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Personal Financial Management Certificate, Do I Need To File This?

Form 423 + Number of the Personal Financial Management Course Certificate - Within 60 days after the first 341(a) Meeting of Creditors, individuals must file a mandatory court form (Form 423). It is not necessary to file the Certificate of Completion. Instead, the debtor is required to insert the certificate number on Form 423, and a joint debtor must fill out and file a separate Form 423 with a separate certificate number. If an individual delays in doing this, the bankruptcy case will likely be closed (not dismissed) without a discharge of debts being granted. If the case is closed, an individual debtor will have to file a motion to reopen the bankruptcy case (and pay a substantial filing fee) and to extend the time to have Form 423 placed on the court docket and a discharge order entered. Important rules are Bankruptcy Code Sections 727(a)(11), 1141(d)(3), and 1328(g). 

Mandatory Court Form: Debtor’s Certification of Completion of Postpetition Instructional Course Concerning Personal Financial Management (423)
 

FAQ Type: 
Before Filing Bankruptcy