All States Nebraska

State profile · FY2024 · AOUSC

Nebraska Bankruptcy Filings

3,421 federal filings in FY2024 across 1 judicial district and 1.98 million residents, Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13, from AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics.

3,421
Total filings FY2024
172.9
Per 100k residents
#25
Per-capita rank
1
Judicial district

Data updated July 2026

The bottom line

Nebraska recorded 3,421 bankruptcy filings in FY2024 - 172.9 per 100,000 residents, the #25 highest rate among the 51 U.S. jurisdictions.

172.9
filings per 100k
#25
per-capita rank (of 51)
63%
Chapter 7 (liquidation)
35%
Chapter 13 (repayment)

Statistical information only, not legal advice. Outcomes depend on attorney representation, district local rules, exemption law, and the means test. Consult a licensed bankruptcy attorney in Nebraska.

Nebraska chapter composition, FY2024

Nebraska chapter mix FY2024

Chapters2143%1202%Ch 7, LiquidationCh 11, ReorganizationCh 12, Family farmerCh 13, Wage-earnerCh 15, Cross-border
3,421 filings • per-capita rate 172.9 per 100k • AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics

Total Filings

3,421

#37 nationally

Per 100,000

172.9

#25 per capita

Chapter 7

2,143

63% of total

Chapter 13

1,202

35% of total

Chapter 11

48

Business reorganization

Business

199

Of total filings

Peer states, per-capita filings near Nebraska

Rate per 100k population (decimal share) and total filings - Nebraska highlighted

MI

Michigan

17.36% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$17,421
Selected

NE

Nebraska

17.29% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$3,421

NJ

New Jersey

17.28% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$16,421

AK

Alaska

16.94% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$1,243

Filing Trend by Year

2,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,000 FY15FY16FY17FY18FY19FY20FY21FY22FY23FY24 3,421
Total bankruptcy filings in Nebraska by fiscal year. Source: AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics.
Year Total Ch. 7 Ch. 13
FY2024 3,421 2,143 1,202
FY2023 3,057 1,977 1,007
FY2022 2,733 1,914 755
FY2021 2,915 2,135 709
FY2020 3,838 2,805 959
FY2019 5,462 3,518 1,879
FY2018 5,497 3,559 1,873
FY2017 5,411 3,636 1,705
FY2016 5,600 3,905 1,619
FY2015 5,953 4,165 1,713

Federal Districts in Nebraska

Economic Context

Source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics →

2.1%

Unemployment (2023)

172.9

Filings per 100k Pop.

Understanding This Data

Bankruptcy filing rates vary by state due to differences in exemption laws, wages, cost of living, consumer credit access, and legal culture. High per-capita rates often reflect historical patterns in consumer credit use and cultural attitudes toward debt relief. This data is aggregate statistics, it cannot predict individual case outcomes.

Filing Rate Score

172.9

Filings per 100,000 population

#25

Per-capita rank among 51 jurisdictions

Nebraska has a moderate bankruptcy filing rate compared to other states.

What the Nebraska Data Shows

In FY2024, Nebraska recorded 3,421 federal bankruptcy filings across a population of roughly 1.98 million, producing a per-capita rate of 172.9 filings per 100,000 residents. That rate places Nebraska at #25 among the 51 reporting jurisdictions (upper half nationally), while its raw filing volume ranks #37. Chapter 7 liquidations account for 63% of the state's caseload and Chapter 13 repayment plans for 35%, a split that reflects the state's exemption laws, income distribution, and the degree to which homeowners use Chapter 13 to cure mortgage arrears rather than surrender property under Chapter 7.

Cases are processed across 1 federal judicial district in Nebraska, with business filings totaling 199 in FY2024 (including 48 Chapter 11 reorganizations). The 10-year trend available from AOUSC covers FY2015–FY2024, during which total Nebraska filings declined 42.5%. Unemployment in this state is 2.1% (2023), a macro indicator that typically correlates with bankruptcy volume on a 6–12 month lag, alongside consumer debt levels, medical cost exposure, and credit tightening cycles.

These figures describe the aggregate population of court filings; they do not forecast any individual case outcome. The chapter mix, per-capita rate, and district-level distribution here are influenced by local rules, trustee practices, attorney fee conventions, and state exemption generosity, all of which can change the benefits and risks of each filing path materially. This page is statistical information only and is not legal advice; residents considering bankruptcy in Nebraska should consult a licensed bankruptcy attorney familiar with the specific district's procedures before relying on any pattern described above.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bankruptcy cases were filed in Nebraska in FY2024?

Nebraska had 3,421 total bankruptcy filings in FY2024, ranking #37 nationally by total volume. Of these, 2,143 were Chapter 7 liquidation cases and 1,202 were Chapter 13 repayment plan cases.

What is the per-capita bankruptcy filing rate in Nebraska?

Nebraska had 172.9 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 population in FY2024, ranking #25 among all 51 U.S. jurisdictions. Per-capita rates account for population size and give a more comparable, like-for-like measure of filing activity than raw totals, though the rate is also shaped by state exemption laws and legal culture, not purely by financial distress.

Which bankruptcy chapter is most common in Nebraska?

Chapter 7 (liquidation) accounted for 63% of all Nebraska bankruptcy filings in FY2024. Chapter 13 (wage earner repayment plans) made up 35%. The Chapter 7/13 split varies by state based on income levels, exemption laws, and homeownership rates.

How many federal judicial districts are in Nebraska?

Nebraska has 1 federal judicial district: District of Nebraska. All bankruptcy cases are filed in federal court, not state court. Each district has its own bankruptcy court with local rules and procedures.

How does unemployment in Nebraska relate to bankruptcy filings?

Nebraska's unemployment rate was 2.1% in 2023. While unemployment and bankruptcy filings often correlate, the relationship is not direct, bankruptcy filings also depend on consumer debt levels, state exemption laws, legal costs, and access to credit. Rising unemployment can increase filings with a 6-12 month lag.

Data sourced from Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) Judicial Caseload Statistics. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBankruptcy Editorial

Every figure on PlainBankruptcy is rendered directly from federal court source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal court source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.