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Consumer Bankruptcy Monitor · Q2 2026 edition

Consumer bankruptcy filings rose 12.0%, led by Chapter 7

What is happening to consumer bankruptcy volume, where it is happening, and what Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filers tell creditors about the receivables entering bankruptcy.

Filings through June 30, 2026Filer detail: 2025Prepared September 15, 2026

Summary

Four questions, answered from the federal data

  • Are consumer bankruptcy filings rising? Yes, in both chapters. There were 581,570 consumer bankruptcy filings in the 12 months ended June 30, 2026, +12.0% on a year earlier: 366,863 under Chapter 7 (+14.6%) and 214,153 under Chapter 13 (+7.6%). The latest quarter agrees: Chapter 7 +13.3% and Chapter 13 +7.5% on Q2 2025.
  • Where is the growth? Almost everywhere. Chapter 7 filings rose in 70 of the 72 districts with at least 1,000 Chapter 7 filings, and Chapter 13 filings in 53 of 59. The Southern District of Texas grew fastest in Chapter 7 (+41.7%), and the Middle District of Florida in Chapter 13 (+26.0%).
  • What is changing for filers? In 2025, median monthly expenses of Chapter 7 filers ($3,679) were higher than their median income ($3,513). Chapter 13 filers reported median income of $4,770 against expenses of $3,699, and average liabilities of $235,355 per case, 67% of it secured.
  • What does it mean for creditors? Chapter 7 accounts for 75% of the added cases, and fewer Chapter 7 filers sign reaffirmation agreements: 18.7% of closed Chapter 7 cases had one in 2025, against 21.9% in 2018. Chapter 13's share of consumer filings fell to 36.8%.
Consumer bankruptcy filings, 12 months
581,570
+12.0% on a year earlier
Every consumer chapter
Chapter 13 share of consumer filings
36.8%
−1.5 pts on a year earlier
The mix between the two chapters
Chapter 7 filings, 12 months
366,863
+14.6% on a year earlier
Current Chapter 7 volume
Chapter 13 filings, 12 months
214,153
+7.6% on a year earlier
Current Chapter 13 volume
Chapter 7 filings, Q2 2026
101,011
+13.3% on the same quarter
The early read on direction
Chapter 13 filings, Q2 2026
54,662
+7.5% on the same quarter
The early read on direction
Fastest-growing Chapter 7 district
+41.7%
Southern District of Texas
Fastest-growing Chapter 13 district
+26.0%
Middle District of Florida
Chapter 7 cases closed with a reaffirmation agreement, 2025
18.7%
−1.1 pts on 2024
How often filers formally agree to keep paying a loan
Chapter 13 cases closed with a completed plan, 2025
44.7%
−4.7 pts on 2024
Share of completions and dismissals
Chapter 7 median monthly income and expenses, 2025
$3,513 / $3,679
What filers reported when they filed
Chapter 13 median monthly income and expenses, 2025
$4,770 / $3,699
What filers reported when they filed
Median days to close a Chapter 7 case, 2025
109
Chapter 13: 1,045 days
Average liabilities per Chapter 13 case, 2025
$235,355
+2.8% on 2024
67% secured

1 · Market activity

Consumer filings are back to 77% of their 2019 level

Chapter 7 is 79% of its 2019 volume and Chapter 13 is 75%. Both chapters have risen in every 12-month reading since their lows.

On a rolling 12-month basis, Chapter 13 filings peaked at 434,739 in the year to December 31, 2010 and reached a low of 116,884 in the year to September 30, 2021. Chapter 7 kept falling for longer, to 217,727 in the year to December 31, 2022. In the latest year there were 366,863 Chapter 7 filings and 214,153 Chapter 13 filings.

Because Chapter 13 turned first, its share of consumer filings rose to a high of 42.7% in the year to June 30, 2023. Chapter 7 has grown faster since, and the share has fallen in every period after that high. It is now 36.8%.

Consumer bankruptcy filings by chapter

Rolling 12 months, each quarter from March 31, 2008 to June 30, 2026

0 250K 500K 750K 1M 1.25M 200820102012201420162018202020222024 366,863 214,153 0 500K 1M 1.5M 200820142020 366,863 214,153
Source: U.S. Courts, Table F-2 (12-month), every quarter since 2008
Table view
Consumer bankruptcy filings by chapter
12 months endedChapter 7Chapter 13Chapter 13 share
December 31, 2008714,389358,94733.4%
December 31, 20091,008,870402,46228.5%
December 31, 20101,100,116434,73928.3%
December 31, 2011958,634402,45429.5%
December 31, 2012816,271363,28030.8%
December 31, 2013706,499330,89931.9%
December 31, 2014600,885307,78333.8%
December 31, 2015519,130299,51536.5%
December 31, 2016475,332294,39638.2%
December 31, 2017472,190292,58138.2%
December 31, 2018461,897288,27238.4%
December 31, 2019465,991285,20137.9%
December 31, 2020367,034155,22729.7%
December 31, 2021279,649119,15029.8%
December 31, 2022217,727156,06041.7%
December 31, 2023251,048182,63042.1%
December 31, 2024298,049195,72439.6%
December 31, 2025342,465206,57037.6%
June 30, 2026366,863214,15336.8%
Notes and sources
  1. Consumer (nonbusiness) cases are those where the debtor’s debts are primarily consumer debts. Each point counts the cases filed in the 12 months to that quarter end, so neighbouring points overlap by nine months; compare a point with the one four quarters earlier.
  2. Arkansas reported as two districts until 2017 and as one court since; district figures add the two older rows together.
  3. Files: Table F-2, 12-month, June 30, 2025, Table F-2, 12-month, June 30, 2026.

Chapter 13 share of consumer filings

Rolling 12 months. The rest is almost all Chapter 7.

20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 200820112014201720202023 36.8% 20% 30% 40% 50% 200820142020 36.8%
Source: U.S. Courts, Table F-2 (12-month)
Table view
Chapter 13 share of consumer filings
12 months endedChapter 13 share
December 31, 200833.4%
December 31, 200928.5%
December 31, 201028.3%
December 31, 201129.5%
December 31, 201230.8%
December 31, 201331.9%
December 31, 201433.8%
December 31, 201536.5%
December 31, 201638.2%
December 31, 201738.2%
December 31, 201838.4%
December 31, 201937.9%
December 31, 202029.7%
December 31, 202129.8%
December 31, 202241.7%
December 31, 202342.1%
December 31, 202439.6%
December 31, 202537.6%
June 30, 202636.8%
Notes and sources
  1. Files: Table F-2, 12-month, June 30, 2025, Table F-2, 12-month, June 30, 2026.

Chapter 7 filings against the same quarter a year earlier

Q1 2014 to Q2 2026; the last four quarters in navy

−80% −60% −40% −20% 0% +20% +40% +60% ’14’17’20’23’26 +13.3% −75% −50% −25% 0% +25% +50% ’14’17’20’23’26 +13.3%
Source: U.S. Courts, Table F-2 (three-month)
Table view
Chapter 7 filings against the same quarter a year earlier
QuarterFilingsChange
Q2 2026101,011+13.3%
Q1 202691,674+16.4%
Q4 202585,822+15.3%
Q3 202588,362+14.1%
Q2 202589,182+16.0%
Q1 202578,759+13.8%
Q4 202474,460+18.2%
Q3 202477,455+20.6%
Q2 202476,879+19.1%
Q1 202469,215+16.8%
Q4 202362,975+23.1%
Q3 202364,247+16.0%
Q2 202364,545+12.9%
Q1 202359,282+9.8%
Q4 202251,164−7.8%
Q3 202255,394−15.3%
Q2 202257,180−30.3%
Q1 202253,983−29.5%
Q4 202155,514−27.8%
Q3 202165,437−27.1%
Q2 202182,004−9.9%
Q1 202176,553−29.9%
Q4 202076,864−27.8%
Q3 202089,749−23.2%
Q2 202090,993−29.2%
Q1 2020109,180−4.4%
Q4 2019106,465+1.1%
Q3 2019116,836+3.1%
Q2 2019128,456+0.7%
Q1 2019114,214−1.1%
Q4 2018105,273−1.6%
Q3 2018113,288−1.6%
Q2 2018127,545−1.4%
Q1 2018115,522−4.3%
Q4 2017106,944+0.3%
Q3 2017115,181−1.5%
Q2 2017129,329+0.4%
Q1 2017120,667−1.5%
Q4 2016106,659−7.1%
Q3 2016116,910−8.6%
Q2 2016128,778−9.4%
Q1 2016122,545−8.7%
Q4 2015114,809−11.2%
Q3 2015127,922−12.1%
Q2 2015142,191−16.3%
Q1 2015134,155−13.8%
Q4 2014129,217−15.1%
Q3 2014145,608−15.4%
Q2 2014169,790−14.5%
Q1 2014155,659−15.1%
Notes and sources
  1. The three-month table counts the cases filed in the quarter itself, so it turns before the rolling 12-month figure does. Compare each quarter only with the same quarter of an earlier year. Both quarterly charts use the same scale.
  2. Files: Table F-2, three-month, June 30, 2025, Table F-2, three-month, June 30, 2026.

Chapter 13 filings against the same quarter a year earlier

Q1 2014 to Q2 2026; the last four quarters in navy

−80% −60% −40% −20% 0% +20% +40% +60% ’14’17’20’23’26 +7.5% −75% −50% −25% 0% +25% +50% ’14’17’20’23’26 +7.5%
Source: U.S. Courts, Table F-2 (three-month)
Table view
Chapter 13 filings against the same quarter a year earlier
QuarterFilingsChange
Q2 202654,662+7.5%
Q1 202653,543+8.1%
Q4 202552,238+9.7%
Q3 202553,735+5.6%
Q2 202550,852+2.9%
Q1 202549,527+4.1%
Q4 202447,605+2.8%
Q3 202450,904+7.2%
Q2 202449,441+10.5%
Q1 202447,583+7.9%
Q4 202346,311+13.9%
Q3 202347,471+11.3%
Q2 202344,739+18.0%
Q1 202344,096+26.6%
Q4 202240,653+24.3%
Q3 202242,667+43.0%
Q2 202237,912+38.3%
Q1 202234,819+19.7%
Q4 202132,716+7.5%
Q3 202129,846−3.2%
Q2 202127,410−2.6%
Q1 202129,097−55.8%
Q4 202030,432−55.5%
Q3 202030,837−58.0%
Q2 202028,145−60.8%
Q1 202065,757−8.2%
Q4 201968,337−3.9%
Q3 201973,367−0.8%
Q2 201971,838−0.7%
Q1 201971,635+1.5%
Q4 201871,098+2.3%
Q3 201873,949−0.2%
Q2 201872,354−2.7%
Q1 201870,608−5.3%
Q4 201769,523−2.7%
Q3 201774,089−3.3%
Q2 201774,350+1.5%
Q1 201774,583+2.4%
Q4 201671,439−3.3%
Q3 201676,631−2.2%
Q2 201673,254−2.0%
Q1 201672,852+0.5%
Q4 201573,902−1.3%
Q3 201578,343−1.5%
Q2 201574,719−3.5%
Q1 201572,518−4.3%
Q4 201474,910−4.1%
Q3 201479,496−9.0%
Q2 201477,461−9.2%
Q1 201475,766−5.3%
Notes and sources
  1. Files: Table F-2, three-month, June 30, 2025, Table F-2, three-month, June 30, 2026.

2 · Where filings are growing

Ten districts file 37% of Chapter 7 cases and 31% of Chapter 13 cases

The chapter a filer uses depends heavily on where they live. In 9 districts Chapter 13 is 65% or more of consumer filings, and those districts hold 18% of all Chapter 13 cases. Elsewhere, Chapter 7 dominates.

Select any district on the map or in the lists below to open its profile.

Chapter 13 share of consumer filings, by district

12 months ended June 30, 2026. Lighter districts file mostly under Chapter 7. Select a district to open its profile.

Chapter 13 share of consumer filings

  1. Under 20%
  2. 20–35%
  3. 35–50%
  4. 50–65%
  5. 65% and over
Source: U.S. Courts, Table F-2 (12-month); district boundaries from U.S. Census county shapes (us-atlas)
Table view
Chapter 13 share of consumer filings, by district
DistrictChapter 13 shareChapter 7 filingsChapter 13 filings
Middle District of Alabama82.1%1,1865,446
Southern District of Georgia81.9%7253,289
Western District of Louisiana80.2%1,1684,733
Southern District of Alabama77.9%9323,285
Eastern District of North Carolina74.9%1,3584,077
Eastern District of Louisiana74.2%7842,286
Western District of Tennessee72.9%2,4166,522
Middle District of Georgia68.9%2,1114,674
District of South Carolina66.5%1,8323,638
District of Puerto Rico64.3%2,1003,807
Northern District of Mississippi62.3%1,7572,905
Northern District of Alabama59.8%4,2416,314
Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas58.1%3,0714,261
Western District of Kentucky55.1%2,7823,413
Western District of North Carolina53.6%1,2471,441
Middle District of North Carolina53.0%1,0771,217
Middle District of Louisiana51.6%582621
Eastern District of Pennsylvania51.0%2,5362,645
Western District of Missouri48.6%2,3792,251
Southern District of Mississippi47.6%2,8662,608
District of Kansas47.0%2,2502,000
Middle District of Pennsylvania46.8%1,9751,741
Eastern District of Tennessee45.8%4,1553,518
Middle District of Tennessee45.7%3,1092,619
Southern District of Indiana44.5%6,2685,031
Northern District of Georgia44.5%12,0309,649
Northern District of Illinois43.0%12,6989,578
Northern District of Indiana42.9%4,0763,066
Southern District of Florida42.8%9,0846,815
Southern District of Illinois40.9%1,093756
Eastern District of Virginia40.5%7,5355,140
Eastern District of Texas40.2%3,7412,519
Eastern District of Missouri39.2%3,9602,556
Southern District of Texas38.9%6,2874,014
Northern District of Texas38.0%7,6334,674
Eastern District of Wisconsin37.9%4,4612,728
District of Hawaii37.2%713424
Western District of Virginia36.8%2,3901,391
District of Delaware36.7%985572
District of New Jersey36.5%8,7555,047
Eastern District of New York36.5%6,4463,731
District of Maryland36.1%8,3704,726
Western District of Pennsylvania35.7%3,0231,684
District of the Virgin Islands35.7%95
Eastern District of Kentucky35.0%4,1212,216
Western District of New York34.6%1,628862
District of Utah33.7%5,2882,690
District of Nebraska33.0%1,908941
Western District of Michigan32.4%2,7741,327
District of Massachusetts32.1%3,4231,624
Western District of Texas32.0%5,7812,724
Eastern District of Michigan31.4%13,1656,036
Northern District of California30.1%4,3391,887
Southern District of Ohio29.2%8,5583,524
Western District of Wisconsin27.9%1,960760
Northern District of New York27.1%2,7831,033
District of Alaska26.9%19873
Northern District of West Virginia26.7%630230
Southern District of New York25.9%3,7211,315
District of New Hampshire25.8%721251
Central District of Illinois24.5%2,119689
District of Columbia24.4%422138
District of Vermont24.4%21469
District of Rhode Island24.3%836269
Western District of Washington22.9%5,7241,701
District of Minnesota22.6%7,8572,295
District of Maine22.2%445127
Middle District of Florida21.7%21,9536,108
Western District of Oklahoma21.7%3,320918
Northern District of Florida21.6%2,093578
District of Oregon20.5%6,3511,641
District of South Dakota20.3%572146
Southern District of Iowa19.5%1,772428
Eastern District of California19.3%10,2862,456
District of Colorado18.6%7,1401,632
Northern District of Ohio17.9%12,0842,628
District of Montana17.0%729150
District of Arizona16.9%10,7392,187
District of Nevada16.8%7,9181,594
Eastern District of Washington15.7%1,966367
Northern District of Iowa15.6%1,126208
District of Connecticut15.4%2,932538
Central District of California14.9%25,6844,514
District of Wyoming14.8%47883
Southern District of West Virginia14.5%841143
Southern District of California13.6%4,700738
District of New Mexico12.9%1,433212
District of North Dakota12.7%705103
Northern District of Oklahoma11.6%1,805237
Eastern District of Oklahoma11.3%1,125143
District of Guam11.1%162
District of Idaho8.1%2,282201
District of the Northern Mariana Islands0.0%20
Notes and sources
  1. District shapes are built from the counties each district reports in Report F-5A. 59 counties with no filings in the year take the district of their state, or of their in-state neighbours.
  2. Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands are in the tables but not on the map.
  3. Files: Table F-2, 12-month, June 30, 2025, Table F-2, 12-month, June 30, 2026.

Where the added cases are

A large district growing modestly can add more cases than a small district growing fast. Ranked by the increase in consumer filings.

Districts with the largest increase in consumer bankruptcy filings
DistrictConsumer filings addedChapter 7 addedChapter 7 changeChapter 13 addedChapter 13 change
Middle District of Florida+5,870+4,607+26.6%+1,261+26.0%
Central District of California+4,669+4,103+19.0%+567+14.4%
Northern District of Georgia+2,643+1,844+18.1%+799+9.0%
Southern District of Texas+2,357+1,851+41.7%+504+14.4%
Eastern District of Michigan+1,993+1,488+12.7%+507+9.2%
District of Maryland+1,867+1,311+18.6%+555+13.3%
Southern District of Florida+1,797+1,275+16.3%+508+8.1%
Northern District of Texas+1,594+1,443+23.3%+146+3.2%
Eastern District of California+1,419+1,151+12.6%+266+12.1%
Western District of Texas+1,401+1,188+25.9%+212+8.4%

Early signals: districts turning

The latest quarter points the other way from the 12-month trend, by at least five percentage points. Districts with at least 1,000 filings in the chapter.

Districts where the latest quarter differs from the 12-month trend
DistrictChapter12-month changeQ2 2026 changeQ2 2026 filings
District of OregonChapter 13+4.1%−16.7%393
Eastern District of OklahomaChapter 7+11.6%−8.0%298
Northern District of OhioChapter 13−9.5%+8.7%684
Western District of PennsylvaniaChapter 13+7.3%−10.0%389
District of ConnecticutChapter 7+3.2%−8.3%770
District of MinnesotaChapter 13+0.7%−8.9%554
Southern District of New YorkChapter 13+4.4%−4.6%374
Eastern District of WisconsinChapter 7+0.3%−6.1%1,262

County hotspots

The 20 counties with the most consumer bankruptcy filings: 21% of the national total. Counts include cases filed in a district outside the county’s own.

Top 20 counties by consumer bankruptcy filings
CountyDistrictChapter 7ChangeChapter 13ChangeChapter 13 share
Los Angeles, CACentral District of California12,336+17.9%2,426+15.3%16.4%
Cook, ILNorthern District of Illinois8,194+6.2%6,579+1.3%44.5%
Maricopa, AZDistrict of Arizona6,896+9.1%1,473+15.5%17.6%
Clark, NVDistrict of Nevada6,894+13.1%1,226+18.9%15.1%
Miami-Dade, FLSouthern District of Florida4,476+10.1%3,158+7.5%41.3%
Wayne, MIEastern District of Michigan5,237+11.6%2,124+8.6%28.9%
Shelby, TNWestern District of Tennessee1,639+7.8%5,007+9.2%75.3%
Harris, TXSouthern District of Texas3,436+38.1%2,115+11.9%38.1%
Riverside, CACentral District of California4,592+18.4%755+10.7%14.1%
San Diego, CASouthern District of California4,441+5.7%718+16.9%13.9%
San Bernardino, CACentral District of California4,099+26.7%659+22.9%13.8%
Cuyahoga, OHNorthern District of Ohio3,635+11.0%861−0.7%19.2%
Broward, FLSouthern District of Florida2,523+22.8%1,781+3.2%41.2%
Dallas, TXNorthern District of Texas2,512+35.4%1,499−1.7%37.4%
Tarrant, TXNorthern District of Texas2,313+18.5%1,676+1.0%42.0%
Marion, INSouthern District of Indiana2,309+11.5%1,421+11.0%38.1%
Orange, CACentral District of California3,156+14.7%472+14.3%13.0%
Fulton, GANorthern District of Georgia1,952+20.2%1,659+21.7%45.9%
Milwaukee, WIEastern District of Wisconsin2,042+0.3%1,387−4.6%40.4%
Jefferson, ALNorthern District of Alabama1,292+15.5%2,096+7.8%61.8%

Source: U.S. Courts, Report F-5A, 12 months ended June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2025. Largest increases in consumer filings (counties with at least 250): Los Angeles, CA (+2,193); Harris, TX (+1,177); Clark, NV (+992); San Bernardino, CA (+987); Riverside, CA (+786).

Regional panel

Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, and Texas: 29% of U.S. consumer bankruptcy filings.

Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, and Texas
DistrictChapter 7ChangeChapter 13ChangeChapter 13 share
Northern District of Georgia12,030+18.1%9,649+9.0%44.5%
Middle District of Georgia2,111+17.1%4,674+10.3%68.9%
Southern District of Georgia725+33.3%3,289+14.6%81.9%
Georgia total14,866+18.6%17,612+10.4%54.2%
Northern District of Alabama4,241+11.0%6,314+5.7%59.8%
Middle District of Alabama1,186+17.9%5,446+8.6%82.1%
Southern District of Alabama932+18.6%3,285+14.5%77.9%
Alabama total6,359+13.3%15,045+8.6%70.3%
Northern District of Mississippi1,757+10.8%2,905+9.5%62.3%
Southern District of Mississippi2,866+12.7%2,608+7.7%47.6%
Mississippi total4,623+11.9%5,513+8.6%54.4%
Eastern District of Tennessee4,155+11.7%3,518+11.8%45.8%
Middle District of Tennessee3,109+18.7%2,619+3.8%45.7%
Western District of Tennessee2,416+8.1%6,522+7.2%72.9%
Tennessee total9,680+12.9%12,659+7.7%56.6%
Northern District of Florida2,093+27.8%578+7.6%21.6%
Middle District of Florida21,953+26.6%6,108+26.0%21.7%
Southern District of Florida9,084+16.3%6,815+8.1%42.8%
Florida total33,130+23.7%13,501+15.5%28.9%
Northern District of Texas7,633+23.3%4,674+3.2%38.0%
Eastern District of Texas3,741+27.5%2,519+10.1%40.2%
Southern District of Texas6,287+41.7%4,014+14.4%38.9%
Western District of Texas5,781+25.9%2,724+8.4%32.0%
Texas total23,442+29.1%13,931+8.5%37.2%

3 · The filers

Median Chapter 7 expenses run above median Chapter 7 income. In Chapter 13 it is the other way round.

This is the 2025 picture, the latest year the courts have published, so it trails the filing counts above.

In 2025, Chapter 7 filers reported median monthly income of $3,513 against median expenses of $3,679. Chapter 13 filers reported $4,770 and $3,699. Since 2018, median income has risen 35% for Chapter 7 filers and 38% for Chapter 13 filers.

Chapter 13 balance sheets have grown. Average scheduled liabilities per case rose from $180,652 in 2018 to $235,355 in 2025, and the secured share has stayed between 64% and 70%. Chapter 7 liabilities are not shown, because a handful of very large cases decide the average. Figures are in the dollars of each year, and the published tables do not say who the secured creditors are.

Chapter 7: median monthly income and expenses

Schedule I income and Schedule J expenses

$2.0K $3.0K $4.0K $5.0K 20182019202020212022202320242025 $3,679 $3,513 $2.0K $3.0K $4.0K $5.0K 2018202020222024 $3,679 $3,513
Source: U.S. Courts, BAPCPA Table 2A
Table view
Chapter 7: median monthly income and expenses
YearMedian incomeMedian expensesCases filed
2018$2,607$2,761448,441
2019$2,691$2,840452,784
2020$2,698$2,861355,456
2021$2,712$2,860270,398
2022$2,891$3,025210,922
2023$3,154$3,301245,218
2024$3,361$3,517291,731
2025$3,513$3,679335,981
Notes and sources
  1. Medians of each measure. The median of income less expenses is not published, and one median cannot be subtracted from another. Both income charts use the same scale.
  2. Files: BAPCPA Table 2A, December 31, 2025.

Chapter 13: median monthly income and expenses

Schedule I income and Schedule J expenses

$2.0K $3.0K $4.0K $5.0K 20182019202020212022202320242025 $4,770 $3,699 $2.0K $3.0K $4.0K $5.0K 2018202020222024 $4,770 $3,699
Source: U.S. Courts, BAPCPA Table 2D
Table view
Chapter 13: median monthly income and expenses
YearMedian incomeMedian expensesAverage income less expenses
2018$3,461$2,720$564
2019$3,611$2,827$930
2020$3,594$2,840$905
2021$3,570$2,841$912
2022$3,809$2,991$576
2023$4,207$3,289$1,157
2024$4,521$3,529$1,520
2025$4,770$3,699$1,609
Notes and sources
  1. The table view gives average income less average expenses, from the published totals. Current monthly income on Form 122 (the means-test figure) is a different measure and is not shown.
  2. Files: BAPCPA Table 2D, December 31, 2025.

Average liabilities per Chapter 13 case

Cases filed 2018 to 2025

$0K $50K $100K $150K $200K $250K 20182019202020212022202320242025 $235,355 $0K $100K $200K $300K 2018202020222024 $235,355
Source: U.S. Courts, BAPCPA Table 1D
Table view
Average liabilities per Chapter 13 case
YearAverage liabilitiesSecured share
2018$180,65270.1%
2019$182,48068.9%
2020$175,11765.7%
2021$164,99063.7%
2022$171,41866.5%
2023$197,66066.1%
2024$228,85667.0%
2025$235,35567.0%
Notes and sources
  1. Total scheduled liabilities divided by the cases with complete schedules (not all cases). BAPCPA Table 1D reports totals, not medians. Chapter 7 (Table 1A) is not shown; see the methodology page.
  2. Files: BAPCPA Table 1D, December 31, 2025.

4 · Case outcomes

How Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases close

A median Chapter 7 case closes in 109 days and a Chapter 13 case in 1,045. The measures below describe the cases that closed in each year.

Chapter 7. In a reaffirmation agreement, a Chapter 7 debtor agrees to keep paying a debt that the discharge would otherwise erase, which the courts describe as usually keeping collateral that would otherwise be repossessed. 18.7% of the Chapter 7 cases closed in 2025 had at least one agreement filed, down each year from 22.6% in 2019. The share varies widely by district, from 0.8% in the District of Puerto Rico to 41.1% in the Northern District of New York.

Chapter 13. Dismissals come early in a case; completions come after three to five years. When filings collapsed in 2020 and 2021, few new cases were there to dismiss, and the completion share of closed cases rose to 57.9% in 2021. As filings recovered, early dismissals returned and the share fell back to 44.7%. The swing follows the filing cycle, which points to a change in the mix of cases closing more than a change in how plans perform.

Of the Chapter 13 cases dismissed in 2025, 50% were dismissed for failure to make plan payments. Separately, 13,508 of the Chapter 13 cases filed in 2025 came from a debtor whose earlier case had been dismissed within the previous six months. 32% of 2025 Chapter 13 filers reported another bankruptcy in the previous eight years, down from 39% in 2018. A court valued collateral below the claim in 3.3% of closed Chapter 13 cases.

Chapter 7 cases closed with a reaffirmation agreement

Share of closed Chapter 7 cases with at least one agreement filed

0% 10% 20% 30% 20182019202020212022202320242025 18.7% 0% 10% 20% 30% 2018202020222024 18.7%
Source: U.S. Courts, BAPCPA Table 4
Table view
Chapter 7 cases closed with a reaffirmation agreement
Year closedWith an agreementAgreements filedMedian days to close
201821.9%149,502113
201922.6%152,226114
202022.3%134,984117
202121.0%97,249113
202220.6%67,325113
202320.4%68,772112
202419.9%78,468110
202518.7%85,411109
Notes and sources
  1. A case can have more than one agreement. Median days to close are from BAPCPA Table 3.
  2. Files: BAPCPA Table 3, December 31, 2025, BAPCPA Table 4, December 31, 2025.

Chapter 13 cases closed with a completed plan

Completions as a share of completions plus dismissals

30% 40% 50% 60% 20182019202020212022202320242025 44.7% 30% 40% 50% 60% 2018202020222024 44.7%
Source: U.S. Courts, BAPCPA Table 6
Table view
Chapter 13 cases closed with a completed plan
Year closedCompleted planDismissed for failure to payMedian days to closeCollateral valued below claimFilers with a prior case
201845.0%49.7%1,0481.2%39.5%
201943.2%49.6%9761.8%38.6%
202048.8%52.8%1,1852.1%38.1%
202157.9%58.9%1,3442.6%38.7%
202256.4%54.5%1,3303.3%37.9%
202352.3%52.4%1,3434.1%35.2%
202449.4%51.2%1,2743.9%33.5%
202544.7%50.5%1,0453.3%32.2%
Notes and sources
  1. A termination-period measure: it counts the cases that closed in the year, whenever they were filed. It is not a cohort completion rate.
  2. Failure to pay is a share of dismissals. Median days to close (BAPCPA Table 3) covers completed and dismissed cases together. Collateral valued below claim (Table 5) is the share of closed cases with at least one final order valuing collateral below the claim. Prior filing (Table 7) is reported by the debtor for the previous eight years and counts cases filed, not closed, in the year.
  3. Files: BAPCPA Table 3, December 31, 2025, BAPCPA Table 5, December 31, 2025, BAPCPA Table 6, December 31, 2025, BAPCPA Table 7, December 31, 2025.

Reaffirmation agreements by district

The five highest and five lowest shares of closed Chapter 7 cases with an agreement in 2025, among districts with at least 1,000 closed Chapter 7 cases.

Highest and lowest reaffirmation shares by district
DistrictClosed Chapter 7 casesWith an agreement
Northern District of New York2,94941.1%
Southern District of Mississippi2,65340.4%
Eastern District of Washington1,84040.1%
Northern District of Florida1,59436.6%
Northern District of Alabama4,00236.6%
District of Massachusetts3,1612.6%
District of New Jersey7,3582.5%
Eastern District of New York5,8931.7%
Western District of Pennsylvania2,8781.0%
District of Puerto Rico2,0730.8%

Source: U.S. Courts, BAPCPA Table 4, 2025. District practice, local rules, and the mix of secured debt all affect how often agreements are filed.

5 · Implications for creditors

What the numbers mean for a consumer lender

The growth is mostly Chapter 7. Consumer filings rose 12.0%, and 75% of the added cases were Chapter 7. A lender that plans its bankruptcy work from headline counts will overestimate its Chapter 13 servicing needs and underestimate how many accounts resolve within months.

In Chapter 7 the decision comes early. A median Chapter 7 case closes in 109 days. Without a reaffirmation agreement, the borrower’s personal liability is discharged; a secured lender keeps its lien but not the promise to pay. A smaller share of filers has reaffirmed in each year since 2019, so the choice between reaffirmation, redemption, and recovering the collateral has to be made quickly, and practice differs sharply by district.

Chapter 13 exposure depends on where the borrowers live. In the Middle District of Alabama, Southern District of Georgia, Western District of Louisiana, Southern District of Alabama, Eastern District of North Carolina, Eastern District of Louisiana, Western District of Tennessee, Middle District of Georgia, and District of South Carolina, Chapter 13 is 65% or more of consumer filings. A book concentrated there carries mostly three-to-five-year plans, where claim accuracy, trustee reconciliation, and plan monitoring decide what is recovered.

Each Chapter 13 claim is larger. Average liabilities per case are up 30% since 2018, with the secured share in the same range. More dollars ride on each proof of claim and each valuation. Courts valued collateral below the claim in 3.3% of closed Chapter 13 cases in 2025, against 1.2% in 2018.

Read completion rates with care. The completion share of closed Chapter 13 cases may stay low while the larger 2023 to 2025 filing years pass through the period when most dismissals happen. That is a change in the mix of cases closing, not by itself a change in how plans perform. A true completion rate needs case-level data by filing year.

Sources

The federal courts’ own numbers

Filing counts come from the quarterly bankruptcy statistics; what filers report and how their cases end come from the annual statistics the courts publish alongside them.

Every chart on this page carries its own sources and notes, and each figure links to the file it came from. The methodology page has the definitions, the checks each file passes, and what these statistics can and cannot tell you.

Methodology and sources All 93 district profiles

Appendix

Every district

Consumer bankruptcy filings, 12 months ended June 30, 2026, largest first.

Select a district name to open its profile.

Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings by district
DistrictCircuitChapter 7ChangeChapter 13ChangeChapter 13 shareQ2 2026 change, Chapter 7Q2 2026 change, Chapter 13
Central District of California9th25,684+19.0%4,514+14.4%14.9%+15.7%+22.0%
Middle District of Florida11th21,953+26.6%6,108+26.0%21.7%+24.1%+26.7%
Northern District of Illinois7th12,698+7.9%9,578+0.8%43.0%+11.6%−3.2%
Northern District of Georgia11th12,030+18.1%9,649+9.0%44.5%+13.7%+7.7%
Eastern District of Michigan6th13,165+12.7%6,036+9.2%31.4%+14.1%+3.0%
Southern District of Florida11th9,084+16.3%6,815+8.1%42.8%+20.3%+7.4%
Northern District of Ohio6th12,084+8.0%2,628−9.5%17.9%+13.0%+8.7%
District of New Jersey3rd8,755+12.9%5,047−0.1%36.5%+19.2%+2.3%
District of Maryland4th8,370+18.6%4,726+13.3%36.1%+16.1%+5.5%
District of Arizona9th10,739+12.0%2,187+9.3%16.9%+2.5%+6.4%
Eastern District of California9th10,286+12.6%2,456+12.1%19.3%+12.6%+0.3%
Eastern District of Virginia4th7,535+14.1%5,140+6.9%40.5%+11.6%+4.7%
Northern District of Texas5th7,633+23.3%4,674+3.2%38.0%+22.9%+12.2%
Southern District of Ohio6th8,558+11.0%3,524−0.3%29.2%+11.2%−0.3%
Southern District of Indiana7th6,268+9.4%5,031+8.3%44.5%+9.9%+0.7%
Northern District of Alabama11th4,241+11.0%6,314+5.7%59.8%+15.9%+3.8%
Southern District of Texas5th6,287+41.7%4,014+14.4%38.9%+32.7%+13.9%
Eastern District of New York2nd6,446+9.5%3,731+2.3%36.5%+7.0%+2.2%
District of Minnesota8th7,857+13.7%2,295+0.7%22.6%+0.2%−8.9%
District of Nevada9th7,918+12.0%1,594+17.2%16.8%+7.9%+20.4%
Western District of Tennessee6th2,416+8.1%6,522+7.2%72.9%+6.6%+8.5%
District of Colorado10th7,140+15.4%1,632+9.8%18.6%+12.6%+23.1%
Western District of Texas5th5,781+25.9%2,724+8.4%32.0%+24.6%+23.0%
District of Oregon9th6,351+14.5%1,641+4.1%20.5%+4.9%−16.7%
District of Utah10th5,288+13.7%2,690+5.8%33.7%+9.7%+4.3%
Eastern District of Tennessee6th4,155+11.7%3,518+11.8%45.8%+20.2%+12.4%
Western District of Washington9th5,724+14.1%1,701+22.8%22.9%+15.0%+28.2%
Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas8th3,071+16.9%4,261+11.9%58.1%+15.5%+29.6%
Eastern District of Wisconsin7th4,461+0.3%2,728−1.4%37.9%−6.1%−4.9%
Northern District of Indiana7th4,076+5.4%3,066+8.5%42.9%+0.9%+7.8%
Middle District of Georgia11th2,111+17.1%4,674+10.3%68.9%+25.1%+4.3%
Middle District of Alabama11th1,186+17.9%5,446+8.6%82.1%+30.0%+4.8%
Eastern District of Missouri8th3,960+13.1%2,556+7.8%39.2%+11.2%+13.8%
Eastern District of Kentucky6th4,121+16.5%2,216+7.2%35.0%+23.8%+13.0%
Eastern District of Texas5th3,741+27.5%2,519+10.1%40.2%+23.8%+13.6%
Northern District of California9th4,339+17.7%1,887−0.6%30.1%+14.2%−3.9%
Western District of Kentucky6th2,782+5.9%3,413+12.8%55.1%+3.1%+12.3%
District of Puerto Rico1st2,100+6.2%3,807−2.9%64.3%+0.7%0.0%
Western District of Louisiana5th1,168+14.8%4,733+4.3%80.2%+12.8%+5.0%
Middle District of Tennessee6th3,109+18.7%2,619+3.8%45.7%+29.4%+8.9%
Southern District of Mississippi5th2,866+12.7%2,608+7.7%47.6%+18.7%+8.6%
District of South Carolina4th1,832+23.3%3,638+15.1%66.5%+17.7%+18.7%
Southern District of California9th4,700+5.8%738+15.9%13.6%+5.1%+27.2%
Eastern District of North Carolina4th1,358+20.8%4,077+14.2%74.9%+14.1%+10.8%
Eastern District of Pennsylvania3rd2,536+12.2%2,645+1.7%51.0%+6.2%−0.6%
Southern District of New York2nd3,721+15.0%1,315+4.4%25.9%+7.5%−4.6%
District of Massachusetts1st3,423+13.8%1,624+5.0%32.1%+13.9%+20.6%
Western District of Pennsylvania3rd3,023+7.7%1,684+7.3%35.7%+3.4%−10.0%
Northern District of Mississippi5th1,757+10.8%2,905+9.5%62.3%+18.2%+23.5%
Western District of Missouri8th2,379+21.6%2,251+9.5%48.6%+21.2%+1.9%
District of Kansas10th2,250+10.8%2,000+10.3%47.0%+4.4%+6.2%
Western District of Oklahoma10th3,320+12.2%918+4.1%21.7%+11.3%+8.3%
Southern District of Alabama11th932+18.6%3,285+14.5%77.9%+24.6%+17.4%
Western District of Michigan6th2,774+12.7%1,327+15.3%32.4%+17.5%+11.9%
Southern District of Georgia11th725+33.3%3,289+14.6%81.9%+35.6%+6.6%
Northern District of New York2nd2,783+1.4%1,033+14.9%27.1%+1.6%+5.3%
Western District of Virginia4th2,390+21.0%1,391+6.3%36.8%+21.2%+8.3%
Middle District of Pennsylvania3rd1,975+8.8%1,741+0.1%46.8%+9.0%+2.5%
District of Connecticut2nd2,932+3.2%538−2.2%15.4%−8.3%−3.2%
Eastern District of Louisiana5th784+34.7%2,286+15.6%74.2%+38.9%+5.2%
District of Nebraska8th1,908+13.4%941+2.8%33.0%+4.7%−10.7%
Central District of Illinois7th2,119+12.7%689−15.8%24.5%+24.0%−16.4%
Western District of Wisconsin7th1,960−0.4%760−4.0%27.9%+2.5%−3.3%
Western District of North Carolina4th1,247+30.0%1,441+16.6%53.6%+31.6%+13.3%
Northern District of Florida11th2,093+27.8%578+7.6%21.6%+20.7%−13.0%
Western District of New York2nd1,628+3.4%862+1.7%34.6%+7.4%+18.5%
District of Idaho9th2,282+15.1%201+5.8%8.1%+8.5%+51.5%
Eastern District of Washington9th1,966+9.3%367+4.9%15.7%+10.8%+34.6%
Middle District of North Carolina4th1,077+18.0%1,217+16.5%53.0%+37.7%+28.7%
Southern District of Iowa8th1,772+7.9%428+12.0%19.5%+1.2%+7.3%
Northern District of Oklahoma10th1,805+12.0%237+16.2%11.6%+16.1%+11.9%
Southern District of Illinois7th1,093+18.3%756−6.1%40.9%+20.8%+6.0%
District of New Mexico10th1,433+10.2%212+5.0%12.9%+8.9%−15.0%
District of Delaware3rd985+16.7%572+4.4%36.7%−0.8%−7.4%
Northern District of Iowa8th1,126−7.0%208+40.5%15.6%−13.9%+14.6%
Eastern District of Oklahoma10th1,125+11.6%143+11.7%11.3%−8.0%−16.3%
Middle District of Louisiana5th582+3.9%621+2.0%51.6%+15.6%+0.7%
District of Hawaii9th713+7.1%424−7.6%37.2%+9.3%−15.5%
District of Rhode Island1st836+16.8%269−9.7%24.3%+20.8%+9.2%
Southern District of West Virginia4th841+11.4%143+2.1%14.5%0.0%−2.6%
District of New Hampshire1st721+19.0%251−8.1%25.8%+50.7%−13.7%
District of Montana9th729+18.7%150+29.3%17.0%+11.3%+75.0%
Northern District of West Virginia4th630+17.3%230+62.0%26.7%+15.9%+91.2%
District of North Dakota8th705+48.1%103+80.7%12.7%+48.3%+140.0%
District of South Dakota8th572+31.8%146+8.1%20.3%+49.1%+35.5%
District of Maine1st445+4.0%127−11.8%22.2%+25.7%+36.7%
District of ColumbiaD.C.422+44.0%138+22.1%24.4%+13.4%+24.1%
District of Wyoming10th478+13.0%83−2.4%14.8%0.0%+4.0%
District of Vermont2nd214+10.3%69+35.3%24.4%+18.2%+50.0%
District of Alaska9th198+67.8%73+46.0%26.9%+48.7%+175.0%
District of Guam9th16−20.0%2−75.0%11.1%0.0%–
District of the Virgin Islands3rd9+350.0%5+66.7%35.7%+200.0%0.0%
District of the Northern Mariana Islands9th2–0–0.0%––

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