National Overview
The Open Bankruptcy Project tracked 1,926 Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 bankruptcy filings in 2026 across 12 federal judicial districts in our database. Compared to 2025, total filings changed by -80.2%.
Chapter Breakdown
Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 continue to dominate consumer bankruptcy filings. Here is how each chapter performed in 2026 vs. 2025:
| Chapter | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapter 7 | 898 | 4,125 | -78.2% |
| Chapter 11 | 161 | 1,125 | -85.7% |
| Chapter 12 | 1 | 10 | -90.0% |
| Chapter 13 | 866 | 4,454 | -80.6% |
For a detailed comparison of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, visit chapter7vs13.org. If you are wondering whether you qualify, try the means test calculator.
District Spotlight
Highest Dismissal Rates
These districts had the highest percentage of cases ending in dismissal in 2026. High dismissal rates can signal systemic issues -- debtors failing to complete plan payments, inadequate pre-filing counseling, or other factors.
| District | Total | Dismissed | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| D. New Jersey | 111 | 9 | 8.1% |
| M.D. Florida | 213 | 2 | 0.9% |
| S.D. Florida | 136 | 1 | 0.7% |
| S.D. Texas | 171 | 0 | 0.0% |
| N.D. Texas | 64 | 0 | 0.0% |
| E.D. Pennsylvania | 56 | 0 | 0.0% |
| M.D. North Carolina | 42 | 0 | 0.0% |
| W.D. Missouri | 274 | 0 | 0.0% |
| E.D. Missouri | 293 | 0 | 0.0% |
| D. Kansas | 382 | 0 | 0.0% |
Lowest Dismissal Rates
These districts had the lowest dismissal rates among districts with at least 20 cases:
| District | Total | Dismissed | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| N.D. Georgia | 36 | 0 | 0.0% |
| N.D. Illinois | 20 | 0 | 0.0% |
| D. Kansas | 382 | 0 | 0.0% |
| E.D. Missouri | 293 | 0 | 0.0% |
| W.D. Missouri | 274 | 0 | 0.0% |
| M.D. North Carolina | 42 | 0 | 0.0% |
| E.D. Pennsylvania | 56 | 0 | 0.0% |
| N.D. Texas | 64 | 0 | 0.0% |
| S.D. Texas | 171 | 0 | 0.0% |
| S.D. Florida | 136 | 1 | 0.7% |
Busiest Districts
| District | Filings |
|---|---|
| D. Kansas | 382 |
| E.D. Missouri | 293 |
| W.D. Missouri | 274 |
| M.D. Florida | 213 |
| S.D. Texas | 171 |
| S.D. Florida | 136 |
| D. New Jersey | 111 |
| N.D. Texas | 64 |
| E.D. Pennsylvania | 56 |
| M.D. North Carolina | 42 |
Year-over-Year Trends
Total filings went from 9,714 in 2025 to 1,926 in 2026, a change of -80.2%.
- Chapter 7: 898 filings (-78.2% vs 2025)
- Chapter 13: 866 filings (-80.6% vs 2025)
- Chapter 11: 161 filings (-85.7% vs 2025)
Prior Filer Analysis
Of the 1,926 cases filed in 2026, 82 debtors (4.3%) had at least one prior bankruptcy filing in the same court. Repeat filings raise important questions about discharge eligibility under Section 1328(f) and the effectiveness of the bankruptcy system.
The 1328(f) screener tool can help determine whether a prior filer is eligible for discharge in a new case. For those considering filing again, see bankruptcyfreshstart.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bankruptcy cases were filed in 2026?
Based on data tracked by the Open Bankruptcy Project, 1,926 Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 cases were filed in 2026 across the districts in our database.
What is the bankruptcy dismissal rate?
Dismissal rates vary widely by district. In 2026, the highest observed rate was 8.1% (D. New Jersey) and many districts had 0% dismissals among resolved cases.
What percentage of bankruptcy filers are repeat filers?
In 2026, approximately 4.3% of debtors in the tracked districts had at least one prior bankruptcy filing in the same court.
What percentage of bankruptcy filers represent themselves?
About 23.0% of bankruptcy filers in 2026 appeared without an attorney (pro se).
Explore More
The Open Bankruptcy Project provides free, open-source tools for understanding bankruptcy data:
Methodology Note
Statistics in this roundup are drawn from the Open Bankruptcy Project database, which integrates data from the Federal Judicial Center's Integrated Database (IDB) with ongoing PACER and RSS monitoring across participating districts. Case counts reflect individual bankruptcy petitions (Chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13). Adversary proceedings are excluded. Dismissal rates are calculated against all cases with a recorded disposition. Prior filer status is determined by matching debtor names within the same court across filing years. For full methodology details, see our methodology page.