Discharge Requirements for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
If you think that the process of getting your debts discharged through a Chapter 13 bankruptcy can be a hassle, you are right – and wrong.
With the help of a great bankruptcy attorney , debts re-arranged in Chapter 13 bankruptcies can be discharged rather quickly. However, there is no denying that there are obstacles that can trip up your journey towards a clean financial slate – and that includes the debt discharge requirements.
Debt discharge requirements are those items, events, classes that bankruptcy courts require from you before they will discharge your debts. Because a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is one of the more complicated versions of personal bankruptcies, staying on top of your debt discharge requirements is the best way to expedite the process.
So just what are the discharge requirements for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy? Take a look, and be sure to contact a local bankruptcy attorney to see if these debt discharge requirements apply in your state.
Pre-Filing Credit Counseling
Bankruptcy courts are very careful to ensure that filers will not need to appear before them again. That’s why these courts require filers to undergo a number of requirements, including pre-filing credit counseling. Think of this mandatory counseling class as a prep course for your bright financial future. With the help of this course, you’ll understand just what behaviors and events sent you on the road towards a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. In the future, you’ll be able to identify these warning signs before they take a bite out of your finances.
Financial Management Courses
Like with the pre-filing credit counseling, bankruptcy courts want to ensure that you fully understand how to handle your clean financial slate. Therefore, in order for your debts to be discharged, you’ll be required to undergo a financial management course. These courses typically discuss how to effectively budget, make on-time payments, and responsibly take on any future debts.
Additional Certificates
In some states, debtors will be required to submit various certificates to be approved for debt discharge. For example, you may be required to submit a certificate that indicates that you’re either current or not current with alimony, child support payments, etc. You and your bankruptcy attorney must sign and submit these certificates to the bankruptcy courts to get your petition approved under a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
If you have any additional questions about your Chapter 13 bankruptcy debt discharge requirements, be sure to ask your bankruptcy attorney .