IN MATTER OF BICKETT (Bankr.N.D.Ind. 2006)


IN THE MATTER OF: KATTIE R. BICKETT Debtor.

Case No. 06-10102.United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Indiana, Fort Wayne Division.
March 6, 2006

DECISION
ROBERT GRANT, Bankruptcy Judge

At Fort Wayne, Indiana, on March 6, 2006.

By the court’s order of February 14, 2006, the debtor was directed to file a certification which fully complied with the requirements of § 109(h)(3) and demonstrated eligibility for relief under Title 11 within fourteen (14) days. The failure to do so was to result in dismissal without further notice or hearing. On February 27, 2006, the debtor filed a certificate demonstrating that she completed credit counseling on February 15, 2006, well after the date on which she filed her petition.

Despite the debtor’s submission, she has failed to demonstrate that she completed the counseling during the 180 days priorto filing. 11 U.S.C. § 109(h). Furthermore, she has failed to demonstrate that she qualifies for a waiver of that requirement by filing a certification describing “exigent circumstances” which necessitated the immediate filing of a bankruptcy petition without waiting for the completion of credit counseling, and which “states that the debtor requested credit counseling . . . but was unable to obtain [it]” within five days. 11 U.S.C. § 109(h)(3)(A)(i-iii). All the debtor has done is show that she obtained credit counseling after the case was filed. That is not enough.

The debtor has not fulfilled the requirements of 11 U.S.C. § 109(h), and is not eligible for relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code. This case will therefore be dismissed. An order

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doing so will be entered.

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