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Department of Justice Seeks Public Comment on Nonprofit Credit Counseling Agency Application Process

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The United States Department of Justice has issued a notice about changes to its Application for Approval as a Nonprofit Budget and Credit Counseling Agency.

This notice comes from the United States Trustee Program. It appears in the Federal Register, Volume 90, Number 100, dated Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

The Department is asking for public comments. People can send comments until July 28, 2025.

The reason for the notice is to change an information collection. The Department wants to make sure the application process for nonprofit credit counseling agencies works well and follows the law.

These nonprofit agencies help people who want to file for bankruptcy. The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA) says anyone filing for bankruptcy must, within 180 days before filing, get credit counseling from an approved nonprofit agency.

The Application asks these agencies for information so that the Department of Justice can make sure they follow all the rules.

There is no specific agency form number for this collection. The United States Trustee Program is the department in charge.

The public group affected by this change is nonprofit agencies wanting to give credit counseling to bankruptcy filers.

According to the notice, 74 agencies are expected to complete the application. The time it takes to finish this application is different for new and renewing agencies:

  • Initial applicants need about 10 hours.
  • Standard renewal applicants need about 4 hours.
  • Refreshed renewal applicants need about 9 hours.

The Department estimates the total burden for all agencies is about 391 hours.

People who want more information or wish to see the full application form can contact Juliet Drake at the United States Trustee Program. Contact details include the address (441 G Street NW, Suite 6150, Washington, DC 20548), email, and phone number (202-307-3698).

Further questions can also be sent to Darwin Arceo, the Department Clearance Officer, at the Department of Justice, Justice Management Division, Two Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE, 3E.405A, Washington, DC 20530.

The Department encourages everyone to look at how the information collection works. The public is asked to give thoughts on:

  • If collecting this information is needed for the Trustee Program to work well.
  • Whether the agency’s time estimates for filling out the forms are right.
  • How the collection could be made more clear and useful.
  • Ways to make the process easier, like using technology.

Written by order of Darwin Arceo, Department Clearance Officer for the Paperwork Reduction Act, U.S. Department of Justice. The notice was filed on May 23, 2025.


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