Bankruptcy Counseling and Education Services

Q: How much does bankruptcy counseling and education cost?

Each bankruptcy counseling and education session costs $50 to complete. The cost is the same if you are filing jointly or as an individual. MMI is able to waive fees for consumers whose household income is equal to or less than 150 percent of the estimated poverty threshold for their applicable family size as published in the current Federal Poverty Levels Guidelines.

Q: More questions?

Check out our complete list of bankruptcy counseling and education FAQs .

Who needs bankruptcy counseling and education?

In the process of filing for bankruptcy?

Then you’ve come to the right place. MMI offers bankruptcy filers the pre-filing counseling and pre-discharge education courses required to complete your personal bankruptcy. If you haven’t yet, we recommend working with a qualified attorney to help you navigate this tricky process.

Trying to decide if bankruptcy is right for you?

Don’t pay for bankruptcy counseling before you’ve reviewed your options and decided that bankruptcy is right for you. If you need help understanding your options, start with a free credit counseling session. Credit counseling is a confidential, judgment-free way to diagnose your financial challenges and the right solution for you.

Learn more about free credit counseling

How it works

Bankruptcy pre-filing certificate

During your pre-filing bankruptcy counseling session, a certified credit counselor will work with you one-on-one to develop a detailed personal financial assessment. Your counselor will review your income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. This in-depth bankruptcy credit counseling process will provide you with a true and accurate picture of your financial situation, a reasonable and manageable spending plan, a detailed action plan, and short and long-term financial goals.

Upon completion of the bankruptcy counseling session, you’ll be issued a certificate of participation that allows you to proceed with the bankruptcy filing process. Certificates are delivered by email, fax, or mail.

Bankruptcy pre-discharge certificate

The pre-discharge education course covers a variety of financial and budgeting topics, giving you the tools necessary to build a strong financial foundation.

You’ll discover how to set achievable financial goals, calculate your net worth, create a livable budget, and build a savings plan. In addition, the program facilitator will show you how to obtain credit reports, establish or re-establish credit, dispute errors, and protect yourself from identity theft.

Upon completion of the pre-discharge bankruptcy course, you’ll be issued a certificate of participation that allows you to proceed with the bankruptcy filing process. Certificates are delivered by email, fax, or mail.

Bankruptcy can be a long and complicated process. If you’re still researching personal bankruptcy, here are some articles that our clients have found helpful.

Bankruptcy isn't right for everyone. Read our checklist to understand if it's right for you.

Should you file for bankruptcy?

This checklist can help you determine if bankruptcy is right for you.

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Learn more about what bankruptcy means for property owners.

Homeownership and bankruptcy

Learn what bankruptcy means for property owners.

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Types of bankruptcy

Explore the difference between chapter 7 and chapter 13.

Still have questions about our bankruptcy counseling and education services? Check out our most popular FAQs or give us a call to learn more.

How much does bankruptcy counseling and education cost?

Each bankruptcy counseling and education session costs $50 to complete. The cost is the same if you are filing jointly or as an individual. MMI is able to waive fees for consumers whose household income is equal to or less than 150 percent of the estimated poverty threshold for their applicable family size as published in the current Federal Poverty Levels Guidelines.

How long is a bankruptcy counseling/education session?

Pre-filing bankruptcy counseling typically takes between 45 minutes to an hour. Pre-discharge education courses usually require a minimum of two hours to complete.

Are services available in Spanish?

Services are available in English and Spanish. Additional languages are available via an interpreter service.

Do I need an attorney to file for bankruptcy?

You are not required to use an attorney when filing for bankruptcy, however bankruptcy laws can be complicated. Working with a trusted attorney can help ensure a smooth process.

Does the bankruptcy counseling certificate expire?

Bankruptcy regulations require consumers to receive counseling within 180 days of filing. If you choose to file more than 180 days past the date of your initial bankruptcy counseling session, you will need to schedule another appointment to talk with a trained bankruptcy counselor.

More questions?

Check out our complete list of bankruptcy counseling and education FAQs.

Connect with MMI to begin your pre-filing counseling or pre-discharge education session today! Available 8am-5pm (CT) Monday-Friday.

Pre-filing bankruptcy counseling

Must be completed at the beginning of the bankruptcy process.

877-895-2227

Financial education courses and workshops.

Pre-discharge bankruptcy education

Must be completed before bankruptcy is completed.

866-745-2227

Better Business Bureau

MMI is proud to have achieved an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a nonprofit organization focused on promoting and improving marketplace trust. The BBB investigates charges of fraud against both consumers and businesses, sets standards for truthfulness in advertising, and evaluates the trustworthiness of businesses and charities, providing a score from A+ (highest) to F (lowest).
Financial Counseling Association of America

MMI is a proud member of the Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA), a national association representing financial counseling companies that provide consumer credit counseling, housing counseling, student loan counseling, bankruptcy counseling, debt management, and various financial education services.
Trustpilot

MMI is rated as “Excellent” (4.9/5) by reviewers on Trustpilot, a global, online consumer review platform dedicated to openness and transparency. Since 2007, Trustpilot has received over 116 million customer reviews for nearly 500,000 different websites and businesses. See what others are saying about the work we do.
Department of Housing and Urban Development

MMI is certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide consumer housing counseling. The mission of HUD is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD provides support services directly and through approved, local agencies like MMI.
Council On Accreditation

MMI is proudly accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), an international, independent, nonprofit, human service accrediting organization. COA’s thorough, peer-reviewed accreditation process is designed to ensure that organizations like MMI are providing the highest standard of service and support for clients and employees alike.
National Foundation for Credit Counseling

MMI is a longstanding member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling® (NFCC®), the nation’s largest nonprofit financial counseling organization. Founded in 1951, the NFCC’s mission is to promote financially responsible behavior and help member organizations like MMI deliver the highest-quality financial education and counseling services.