Credit Counseling for Bankruptcy in New York City

If you are considering filing for bankruptcy protection in New York do not be fooled by companies offering “credit counseling services” that are an alternative to actually filing for bankruptcy.  The alternatives they offer don’t really help, and for reasons we have outlined in the past are generally a bad idea for people who really need a financial fresh start.  The use of the term “credit counseling” by these companies is misleading and has nothing to do with the actual credit counseling required under the new Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.  If you are overwhelmed by debt be sure you are working with a qualified bankruptcy law firm, not an alternative service with deceptive come on ads.

Now with that out of the way, what is bankruptcy credit counseling in New York City really all about?  When the bankruptcy laws changed in 2005 completing a credit counseling course became a requirement for all people filing for bankruptcy protection.  It needs to be finished within 180 days of your filing date, and if you are filing with your spouse both of you will need to take the course.  The course itself takes only 1-3 hours and can be completed on-line or over the phone.  In our law firm we handle the entire process and make the course very easy for our clients to take. We also offer the required credit counseling course at no charge.

The legally required credit counseling course is the first step towards a true financial fresh start.  The “credit counseling services” offered as alternatives might just get you into more financial trouble then you started with.  If you are working with a good bankruptcy attorney the legally required credit counseling will be a snap, and shouldn’t be a cause for concern or for delaying the second chance you are entitled to.

If you are consumed with debt, don’t worry about the credit counseling requirement.  It’s straightforward and your attorney will be there to assist you. If you have questions about the course or about bankruptcy protection in general then speak to a qualified attorney.  They will walk you through all of your debt relief options and give you a good idea of what to expect before moving ahead with filing.  If you live in New York contact the Law offices of William Waldner online or by calling 212.244.2882.  We make bankruptcy easy to understand and affordable for our clients and maintain a 100% Chapter 7 Bankruptcy discharge record in New York City as of 11/29/2013.

This article is intended for educational purposes only.  By reading this article no attorney-client relationship has been created.

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