Debtor's Certification of Financial Management Course Filed by Chapter 13 Trustee

Last Updated:  May 8, 2008

 

Individuals filing under chapters 7 and 13 must complete an approved financial management course (subject to exceptions set) in order to receive a discharge.  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 or trustee 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>Trustee/US Trustee]

2. Enter case number and click Next

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

4. Select Chapter 13 Trustee from party pick list and click Next

  The PDF Document selection screen will display.

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

6. View file Highlight filename
   Right click on filename
   Select Open
   Review document
   Close window to verify the correct file is being selected

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

8. Click Next

9. Enter the name of debtor(s) the certificate is being filed for in text box

10. Click Next

If your case is a joint case, the following question will appear.  If not, go to step 12.

This Financial Management Course Certificate is for?

11. 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.

12. Click Next

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

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

14. 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.