Credit Counseling Certificate Guide
CREDIT COUNSELING CERTIFICATE GUIDE AND SUBMISSION RECORD
Debtor and proposed case: [NAME, DISTRICT, CHAPTER, FILING STATUS]
Current official approved-provider list checked: [URL, DATE, PROVIDER AND APPROVAL AREA]
Credit-counseling route under 11 U.S.C. § 109(h) and Rule 1007(b)(3): ☐ Briefing completed before filing ☐ Briefing completed but certificate pending ☐ Exigent-circumstances certification requested ☐ Court determination under § 109(h)(4) requested ☐ Other district-specific exception confirmed
Counseling appointment and completion: [DATE, PROVIDER, DELIVERY METHOD]
Provider-issued certificate details: [ISSUE DATE, CERTIFICATE ID, DEBTOR NAME]
Required filing route and deadline: [FORM 101 STATEMENT, CERTIFICATE OR CERTIFICATION, COURT RULE/ORDER, TRIGGER, DATE]
Any exception or extension sought: [ACTUAL BASIS, REQUIRED MOTION OR CERTIFICATION, COURT ACTION]
For the ordinary individual-debtor route, 11 U.S.C. § 521(b) requires the approved agency's certificate and any debt repayment plan. Rule 1007(b)(3) ties the credit-counseling statement to Form 101. Rule 1007(c)(3) requires the certificate, exigent-circumstances certification, or § 109(h)(4) request with a voluntary petition; if the briefing was completed but the certificate is unavailable, the Rule provides a separate statement and later-document route. Determine the applicable facts and court order before selecting a route.
Obtain the certificate directly from the selected approved provider and compare the debtor name and completion date with the petition. File the provider's document through [COURT'S REQUIRED SYSTEM] with [ANY REQUIRED COVER SHEET OR EXHIBIT]. Keep the provider receipt and docket confirmation. This guide is not a provider certificate and makes no eligibility determination. The prepetition credit-counseling certificate is distinct from the postpetition personal financial management course certificate under Rule 1007(b)(7).
| Action | Person | Date | Official source or docket proof |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider approval checked | [NAME] | [DATE] | [URL] |
| Counseling completed | [NAME] | [DATE] | [RECEIPT] |
| Certificate received | [NAME] | [DATE] | [CERTIFICATE] |
| Certificate filed / deficiency addressed | [NAME] | [DATE] | [DOCKET] |
Prepared by: [NAME, ROLE, DATE]
About this template
- Last updated
- September 28, 2026
- Citations checked
- September 28, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- All states
- Category
- Financial & Banking
Legal authority
- 11 U.S.C. § 109(h)(1)-(4)
- 11 U.S.C. § 521(b)
- Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1007(b)(3), (b)(7), (c)(3)
Financial and banking documents govern loans, security interests, account agreements, and commercial transactions between lenders, borrowers, and financial institutions. Promissory notes, guaranties, security agreements, and UCC filings have precise legal requirements, and mistakes can leave a lender unsecured or a borrower on the hook for more than they agreed to. Well-drafted finance paperwork protects both sides and keeps the deal enforceable if something goes wrong later.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on September 28, 2026.
11 U.S.C. § 109(h)(1) (checked September 28, 2026): "an individual may not be a debtor under this title unless such individual has, during the 180-day period ending on the date of filing of the petition by such individual, received from an approved nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency described in section 111(a) an individual or group briefing"
11 U.S.C. § 109(h)(3) (checked September 28, 2026): "the requirements of paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a debtor who submits to the court a certification that— (i) describes exigent circumstances that merit a waiver of the requirements of paragraph (1)"
11 U.S.C. § 109(h)(2) (checked September 28, 2026): "Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a debtor who resides in a district for which the United States trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator, if any) determines that the approved nonprofit budget and credit counseling agencies for such district are not reasonably able to provide adequate services"
11 U.S.C. § 109(h)(4) (checked September 28, 2026): "The requirements of paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a debtor whom the court determines, after notice and hearing, is unable to complete those requirements because of incapacity, disability, or active military duty in a military combat zone."
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