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Cooperative Extension Service Communications and Technology Department 3354 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071 (307) 766-6342 • fax (307) 766-3998 • www.uwyo.edu |
For Immediate Release
Contact: Steven L. Miller, Senior Editor
Phone: (307) 766-6342
E-mail: slmiller@uwyo.edu
Archived News Site www.uwyo.edu/agadmin/news/news.htm
Date: August 2, 2006
UW to teach course required under bankruptcy law
Financial management instruction is available for Wyomingites who have filed for bankruptcy.
Cole Ehmke, personal finance management specialist with the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service (UW CES), said area CES educators have been approved by the U.S. Department of Justice to provide instruction in person to bankruptcy filers.
The class is required for anyone who has filed bankruptcy under the new, stiffer bankruptcy laws, which went into effect last October, said Ehmke.
“Under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, all individuals who file for bankruptcy on or after Oct. 17, 2005, must complete a financial management instructional course before receiving a bankruptcy discharge,” Ehmke said
The new law requires that, before a person files for bankruptcy, they must be counseled at an approved agency, and the list of approved counselors can be found at the U.S. Trustee Program Web site http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/.
After counseling, filers must complete a debtor education course before their bankruptcy can be discharged by a court, Ehmke said. “UW CES is not providing the counseling part of the process under the legislation, but we are an approved provider of the debtor education course.”
Although the program meets federal requirements for instruction for bankruptcy filers, consumers who simply wish to learn more about personal financial management and make wise consumer choices may attend the two-hour session.
The class is designed to provide information that will help participants learn to better manage their financial resources, including information about basic money management, using credit, insurance and consumer fraud.
UW CES is among numerous agencies or organizations approved for offering the classes in Wyoming but one of only a few that offers in-person courses.
The UW CES session is offered in various places around the state. In addition, classes may be scheduled to meet on demand. The fee is $25 per household.
Planned classes for 2006 are:
Rock Springs, 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at the Sweetwater County CES office.
Gillette, 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, at the Campbell County CES office.
Laramie, 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, at the Albany County CES office.
Cody, 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the Park County CES office.
Jackson Hole,1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, at the Teton County CES office.
Courses are early next year in Riverton, Evanston, Sheridan, Cheyenne and Casper. Information about the course and schedule is online at http://www.uwyo.edu/cde/CDE_Bankruptcy.asp
For more information, contact Ehmke at (307) 766-3782 or cehmke@uwyo.edu.
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