Community Development Education: Enhancing Wyoming Communities & Households

Personal Bankruptcy Programming

The University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service is approved to issue certificates evidencing completion of a personal financial management instructional course in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code. Approval does not endorse or assure the quality of a Provider’s services. This debtor education course is required prior to completing bankruptcy.

The UW Extension seminar is a 2-hour financial management program for adults of all ages. It is designed to provide information that will help participants learn to better manage their available financial resources.

What will you learn?

You will learn four basic concepts that will enable you to handle your financial resources responsibly and build a financially secure future.

• Budget development: You will develop a plan based on your situation, resources and goals that will enable you to maintain an acceptable quality of life.
• Money management skills: Learn decision making skills, evaluate wants and needs, keep records and handle emergencies.
• Wise use of credit: Learn forms and cost of credit and how to control and use it wisely.
• Consumer assistance and protection: Learn about consumer fraud, consumer rights, laws and responsibilities, and reliable, nonprofit sources of consumer information.

Each participant will receive a certificate of completion after completing the course.

How much will it cost?

A fee of $25 is charged for the course to pay for educational materials and program support. Scholarships are available based on several characteristics (mainly income). Please see the details in the disclosure information form.

Registration is required. You will need to download the following forms: Course Registration (.pdf) and Disclosure Information Form. 

Please bring a picture ID with you when you come to class.

Classes are held and led by members of the Community Development Education team. Classes may also be scheduled to meet demands.

Classes are scheduled on an as-needed basis Cole Ehmke (307) 766-3782 or cehmke at uwyo.edu

Background Information

New rules are in effect that have changed how bankruptcy operates. Under the rules, which took effect October 17, 2005, a number of key changes have taken place.

• All individuals filing for bankruptcy will have to get credit counseling before they can file a bankruptcy case.
• All individuals filing for bankruptcy will have to take a debtor education course prior to the discharge of debts.
• Some filers with higher incomes won't be allowed to use Chapter 7 (forgiveness of debts), but will instead have to repay at least some of their debt under a Chapter 13 repayment program.

To find providers of credit counseling programs (required before filing bankruptcy) go to the United States Trustee’s website and visit the Approved Credit Counseling Agencies page. The purpose of credit counseling is to educate consumers about bankruptcy and alternatives to filing bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy Basics

Bankruptcy Basics provides basic information to debtors, creditors, court personnel, the media, and the general public on different aspects of the federal bankruptcy laws. It also provides individuals who may be considering bankruptcy with a basic explanation of the different chapters under which a bankruptcy case may be filed and to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about the bankruptcy process.