Chamber Building
110 West C Street
San Diego, CA 92101

Pre-Bankruptcy Briefing

Before You File for Personal Bankruptcy:

The Bankruptcy Reform act of 2005 requires, with limited exceptions, that people who file for personal bankruptcy protection must get credit counseling from a government approved organization within 180 days before they file.

A pre-bankruptcy counseling session with an approved credit counseling organization should include an evaluation of your personal financial situation, a discussion of alternatives to bankruptcy, and a personal budget plan. Is this something akin to marriage counseling before divorce?

A typical counseling session should last about 30 minutes, and can take place in person, on the phone, or online. Generally the non-profit company will see whether they can assist you in a plan to pay off your credit card debts by lowering your interest rates.

The counseling organization is required to provide the counseling free of charge for those consumers who cannot afford to pay. If you cannot afford to pay a fee for credit counseling, you should request a fee waiver from the counseling organization before the session begins. Otherwise, you may be charged a fee for the counseling, which will generally be about $50, depending on where you live, the types of services you receive, and other factors. The counseling organization is required to discuss any fees with you before starting the counseling session.

Once you have completed the required counseling, you must get a certificate as proof. Check with our office to be sure that you receive the certificate from a counseling organization that is approved in the judicial district where you are filing bankruptcy. Credit counseling organizations may not charge an extra fee for the certificate.

You may already know that you need to file bankruptcy. You must still provide our office with this certificate before we file your case, and we recommend that you begin take this first step as soon as possible.

A Short List Of Approved Agencies for you:

1. Spring Board Non-Profit Consumer Credit Management

2181 El Camino Real Ste. 207

Oceanside , CA 92054
760-757-3838

2. Spring Board Non-Profit Consumer Credit Management

    229 F Street  Ste. F
    Chula Vista , CA  91910
     619-422-6902

3. Spring Board Non-Profit Consumer Credit Management

   3443 Camino del Rio South  Ste. 123
    San Diego , CA  92108
    619-280-4416

4. Spring Board Non-Profit Consumer Credit Management

    7710 Balboa Avenue   Ste. 218F
    San Diego , CA  92111
    858-715-6980

Hillcrest, California

Hillcrest is a neighborhood in the Uptown community of San Diego northwest of Balboa Park. Hillcrest is known for its tolerance, diversity, and locally-owned businesses, including restaurants, cafés, bars, clubs, trendy thrift-stores, and other independent specialty stores. Due to Hillcrest's grid street pattern and relatively high population density, pedestrian activity is relatively high. Hillcrest is the residential and commercial hub of San Diego's gay and lesbian community.

About Us

The bankruptcy attorneys of the Pacific Bankruptcy Center, serve clients in Southern California, including San Diego County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County; and the cities of San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Chula Vista, National City, El Cajon, La Mesa, Mission Bay, Hillcrest, Ramona, Julian, Escondido, San Marcos, Vista, Oceanside, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Little Italy, Old Town, Mira Mesa, North Park, Temecula, and Carlsbad.

Arrange Free Consult

Bankruptcy News

Chapter 7, stop foreclosure, stop harrassment, stop repossessions, stop telephone calls, stop lawsuits, stop utility shutoff's, stop annoying debt collectors, unfreeze bank accounts, regain your financial future, wipe out debt, chapter 13, "0.00 down with a wage order and balance paid through a trustee as part of the payment plan and not paid directly to the attorney, stop foreclosure and other legal proceedings, cram down secured liens,cure over extension of credit, overspending,eliminate medical debt.