United States Bankruptcy Courts

If you decide to file for bankruptcy, you need to know your local bankruptcy court. These are state-run courts that still follow the bankruptcy laws of federal courts. All bankruptcy matters will be run through the bankruptcy court of your U.S. District Court.

Finding Your Bankruptcy Court

If you live in a state with more than one district, you might not know which district you are in. Most of the bankruptcy court websites provide lists or maps of counties that are within that district.

A bankruptcy attorney can also help you find the U.S. bankruptcy court in your district. If you need to file an appeal, you need the court of appeals for your district.

History of Bankruptcy Proceedings and Courts

Bankruptcy laws have been changing since their beginning in 1800. The Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (or simply "Bankruptcy Rules") were created by the Supreme Court. These rules govern the bankruptcy process.

Business and consumer bankruptcy laws have a long history with:

The Code has been amended numerous times as business and consumer spending changes. The most current laws govern all bankruptcy filings and bankruptcy cases. Each bankruptcy court also has its own local rules, but all bankruptcy courts work similarly.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court District Websites

This section contains links to U.S. Bankruptcy Courts websites in each of the fifty states and Puerto Rico.

State

Bankruptcy Court District Website

Alabama
Alaska
  • District of Alaska: Includes court calendar, decisions, local rules, general orders, reference manual, national forms, and more.
Arizona
  • District of Arizona: Includes local rules, electronic filing information, and other court information.
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
  • District of Connecticut: Features court locations, phone directory, local rules, and access to public information through PACER for a fee.
Delaware
  • District of Delaware: Has general court information, webPACER, electronic filing, general bankruptcy forms, judicial opinions, select bankruptcy reports, and links to related information.
District of Columbia
District Court of Guam
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
  • Central District of Illinois: Includes opinions, forms, statistics, general information, and more.
  • Northern District of Illinois: Features general court information, public information available through Web PACER, a general bankruptcy practice guide, bankruptcy forms, court calendars, select judicial opinions, and links to related information.
  • Southern District of Illinois: Includes filing fees, local rules, forms library, and more.
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
  • Eastern District of Michigan: Features general court information, public information available through Pacer, general bankruptcy practice materials, bankruptcy forms, court calendars, select judicial opinions, and links to related information.
  • Western District of Michigan: Includes fee schedule, local and official forms, calendar, opinions, and more.
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
  • District of Nebraska: Includes official bankruptcy forms, fee schedule, directory, opinions, statistics, and more.
Nevada
  • District of Nevada: Includes court docket, local rules, and the full text of pleadings for recent cases.
New Hampshire
  • District of New Hampshire: Includes court calendars, directory, forms, schedules, reports, fee schedules, local rules, administrative orders, and more.
New Jersey
New Mexico
  • District of New Mexico: Includes case information, bankruptcy statistics, practice and procedure guide, and local rules.
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
  • District Of North Dakota: Features general court information, public information available through PACER, general bankruptcy practice materials, bankruptcy forms, court calendars, select judicial opinions, electronic case filing, and links to related information.
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
  • District of Oregon: Includes calendars, court fees, local rules, orders, forms, and more.
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
  • District of South Dakota: Includes local rules, forms, decisions, case information, practice pointers, calendars, and more.
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
  • District of Utah: Includes local rules, opinions, filing statistics, and more.
Vermont
Virginia
  • Eastern District of Virginia: Includes local rules, opinions, bankruptcy forms, fee schedule, filing statistics, and more.
  • Western District of Virginia: Features general court information, PACER information, an overview of Chapter 11, filing statistics, filing information, bankruptcy forms, local rules, filing fees, court calendars, and links to related sites.
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Puerto Rico

Get Bankruptcy Help From a Legal Professional

If you're considering bankruptcy as your best option for debt relief and a fresh start, it helps to have a seasoned expert in your corner.

Although bankruptcy is federal law, a local attorney will be able to address matters of state law that may affect your case. Find an experienced bankruptcy attorney near you today.

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