Total Filings
8,421
#27 nationally
FY2024 AOUSC data #38 per capita 2 judicial districts
Wisconsin Bankruptcy Filings
8,421 federal filings in FY2024 across 2 districts of Wisconsin, 5.91 million residents. Chapter 7, 11, 12, 13 breakdown sourced from AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics.
Wisconsin chapter mix FY2024
Per 100,000
142.5
#38 per capita
Chapter 7
5,069
60% of total
Chapter 13
3,202
38% of total
Chapter 11
139
Business reorganization
Business
420
Of total filings
Filing Composition by Chapter
Chapter 7 (liquidation) 60.2%
5,069 cases
Chapter 13 (wage-earner plan) 38.0%
3,202 cases
Chapter 11 (business reorganization) 1.7%
139 cases
Peer states — per-capita filings near Wisconsin
Rate per 100k population (decimal share) and total filings — Wisconsin highlighted
WA
Washington
14.62% top marginal rate
WI
Wisconsin
14.25% top marginal rate
VT
Vermont
14.22% top marginal rate
PA
Pennsylvania
14.21% top marginal rate
Filing Trend by Year
Federal Districts in Wisconsin
Economic Context
Source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics →
3.1%
Unemployment (2023)
142.5
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
142.5
Filings per 100,000 population
#38
Per-capita rank among 51 jurisdictions
Wisconsin has a relatively low per-capita bankruptcy filing rate, ranking 38 out of 51 jurisdictions.
What the Wisconsin Data Shows
In FY2024, Wisconsin recorded 8,421 federal bankruptcy filings across a population of roughly 5.91 million, producing a per-capita rate of 142.5 filings per 100,000 residents. That rate places Wisconsin at #38 among the 51 reporting jurisdictions (lower-middle nationally), while its raw filing volume ranks #27. Chapter 7 liquidations account for 60% of the state's caseload and Chapter 13 repayment plans for 38%, 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 2 federal judicial districts in Wisconsin, with business filings totaling 420 in FY2024 (including 139 Chapter 11 reorganizations). The 10-year trend available from AOUSC covers FY2015–FY2024, during which total Wisconsin filings declined 42.5%. Unemployment in this state is 3.1% (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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin in FY2024?
Wisconsin had 8,421 total bankruptcy filings in FY2024, ranking #27 nationally by total volume. Of these, 5,069 were Chapter 7 liquidation cases and 3,202 were Chapter 13 repayment plan cases.
What is the per-capita bankruptcy filing rate in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin had 142.5 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 population in FY2024, ranking #38 among all 51 U.S. jurisdictions. Per-capita rates account for population size and give a more accurate picture of financial distress than raw totals.
Which bankruptcy chapter is most common in Wisconsin?
Chapter 7 (liquidation) accounted for 60% of all Wisconsin bankruptcy filings in FY2024. Chapter 13 (wage earner repayment plans) made up 38%. The Chapter 7/13 split varies by state based on income levels, exemption laws, and homeownership rates.
How many federal judicial districts are in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has 2 federal judicial districts: Eastern District of Wisconsin, Western District of Wisconsin. 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 Wisconsin relate to bankruptcy filings?
Wisconsin's unemployment rate was 3.1% 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.
Bankruptcy Guides
Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13
What the data shows about which path filers choose.
The Means Test
How income determines Chapter 7 eligibility.
State Exemptions
What assets you can protect in bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy Timeline
From filing to discharge, step by step.
Business Bankruptcy
Chapter 11 restructuring trends and patterns.
Related Financial Data
PlainAttorney
Attorney discipline records and state bar actions — find qualified bankruptcy attorneys.
PlainCredit
Consumer credit scores and debt levels by state — context for bankruptcy rates.
PlainLender
Mortgage lending data and origination stats — housing debt drives many filings.
PlainTaxData
Federal tax statistics by state — tax debt is a common bankruptcy trigger.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBankruptcy Editorial
