Financial Management

Official Procedure Last Change December 1, 2024

Financial Management

How to file: 

Location of event: Bankruptcy > Notices & Certifications > Certificate of Debtor Education
  • USC 111, 727(a)(11); 1328(g)(1)

  • FRBP 1007(b)(7)

General Information

  • Unless the Court has granted a waiver of this requirement, all individual debtors in a chapter 7 or chapter 13 case are required to complete a course in personal financial management and file a Certificate of Debtor Education.

Note: A permanent waiver of the Credit Counseling requirement waives the requirement to file a Certificate of Debtor Education.

  • If the Court has granted a waiver of the financial management course requirement due to the debtor being deceased, a Certificate of Debtor Education is not required.
  • In a chapter 7 case, a Certificate of Debtor Education must be filed by each debtor (if a joint filing) within 60 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors.
  • In a chapter 13 case, a Certificate of Debtor Education must be filed by each debtor (if a joint filing) no later than the last payment made by the debtor as required by the plan or the filing of a motion for hardship discharge.

See information on special requirements for deceased debtors

Filing requirements 

  • Certificate of Debtor Education (supplied by the financial management course provider).

  • On joint cases, a separate Certificate of Debtor Education must be filed for each debtor (both can be included in one PDF and filed together, if desired).

  • On consolidated cases, the separate Certificate of Debtor Education should both be filed in the lead case only.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Providers of Financial Management courses can file the course certificates using the eFinCert system, which does not require a login or password.

All other users should use the following instructions instead.

1. Log into CM/ECF.

2. Select Bankruptcy > Notices & Certifications.

3. Enter case number (in the format xx-xxxxx) and click Next.

4. Select Certificate of Debtor Education from the event list and click Next.

5. Check box if jointly filing with another attorney, click Next. If jointly filing, select additional attorneys, click Next.

6. Select the party filer. If the party is not listed, or cannot be selected, view instructions on adding a new party. Click Next.

Note: The "Attorney/Party Association” screen may appear. If your party selection was correct, check the box to create an association and click Next.

7. Browse to select the document to be filed (pdf file). Click Next.

8. If the course certificate is included in the PDF, check Yes, else check No. Click Next.

9. Select prefix text, if applicable, and click Next.

10. Verify the final docket text; if correct, click Next to submit your document(s).

Note: The Notice of Electronic Filing displays giving you the document number. Copies of this notice are immediately e-mailed to all participants who receive electronic notification in the case.