PrintYou must get credit counseling before you can file for bankruptcy. You can take a bankruptcy counseling program from any approved company as long as they give you a Bankruptcy Counseling Certificate. The appointment is normally 1 to 2 hours long.
The Department of Justice lists all the approved credit counseling companies in Massachusetts on their website.
You can do the session:
- in person,
- online, or
- over the phone.
See the Federal Trade Commission’s suggestions for choosing a counselor.
Important
Your counseling certificate is only good for 180 days! Do you think you will have your bankruptcy filed within 180 days? If it will take you longer, wait to do your counseling.
You have the right to an interpreter