Legal Requirements and Certification Info

by | Dec 30, 2025

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This course meets the requirements set by the U.S. Bankruptcy Code for pre-filing credit counseling. Completing it is a mandatory step if you plan to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.

⚠️ Important: You must complete the entire course to receive your official Certificate of Completion, which is required by the court to proceed with your bankruptcy filing.

What You Need to Know

  • This course is approved by a U.S. Trustee–authorized provider
  • You must take it before you file for bankruptcy
  • It typically takes about 60–90 minutes to complete
  • Your certificate is valid for 180 days
  • You will receive your certificate immediately after completing all lessons and the final review
💡 Need to file soon? Make sure to complete the course in one sitting if your timeline is urgent. Your certificate will be available to download and email as soon as you finish.

If you have any questions about legal timing, filing deadlines, or certificate delivery, don’t hesitate to contact our support team.

To our Perspective clients: As a woman and family-owned business, we truly take pride and an honest approach to providing valuable, efficient, and quality services to our community. You have come to the right place! Over the last few years our team has assisted hundreds of families from ten different states and 50 different countries fulfill their legal needs. The PFTC team takes their combined 25 years of experience in the legal field by understanding our client's objectives, and by meeting their expectations to the highest standards. Our clients are our number one priority and our success record and reputation prove that. Our Bilingual team is equipped to work with an array of people from the general public to law firms. Whether you are an individual, a family, a solo practitioner, a boutique, a large law firm, or an organization we got you covered. Paralegals FTC, model is simple, we maintain a professional, team-driven, ethical, and client-centered practice to ensure customer satisfaction. We are enthusiastic every day to use our platform as leaders in the community to empower and impact the underserved, youth, elderly, and families that come from all walks of life. Our continuity and readiness plans are in action to continue fostering our growing community. We encourage you to connect with us and thank you in advance.
Credentials and Certifications
  • Berkeley College, Bachelors of Science, Criminal Justice (2019)
Michel joined PFTC as an intern in 2018.  In 2022, she joined us as a part-time Legal Assistant and Biometric Technician.
Credentials & Certifications:     
  • New Jersey City University, Bachelor’s of Science- In Progress
  • Notary Public in the State of New Jersey (2021)
  • Biometric Enrollment Agent with the State of New Jersey (2021)
Daveliz joined the team in 2021 as a Legal Assistant and Biometric Technician for our Union City office. She has over five years of administrative and clerical experience.  Ms. Nova is the head biometric technician processing applicants for background checks and employment verifications in New Jersey.
Credentials and Certifications
  • Associates Degree from BMCC (2005)
  • Biometric Enrollment Agent with the State of New York (2019)
Vanessa joined the team in 2019 as our Biometric Technician and Legal Secretary. She is responsible for performing quality biometrics processing to include capturing electronic fingerprints, photographs, on a Federal level.  She also handles scheduling and managing the firms calendar.
Credentials & Certifications:     
  • University at Albany, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (2015)
  • University at Albany, Masters of Art in Criminal Justice (2016)
  • Social Media Management Platform-Product Pro Certification Levels I & II (2022)
  • Certified in LinkedIn and Google
Shakira Nova joined our firm in 2022 as our Marketing Manager. She currently holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University at Albany. In the past several years, she has worked for Nonprofit organizations in the Bronx where she advocated for clients in criminal court to be placed in alternative to incarceration programming. She truly enjoys making an impact within her own community by educating and providing resources to those around her. Within the last year, Shakira has worked towards combining her passion for marketing and legal services.
Credentials & Certifications:     
  • University of Vermont, Bachelor of Science in Political Science/Pre-Law (2010)
  • New York University, Paralegal Certification, (2014)
Elaine has 12 years of paralegal experience in asbestos claims and personal injury accident cases.  She brings her expertise in pleadings, trial preparation, motion practice and a variety of pre-litigation legal document preparation. In 2018, she helped founded Paralegals for the Community. She currently works as our head freelance paralegal and also provides mobile services in areas of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Credentials & Certifications:
  • Touro University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Hospitality (2011)
  • TCI College, Paralegal Certification, (2012)
  • Certified Tax Preparer in New York State and New Jersey (2012)
  • Certifying Acceptance Agent, IRS (2017)
  • Notary Public, State of New Jersey (2020)
Rachel brings more than 10 years of experience as a Paralegal.  She worked at an Immigration firm in Danbury, Connecticut for 6 years and helped hundreds of individuals/families complete and successfully submit various petitions to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Rachel oversees our Family, Immigration and Tax Department. She also has extensive knowledge on other legal procedures and practices. Her management experience coupled with her legal academia make her role in Paralegals for the Community that much more lucrative.  
Credentials and Certifications
  • Berkeley College, Paralegal Certification, (2006)
  • St. John’s University, Bachelor of Science in Pre- Law (2010)
  • St. John’s University, Masters of Science in Social Work (2014)
  • CUNY-Hunter College, Masters of Science in School Counseling (2017)
  • Notary Public, State of New York -Bronx County- Commissioned since 2013
Swannie brings 18 years of Paralegal experience to the team. From having worked at the United States Attorney’s Office, she assisted senior agents in enforcing the collection of criminal and civil debts owed to the United States to Binder & Binder, P.C., helping individuals get their SSI and SSD benefits granted by writing persuasive briefs. Swannie also worked at places like Bronx Housing Court assisting families with housing applications, and provided housing search, and rent stabilization support to homeless and at-risk families with children. From 6 years, she worked at a Personal Injury firm, she worked extensively in a wide variety of branches within personal injury such as asbestos litigation, pre-litigation motor vehicle and lead paint poisoning.  Swannie currently is the head of Operations, and runs the Bankruptcy and Estate Planning Departments in PFTC.

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