
Where we are approved
Approved in all jurisdictions — sessions in English and Arabic
National Debt Management is approved to provide pre- and post-bankruptcy credit counseling and debtor education in all U.S. jurisdictions. We conduct sessions in person, by phone, and online — in both English and Arabic.
Fees
The fee for a pre-bankruptcy credit counseling session is $50.00 for a single person (in person, by telephone, or over the internet) and $70.00 for a joint session in person ($50.00 by telephone or internet). The post-bankruptcy instructional course fee is the same. A client presumptively lacks the ability to pay — and the fee may be waived — if household income is below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. There is no fee for the certificate of completion.
National Debt Management is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Filing bankruptcy may have a negative effect on your credit score and may remain on your credit report for seven to ten years; when deciding whether to file, please consult an attorney. The United States Trustee has reviewed only the budget and credit counseling services of NDM and its personal financial management instructional course, and has neither reviewed nor approved any other services the agency provides.
For full details, see the Michigan disclosure form.
Need your counseling certificate?
Call to schedule your pre- or post-bankruptcy session by phone, online, or in person.
Call 855-378-8989