Debtor's Certification of Financial Management Course  

Last Updated:  May 4, 2009

 

Individuals filing under chapters 7 and 13 must complete an approved financial management course (subject to exceptions set) in order to receive a discharge all cases filed on or after October 17, 2005. Official Form B-23 must be filed with the court after the financial course has been completed.

 

Official Form B-23

 

In accordance with Interim Rule 1007 (b) (7), an individual debtor in a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 case shall file a statement regarding completion of a course in Personal Financial Management, prepared as prescribed, on the appropriate Official Form.

 

The Official Form is B-23 and it is available on our website at www.ilnb.uscourts.gov.  

 

Form B-23 is required to be filed in order for the Court to grant a Chapter 7 or 13 discharge under  11 U.S.C. 727 or 1328, unless specific exceptions apply.   

 

Certificate received from agency conducting financial management course

 

The agency conducting the management course will provide debtor(s) with a certificate after the course has been completed.  The certificate can be attached and filed with Form B-23.   DO NOT file the certificate without Form B-23.  

 

If  the certificate is not attached to Form B-23, the certificate number must be recorded on Form B-23.

 

Joint Case

If a joint petition is filed, each spouse must complete and file a separate certification.  

 

Case Closing

If the debtor fails to submit the required certification, the Court shall close the case without  granting a discharge.  Notice will be sent to the debtor, trustee and all creditors on the case.  The debtor can subsequently move to reopen the case to request that the discharge be granted.  The fee to reopen the case must be charged.

 

Step-by-Step Procedures:


  1. Select [Bankruptcy>Other]

  1. Enter case number and click Next

  1. Select Debtor's Certification of Financial Management Course from event pick list and click Next

  1. Select Debtor(s) from party pick list and click Next

Note:  If the certificate applies to one of two debtors in a joint case, select that debtor's name only.

  The PDF Document selection screen will display.

  1. Click Browse button and navigate to locate the appropriate document/file

  1. View file to verify the correct file is being selected

  1. Click Open button and filename will appear in the browse window

  1. Click Next

If your case is a joint case, the following question will appear.  If not, go to step 10.

This Financial Management Course is for?

  1. Click down arrow to select party the certificate is filed on behalf of

Both Debtors

Debtor

Joint Debtor

 

  • Select Both Debtors

  • Click Next

 

 

  • Select Debtor

  • Click Next

The following question will appear;

Filing a Certificate for one Debtor on a Joint Case. Is a Financial Management Course Certificate already filed for the other Debtor?

  • Click down arrow to select Yes or No

  • Click Next

 

 

  • Select Joint Debtor

  • Click Next

The following question will appear;

Filing a Certificate for one Debtor on a Joint Case. Is a Financial Management Course Certificate already filed for the other Debtor?

  • Click down arrow to select Yes or No

  • Click Next

 

 

The Modify Docket Text screen will display.  Click down arrow to select a prefix if applicable.

  1. Click Next

The Final Text screen will display.  This is your final opportunity to modify the entry before submitting the filing.

  1. Verify the accuracy of the docket text.  If not correct/if correct

  1. Click Next to complete filing process

The Notice of Electronic Filing will display.  It is the verification that the filing has been sent electronically to the court.

Copies of this notice and the document filed are emailed to all participants who receive electronic notification in the case.  You have a period of 15 days for a one time free look at the document filed.