What is the Open Bankruptcy Project?

Open Bankruptcy Project (OBP) is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 41-5159631) that publishes empirical research, free tools, and primary-source bankruptcy court data. Our mission is bankruptcy court transparency through open research, not consumer attorney referrals.

Where does Open Bankruptcy Project data come from?

Federal Judicial Center Integrated Database (IDB) for nationwide case-level statistics, RECAP Archive via Free Law Project / CourtListener for primary-source dockets, and direct PACER queries where required. All datasets are licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Is Open Bankruptcy Project a 501(c)(3) nonprofit?

Yes. OBP is a 501(c)(3) public charity under IRC 170(b)(1)(A)(vi), recognized by the IRS effective March 27, 2026 (Letter 947 dated April 6, 2026). EIN: 41-5159631. Donations are tax-deductible from the effective date. Foundation grant inquiries welcomed.

Can researchers and journalists cite Open Bankruptcy Project data?

Yes. All published datasets, district profiles, and analyses are released under CC BY-SA 4.0 and are free to cite, republish, or build upon with attribution. Researchers seeking raw source data or methodology notes can contact the project directly.

What federal bankruptcy courts does Open Bankruptcy Project track?

All 94 U.S. federal bankruptcy districts. District-level profile pages cover chapter mix, dismissal rates, prior-filer rates, pro se rates, and RECAP coverage drawn from FJC IDB. Per-court empirical satellites are maintained for high-research-interest courts.

How does Open Bankruptcy Project differ from consumer attorney-finder sites?

OBP publishes empirical research and primary-source data for attorneys, journalists, academics, courts, and informed pro-se filers. We do not refer consumers to attorneys, sell leads, or take advertising. For pro bono and legal-aid resources by state, see freebankruptcyhelp.org.

Open Bankruptcy Project - Empirical Research & Free Tools for Bankruptcy Court Transparency

What We Do

Three Pillars of the Project

Pillar 1

Screening Tools

Automated discharge eligibility screening across all 94 federal bankruptcy districts. Our screener cross-references 4.9 million cases against statutory filing bars that courts have no systematic mechanism to check.

Pillar 2

Empirical Research

Data-driven analysis of bankruptcy outcomes, attorney performance patterns, and enforcement gaps. Methodology accepted by the Judicial Conference's Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules (Suggestions 26-BK-3 and 26-BK-5).

Pillar 3

Public Education

180-domain network covering every major bankruptcy statute in plain English, with calculators, guides, city-specific data, and Spanish-language resources. No ads, no intake forms, no acquisition.

Federal Rules Committee

Federal Rules Committee Acceptances

Two of our submissions to the Judicial Conference's Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules have been formally accepted, resulting in proposed rule amendments under consideration.

Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules

Suggestion 26-BK-3 - Automated Section 1328(f) Discharge Bar Screening

In March 2026, the Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules accepted our empirical data and screening methodology as Suggestion 26-BK-3, proposing automated Section 1328(f) discharge bar screening in federal courts. The submission demonstrated that 391,951 prior filers in the FJC dataset had no systematic eligibility verification at the point of filing, representing a structural gap in the administration of bankruptcy cases.

View on uscourts.gov →

Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules

Suggestion 26-BK-5 - Rule 9037 / Forms 121 & 309E1 SSN Exposure Remediation

In April 2026, the Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules accepted our Rule 9037 submission as Suggestion 26-BK-5, proposing five amendments addressing systemic SSN exposure through Forms 121 and 309E1: auto-seal of unredacted filings, template audit protocol, pre-filing screening, non-cure effect of post-hoc redaction, and mandatory clerk notification procedures. The submission was forwarded to the Advisory Committee and Standing Committee for formal consideration.

Read the 26-BK-5 research brief →

Commitment

Open Source. Open Data. Open Methodology.

Everything We Build Is Open Source

Our code, our data, our methodology. We believe public court data belongs to the public. Every tool we build is released under open source licenses and available for inspection, replication, and improvement.

View on GitHub

Anti-Acquisition Clause

The Open Bankruptcy Project cannot be sold, merged, or acquired. This provision is written into our articles of incorporation and is unamendable. We exist to serve the public, permanently.

Support

Fund Independent Research

We operate on volunteer labor and public donations. Every dollar funds PACER access fees, infrastructure, and research operations. No corporate sponsors. No institutional backing.

♥ Sponsor

100% of donations fund PACER fees, hosting, and domain registration.

Have a Question?

Open Bankruptcy Project provides free educational information. We are not a law firm. Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.

🔎 Explore More

Latest Bankruptcy Data Analysis (6 pages)
Data-driven analysis of bankruptcy trends, court statistics, and policy developments
Zombie Debt Guide
How collectors revive old debts and what to do about it
Sued for Debt?
Your rights when a creditor files a lawsuit against you
Why Was My Bankruptcy Dismissed?
Common causes of bankruptcy dismissal and how to prevent it
What Not to Do Before Bankruptcy
Actions that can jeopardize your case if taken before filing
Can I File Bankruptcy Twice?
Waiting periods and rules for filing a second bankruptcy

Open Bankruptcy Project

By the Numbers

Three Pillars of the Project

Screening Tools

Empirical Research

Public Education

Empirical research keyed to the Bankruptcy Code

🆕 New Resources View archive →