The E.D. Wis. in Wisconsin processed 12,222 Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings between fiscal years 2020 and 2024, according to data from the Federal Judicial Center's Integrated Database. Of cases with known outcomes, 75.0% were dismissed before the debtor received a discharge -- ranking this district #37 out of 91 measured districts nationally.
The national Chapter 13 dismissal rate for the same period is 75.6%, making E.D. Wis.'s rate near the national average.
Key Statistics
| Metric | E.D. Wis. | National |
|---|---|---|
| Ch.13 Cases Filed (FY2020-2024) | 12,222 | 834,483 |
| Dismissal Rate | 75.0% | 75.6% |
| Prior Filer Rate | 49.3% | 36.6% |
| Prior Filer Discharge Rate | 17.0% | 15.1% |
| Pro Se Rate | 3.5% | 6.7% |
| Est. 1328(f) Violations | 298 | 13,856 |
What This Means
A high dismissal rate means that most debtors who enter Chapter 13 in this district do not complete their repayment plans. Dismissal can occur for many reasons -- missed payments, failure to file required documents, inability to propose a confirmable plan, or voluntary dismissal by the debtor.
The prior filer rate of 49.3% indicates that a large share of Chapter 13 debtors in this district have filed bankruptcy at least once before. Nationally, prior filers complete their Chapter 13 plans at a rate of just 15.1% -- roughly a third lower than the overall discharge rate.
An estimated 298 discharges in this district may have been granted in violation of the Section 1328(f) waiting period between 2015 and 2024. No federal court currently screens for these violations automatically. The Open Bankruptcy Project's free Discharge Eligibility Screener is the only public tool available to check 1328(f) eligibility.
Related Resources
- Dismissal Rate Data -- interactive dismissal rate data for all 94 districts
- Discharge Eligibility Screener -- check bankruptcy discharge eligibility under Section 1328(f)
- Where Chapter 13 Fails: The 15 Worst Districts
- Repeat Bankruptcy Filers by District
Methodology: Data sourced from the Federal Judicial Center Integrated Database (FJC IDB), covering Chapter 13 cases filed in federal fiscal years 2020-2024. Dismissal and discharge rates are calculated among cases with known dispositions. Prior filer rates reflect cases where a prior bankruptcy filing was identified in the FJC record. Estimated 1328(f) violations are modeled based on discharge-despite-prior-filing patterns and statutory waiting periods. This analysis was conducted by the Open Bankruptcy Project Research Team.