What Documents Do I Need When Talking to a Counselor?

Bring: your most recent mortgage statement, pay stubs or proof of income for the last 1–2 months, your last two years of tax returns if self-employed, a list of monthly expenses, bank statements, any hardship documentation (medical bills, layoff notice, etc.), and copies of any letters or notices from your servicer.

Having these ready before your first call means the counselor can actually assess your situation in that conversation instead of scheduling a second one just to collect paperwork — and it's the same packet your servicer will eventually ask for anyway.