Open Bankruptcy Project -- News & AnalysisData-driven bankruptcy news and analysis from the Open Bankruptcy Project. Empirical research covering 4.9 million federal cases across all 94 judicial districts.https://openbankruptcyproject.org/news/2026-04-09T12:00:00ZOpen Bankruptcy Project Research Teamhttps://openbankruptcyproject.orgCopyright 2026 Open Bankruptcy Projecthttps://openbankruptcyproject.org/favicon.svghttps://openbankruptcyproject.org/og-default.svg75,764 Estimated Section 1328(f) Violations: No Court Is Screening for Themhttps://openbankruptcyproject.org/news/estimated-1328f-violations-by-district.html2026-04-03T12:00:00Z2026-04-03T12:00:00ZAn estimated 75,764 Section 1328(f) timing violations have occurred nationally, and no federal court is systematically screening for them. District-by-district data from 4.9 million cases.Open Bankruptcy Project Research TeamWhere Chapter 13 Fails: The 15 Worst Districts for Plan Completion (2020-2024)https://openbankruptcyproject.org/news/where-chapter-13-fails-worst-districts-2024.html2026-04-03T11:00:00Z2026-04-03T11:00:00ZNational analysis of Chapter 13 plan completion rates reveals the 15 worst-performing federal districts from 2020-2024, with dismissal rates exceeding 60% in some courts.Open Bankruptcy Project Research Team1 in 3 Chapter 13 Filers Has Filed Before: Repeat Bankruptcy by Districthttps://openbankruptcyproject.org/news/repeat-bankruptcy-filers-by-district-2024.html2026-04-03T10:00:00Z2026-04-03T10:00:00ZDistrict-by-district data on repeat bankruptcy filings shows approximately one-third of Chapter 13 filers have filed previously, raising questions about system effectiveness.Open Bankruptcy Project Research TeamAttorney Fee Transparency in Consumer Bankruptcy: A National Analysishttps://openbankruptcyproject.org/news/attorney-fee-transparency-bankruptcy.html2026-04-02T14:00:00Z2026-04-02T14:00:00ZFee disclosures in consumer bankruptcy happen after retention, lack standardization, and sit behind PACER's paywall. Open Bankruptcy Project data reveals significant concentration in the consumer bankruptcy bar.Open Bankruptcy Project Research TeamBankruptcy Filings by State: 2026 National Overviewhttps://openbankruptcyproject.org/news/bankruptcy-filings-by-state-2026.html2026-04-02T13:00:00Z2026-04-02T13:00:00ZComprehensive state-by-state breakdown of bankruptcy filing rates for 2026, with data on Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 distribution across all 50 states.Open Bankruptcy Project Research TeamChapter 13 Completion Rates Vary Widely Across Federal Districtshttps://openbankruptcyproject.org/news/chapter-13-completion-rates-by-district.html2026-04-02T12:00:00Z2026-04-02T12:00:00ZNational analysis shows Chapter 13 plan completion rates vary dramatically by federal district, ranging from under 20% to over 60%, driven by local legal culture and fee structures.Open Bankruptcy Project Research TeamThe Means Test Gets Harder: April 2026 Median Income Increaseshttps://openbankruptcyproject.org/news/means-test-april-2026-median-income.html2026-04-02T11:00:00Z2026-04-02T11:00:00ZUpdated median income figures for April 2026 raise the bar for the Chapter 7 means test, potentially pushing more filers toward Chapter 13.Open Bankruptcy Project Research TeamPro Se Bankruptcy Filings: What the Data Showshttps://openbankruptcyproject.org/news/pro-se-bankruptcy-filings-data.html2026-04-02T10:00:00Z2026-04-02T10:00:00ZData analysis of pro se (self-represented) bankruptcy filings across federal districts reveals patterns in filing rates, outcomes, and the gap between represented and unrepresented debtors.Open Bankruptcy Project Research Team