When do we take the 2nd class FInancial Management Course? Before or After the 341?

[butterflywings]

Hi.

Ive heard you take must take it with 45 days after filing and I've also heard you must take it within 45 days after your 341.

Since I can't call my lawyer on a Saturday so I was hoping someone on here could clue me in. lol

Thanks in advance!

[BKFLA]

I'm interested in knowing too. We just took our credit counseling course and our lawyer never mentioned a second class....??? I didn't know there was a second one. We got a certificate and everything. Do all credit courses require you to do two of them?

[FreshLikeADaisy]

The pre-bankruptcy class ("credit counseling") has to be taken at least a day before you file, and up to six months prior.

The post-bankruptcy class ("debt education" or "debt management") can be taken as soon as you have a case #, and cannot be taken later than 45 days after your 341 meeting, because Form 23 and the accompanying certificate have to be filed by then.

Short answer is that if you've already filed, go ahead and do your debt ed now.

Hope this helps!

[butterflywings]

Fresh you are the best! Thanks so much as always!

[BKFLA]

FreshlikeAdaisy, what district in FL did you file in? We're in the middle dist so I'm assuming it's Jacksonville - it is the closest to us, and that's where we're probably going for our 341. Our attny is in CA (he's licensed in FL too), we moved so we're able to file federal exempt, but I've heard some of the trustees in the middle dist can be real bears.....We are filing on March 17th.

[BKFLA]

Oh, and sorry to highjack your thread Butterflywings.

[butterflywings]

Oh, and sorry to highjack your thread Butterflywings.

No problem BKFLA. I would only mind if you hijacked it before I got my answer.

Once an OP gets their answer it is 100% polite to add to the thread by asking your own question.

Im sure Fresh will be on soon to answer your question and good luck with your filing!

[BKFLA]

Thanks and best of luck with yours too!

[FreshLikeADaisy]

Hey y'all.

I filed in the Middle District of Florida, if that helps. I was pro se and the clerks were absolutely wonderful. Also, PACER at the Jax courthouse is free which was a huge plus -- you can do search after search and not pay a penny. (Copies are still 50 cents a page, though.)

My trustee was courteous but exceptionally thorough, and I had to provide what seemed like an incredibly long list of paperwork as well as sign a broad release for him to access pretty much anything he wanted. I don't know that he is average for the region or not, but since it's pretty obvious I haven't got a penny to my name I really didn't have any problems. Also, I did not feel as though I was treated too differently for being pro se -- if anything, I was treated maybe a little better, and his staff were very nice once they figured out I had my ducks in a row (for instance, I called a few days after I mailed all those docs to be sure he had received them, and that earned me no end of brownie points ).

Fortunately I was not using Florida exemptions, but I did go out of my way in my filing to ensure they knew what state's exemptions I was using, and when I moved, and why. Whenever there was a doubt, I made a margin note... and on anything I added a margin note, I never heard another word about. Something to keep in mind, because he did pay very close attention to the details in my filing, and when I got to the 341 I saw he pretty much knew everyone's business pretty thoroughly by the time they got called up. He would also ask questions that were slightly off (for instance, "I see you receive disability income," when I obviously do not) and though I was too nervous at the time to notice, I later thought were probably slightly-trick questions to ensure that I knew what I had filed and was not trying to hide income. In my situation I *could* receive disability income, I suppose, but in my filing I made it expressly clear that I rely on family support, and I think he just wanted to see my reaction. It actually sounds much worse than it was. Also, he did not make me go into any health related details, for which I was immensely grateful. In retrospect, he asked me far less than he could have, and really did not seem interested in anything that was not strictly financial.

At this point, I should be discharged in late March, and I have no complaints. Except one: I had to file a complaint with the U.S. Trustee program because of this god-awful credit counseling place in Jax I went to (it's the only one physically located in Jax) who took me into a back room -- literally -- and tried to tag team me into giving them my SSN so they could sign me up for debt management. It was horrible. The UST program did investigate, and I think found even more problems than the ones I related, but whether they have fixed them or not I don't know. Like I said, it's the only one on the approved list for the Middle District of Florida with a street address in Jax, so you may want to go elsewhere for your credit counseling. I did mine online with a company out of Tampa, and they were just as awesome as this place was horrible: Family Life Resources, Inc. (www.FLRMinistry.com -- great folks).

(You know, I just looked up that place in Jax to verify, and they have changed their name AGAIN. Gee whiz, I can't imagine why. Ugggh.)

Anyway, there you have it. Good luck to you!!!

[BKFLA]

Thanks FreshlikeAdaisy! That's where we're going, Jax. I'm nervous, but nothing to hide. Just a long drawn out story that I'm sure we're going to studder through! My 2 kids have to come too! That's not going to make them happy at all LOL! Thanks again and best of luck to your discharge.

[FreshLikeADaisy]

Thanks! I think you'll do just fine. Good luck!!!