Before a bankruptcy petition can even be filed, you are required to attend classes on credit counseling where alternatives to bankruptcy are presented to you. Many see it as a last ditch effort for creditors to push debt consolidation as opposed to bankruptcy. The class lasts twenty minutes and can be taken over the telephone or the internet. When that class is completed, the filing of your bankruptcy can begin.

Debtor education is the second class required before your debts will be legally discharged. This is a one-hour class where you talk to a counselor about how to budget your money to prevent a future bankruptcy. This class is an important and proactive step in resolving your current and any future financial problems.