Is bankruptcy information available for free?

Yes. All bankruptcy cases filed in U.S. federal courts are public records. The Federal Judicial Center's Integrated Database contains data on millions of cases and is freely available. Tools like the 1328(f) screener at 1328f.com provide free analysis of this public data with no registration or data collection required.

What is the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy?

Chapter 7 is a liquidation bankruptcy that typically takes 3-4 months from filing to discharge. Chapter 13 is a repayment plan bankruptcy that lasts 3-5 years. Federal court data shows approximately 65% of bankruptcy filings are Chapter 7 and approximately 30% are Chapter 13. Chapter 7 has a discharge rate above 95%, while Chapter 13 completion rates are approximately 33-40% nationally.

How many people file bankruptcy each year?

Federal court data shows approximately 750,000 bankruptcy cases are filed in the United States each year. The exact number fluctuates with economic conditions. Every case is recorded in the Federal Judicial Center's Integrated Database, which is the primary data source for this project.

Does this site provide legal advice?

No. This site provides data and educational information based on public federal court records. It does not provide legal advice, attorney referrals, or represent any individual. Consult a licensed attorney for advice about your specific situation.

Consumer Bankruptcy Guide -- Real Data, No Sales Pitch

Consumer Bankruptcy Guide

If you are considering bankruptcy or currently in a case, this section is for you. No legal advice. No attorney referrals. Just data and tools from 4.9 million federal bankruptcy cases.

The data on this site comes from the Federal Judicial Center's Integrated Database, covering every bankruptcy case filed in the United States. We do not sell anything. We do not collect your personal information. We built these tools because the information should be free.

Guide Pages

What to Expect When You File A data-driven timeline from the decision to file through discharge, with national averages at each stage. Your Rights in Bankruptcy What the law requires of your attorney, your court, and your creditors -- and what to do when the system fails. Bankruptcy by the Numbers National statistics from 4.9 million cases: filing rates, discharge rates, completion rates, and more. Finding a Good Bankruptcy Attorney What the data shows about how attorney choice affects outcomes, and how to evaluate who you hire. Life After Bankruptcy What the data shows about credit recovery, mortgage timelines, and rebuilding after discharge.

Bankruptcy Tools Network -- Free Resources by Topic

We maintain a network of free, single-topic sites covering specific bankruptcy questions. Every site uses the same public court data and follows the same principles: no ads, no data collection, no sales pitches.

How to File Bankruptcy Filing basics, forms, and the step-by-step process. How Much Does Bankruptcy Cost? Attorney fees, filing fees, and what the data shows about total costs. 341 Meeting of Creditors What happens at the 341 meeting and how to prepare. Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 Side-by-side comparison with data on outcomes for each chapter. The Automatic Stay How the automatic stay protects you from creditors the moment you file. Bankruptcy Discharge What discharge means, what debts it covers, and how it works. Dismissal Rates by District How often cases are dismissed varies dramatically by district. The Means Test How the means test works and what the data shows about who qualifies. Bankruptcy Exemptions What property you can keep, and how exemptions vary by state. Pro Se Debtors Resources for people filing bankruptcy without an attorney. Discharge Injunction Your permanent protection against collection on discharged debts. Fresh Start After Bankruptcy Rebuilding credit and finances after your case closes.

About This Data

Every statistic on this site comes from the Federal Judicial Center's Integrated Database (FJC IDB), which records every bankruptcy case filed in every federal bankruptcy court in the United States. Our dataset covers 4.9 million cases across 94 judicial districts from fiscal years 2008 through 2024.

We do not use surveys, estimates, or self-reported data. We do not sell anything. We do not collect your personal information beyond what you voluntarily submit through our contact form. The tools and analysis on this site are open-source and available on GitHub.

This project is part of the Open Bankruptcy Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.