FY2017 Bankruptcy Filings
767,721 total filings nationwide (-3.4% from FY2016)
STEADY DIP CH7-LED CONSUMER
Statistical information only, not legal advice. This page does not recommend whether to file.
767,721
Total
100.0% of total
498,561
Chapter 7
64.9% of total
257,017
Chapter 13
33.5% of total
7,183
Chapter 11
0.9% of total
616
Chapter 12
0.1% of total
25,127
Business
3.3% of total
FY2017 chapter mix (64.9% Ch.7 / 33.5% Ch.13)
AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics, FY2017 · STEADY · DIP · CH7-LED. Shares use the same national total.
- Ch. 7 64.9%
- Ch. 13 33.5%
- Ch. 11 0.9%
- Business 3.3%
Top states by volume, FY2017
Highest 12 of 51 jurisdictions under the national STEADY · consumer-dominated filing year read. Full roster on All states.
| Rank | State | Total Filings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100,042 |
| 2 | Texas | 62,357 |
| 3 | Florida | 62,140 |
| 4 | Georgia | 55,080 |
| 5 | New York | 41,793 |
| 6 | Illinois | 34,550 |
| 7 | Tennessee | 34,550 |
| 8 | Ohio | 33,884 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 29,139 |
| 10 | Michigan | 27,557 |
| 11 | Alabama | 26,641 |
| 12 | North Carolina | 26,608 |
Consumer-dominated filing year
Business filings are only 3.3% of FY2017 (25,127 cases), lower-third business share; consumer dockets dominate.
What the FY2017 national data shows
Federal bankruptcy courts recorded 767,721 total filings across all chapters in FY2017, a decrease of 3.4% from the 794,492 cases filed in FY2016. Chapter 7 liquidation remained the dominant filing type at 64.9% of the national caseload (498,561 cases), followed by Chapter 13 wage-earner repayment plans at 33.5% (257,017 cases). Chapter 11 reorganizations accounted for 0.94% (7,183 cases), and Chapter 12 family-farmer/fisherman filings totaled 616.
FY2017 stamps DIP versus FY2016, with volume mark STEADY: the national docket contracted even while chapter mix stayed CH7-LED. Business filings are only 3.3% (25,127 cases), lower-third business share, so 742,594 consumer filings dominate. Geography still concentrates: California leads at 100,042; top-three share ≈ 29.2%.
FY2017 aggregate only, not legal advice
FY2017 figures (STEADY · CH7-LED · CONSUMER) describe aggregate court activity under the consumer-dominated filing year read; they are not an indicator of whether any individual should file. Chapter choice, means-test eligibility, exemptions, and outcomes depend on state of residence, income, assets, and district practice. Statistical information only, not legal advice.
Read with FY2017
Nearest national-volume peers and stamp poles for FY2017 (STEADY · DIP · CH7-LED · CONSUMER), replacing the fixed Related strip.
FY2019 · STEADY
ABS(total_filings) peer at 774,940 cases (Δ 7,219 vs FY2017); higher volume · CH7-LED mix vs this page's STEADY · CH7-LED.
FY2018 · STEADY
ABS(total_filings) peer at 779,828 cases (Δ 12,107 vs FY2017); higher volume · CH7-LED mix vs this page's STEADY · CH7-LED.
FY2016 · STEADY
ABS(total_filings) peer at 794,492 cases (Δ 26,771 vs FY2017); higher volume · CH7-LED mix vs this page's STEADY · CH7-LED.
FY2015 · PEAK
ABS(total_filings) peer at 844,495 cases (Δ 76,774 vs FY2017); higher volume · CH7-LED mix vs this page's STEADY · CH7-LED.
FY2020 (SLUMP pole)
Volume-stamp pole: FY2020 marks SLUMP while FY2017 marks STEADY · DIP · CONSUMER.
Means test guide
Source drill for FY2017 (STEADY · CH7-LED · CONSUMER): read the matching AOUSC-context guide after the volume peers.
California (volume lead)
California led FY2017 volume at 100,042 filings under the national STEADY stamp.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.