Financial Education

Before you can get a discharge in your bankruptcy case, you must take a financial management education course and file a certificate with the bankruptcy Court. We recommend you take the course now so it is not forgotten about.

Here are approved education providers we recommend:

Hummingbird Credit Counseling and Education on the Internet, $19 per person (paid through our office)

Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc., in person, Topeka, Lawrence and Manhattan, $75 per case, either single or joint.

If you choose the Internet, go to www.hummingbird.org and watch the AFTER bankruptcy video. Be sure to write down the video number and the six words that flash on the screen. You take a quiz at the end. You cannot flunk the quiz, it is just to prove you did the course. It takes about 2 hours and you can start and stop it. No phone call this time. If you have a joint case, both of you have to take the course and the quiz. When you are finished, e-mail us your certificate numbers. We will download your certificate(s). You may have already paid for the course or you may need to pay us for the course fees. You must sign form 23 to go with your certificate, which we must file with the Court.

If you choose the in-person class, call HCCI at 234-0217 or (800) 383-0217 and make arrangements to attend. You will need your bankruptcy case number. If your fee is being paid through your chapter 13 plan, take your plan document with you.. Otherwise, pay HCCI the fee for the class. You will be given form 23 to sign and your certificate. Sign the form and bring both documents to us for filing with the bankruptcy court.