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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
July 25, 2005
U.S.
TRUSTEE PROGRAM IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR
BUDGET
AND CREDIT COUNSELING AGENCIES,
FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTIONAL COURSES
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The
United States Trustee Program ("Program") is accepting applications
for approval as a budget and credit counseling agency or provider
of a financial management instructional course for bankruptcy
filers, under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer
Protection Act ("BAPCPA") of 2005.
The application
forms and related materials are posted on the Program's web
site at www.usdoj.gov/ust.
For additional information, applicants may contact the Program
at (202) 514-4100.
Under BAPCPA,
which was enacted on April 20, 2005, all
individual debtors who file bankruptcy on or after October 17,
2005, must undergo credit counseling within six months before
they file bankruptcy and must complete a financial management
instructional course after they file bankruptcy. With certain
exceptions, an individual is not eligible to file bankruptcy
without completing credit counseling, and is not eligible
to receive a bankruptcy discharge without completing a financial
management instructional course.
BAPCPA directs
the U.S. Trustee to approve budget and credit counseling agencies
and providers of financial management instructional courses
according to criteria set forth in the law. It also directs
the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court to maintain a publicly available
list of U.S. Trustee-approved budget and credit counseling
agencies and financial management instructional courses.
The United States
Trustee Program is the component of the Justice Department
that promotes integrity and efficiency in the nation's bankruptcy
system by enforcing bankruptcy laws, providing oversight of
private trustees, and maintaining operational excellence.
The Program has 21 regions and 95 field offices. The Program
does not cover Alabama or North Carolina.
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