Total Filings
8,176
#24 nationally · Mid-volume state
State profile · FY2024 · AOUSC
Washington Bankruptcy Filings
According to AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics, 8,176 federal filings were recorded in FY2024 across 2 judicial districts and 7.81 million residents, Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13.
- 8,176
- Total filings FY2024
- Mid-volume state
- 104.6
- Per 100k residents
- Below national median
- #30
- Per-capita rank
- Middle third
- 2
- Judicial districts
- More districts than typical
Data updated September 2026
The bottom line
Washington filings declined 57.0% across the 10-year AOUSC window ending FY2024.
- 104.6
- filings per 100k
- #30
- per-capita rank (of 51)
- 77%
- Chapter 7 (liquidation)
- 22%
- Chapter 13 (repayment)
Statistical information only, not legal advice. Outcomes depend on district local rules, exemption law, and the means test. This page does not recommend whether to file.
D
Financial-Stress Score
42/100
Washington · 2 of 2 dimensions reported
Based on this state's bankruptcy filing rate (AOUSC, per 100,000 residents) and its most recently reported unemployment rate, each benchmarked against every tracked state (50 states + DC). Lower filings and lower unemployment score higher; this is not a measure of overall affordability, cost of living, or quality of life.
Bankruptcy Filing Rate C+ 104.6 per 100K
Federal bankruptcy filings per 100,000 residents, FY2024 (AOUSC)
Unemployment Rate F 4.5%
State's most recently reported annual unemployment rate
Consumer vs business filings, FY2024
AOUSC case-type split of the same 8,176 filings shown above, orthogonal to the chapter mix below.
Per-capita filings vs peers and the national average
Left: nearby jurisdictions by FY2024 filings per 100,000 residents (AOUSC). Right: Washington rate on the same scale as the 51-jurisdiction peak, with the national average marked.
Peer per-capita rates near Washington
Where Washington sits: volume vs. intensity
Every jurisdiction plotted by FY2024 total filings (volume) against filings per 100,000 residents (intensity), with Washington highlighted among all 30. A large state can lead on volume without leading on rate, or the reverse.
View all 30 jurisdictions as a list
- California : 45,781 filings, 117.5 per 100k
- Florida : 35,569 filings, 157.3 per 100k
- Texas : 30,182 filings, 98.9 per 100k
- Georgia : 28,963 filings, 262.6 per 100k
- Illinois : 25,450 filings, 202.8 per 100k
- Ohio : 23,448 filings, 198.9 per 100k
- New York : 20,881 filings, 106.7 per 100k
- Michigan : 20,201 filings, 201.3 per 100k
- Tennessee : 19,926 filings, 279.6 per 100k
- Alabama : 19,124 filings, 374.4 per 100k
- Indiana : 15,921 filings, 232.0 per 100k
- Virginia : 14,245 filings, 163.4 per 100k
- New Jersey : 13,511 filings, 142.2 per 100k
- Pennsylvania : 12,265 filings, 94.6 per 100k
- Kentucky : 11,004 filings, 243.1 per 100k
- Arizona : 10,861 filings, 146.2 per 100k
- Maryland : 10,858 filings, 175.7 per 100k
- Missouri : 9,572 filings, 154.5 per 100k
- Wisconsin : 9,461 filings, 160.1 per 100k
- Louisiana : 9,175 filings, 200.6 per 100k
- Mississippi : 8,867 filings, 301.6 per 100k
- North Carolina : 8,603 filings, 80.4 per 100k
- Minnesota : 8,231 filings, 143.4 per 100k
- Washington (this state) : 8,176 filings, 104.6 per 100k
- Nevada : 7,992 filings, 250.2 per 100k
- Colorado : 7,496 filings, 127.5 per 100k
- Utah : 6,657 filings, 194.8 per 100k
- Oregon : 6,601 filings, 155.9 per 100k
- Arkansas : 6,571 filings, 214.2 per 100k
- Oklahoma : 6,467 filings, 159.5 per 100k
Source: AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics (filings) · U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates →
Washington chapter composition, FY2024
Washington chapter mix FY2024
Per 100,000
104.6
#30 per capita · Below national median
Chapter 7
6,277
77% of total · Above national share
Chapter 13
1,814
22% of total · Below national share
Chapter 11
81
Business reorganization · Below national share
Business
302
Of total filings · Below national share
Peer states, per-capita filings near Washington
Rate per 100k population (decimal share) and total filings - Washington highlighted
Filing Trend by Year
Federal Districts in Washington
Economic Context
Source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics →
4.5%
Unemployment (2023)
104.6
Filings per 100k Pop.
Filing Rate Score
104.6
Filings per 100,000 population
#30
Per-capita rank among 51 jurisdictions
Washington has a mid-pack per-capita filing rate (#30 of 51) at 104.6 per 100k.
Falling multi-year filing trend
Washington's Chapter 7-heavy mix
In FY2024, Washington recorded 8,176 federal bankruptcy filings (104.6 per 100k, #30 of 51). Chapter 7 liquidations dominate at 77% (upper-third Chapter 7 share); Chapter 13 is 22% - a liquidation-leaning court culture relative to repayment-heavy peers.
Cases run across 2 federal judicial districts, with 302 business filings (including 81 Chapter 11). The 10-year AOUSC window shows filings declined 57.0%; unemployment is 4.5% (2023).
These figures describe aggregate court filings; they do not forecast any individual case outcome. Statistical information only - not legal advice; this page does not recommend whether to file.
Next reads from the Washington filing profile
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
What to do with this
Washington's own numbers, then where to compare them.
- Washington ranks #30 of 51 by FY2024 per-capita filing rate - see how every state stacks up. National rankings
- 77% of FY2024 filings here were Chapter 7 liquidations, not Chapter 13 repayment plans - the guide breaks down what separates the two. Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13
- Washington has 2 federal judicial districts - start with Eastern District of Washington. Eastern District of Washington profile
Figures are Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) Judicial Caseload Statistics FY2024 filings - see the methodology page for how states and chapters are defined.
Data sourced from Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) Judicial Caseload Statistics for Washington FY2024 (per-capita #30 of 51). See our methodology for details. Washington snapshot: 8,176 filings, 104.6/100k, Chapter 7 77% / Chapter 13 22%; retrieved September 2026 by PlainBankruptcy.