FY2018 Bankruptcy Filings
766,195 total filings nationwide (-2.0% from FY2017)
STEADY DIP CH7-LED CONSUMER
Statistical information only, not legal advice. This page does not recommend whether to file.
766,195
Total
100.0% of total
474,037
Chapter 7
61.9% of total
284,703
Chapter 13
37.2% of total
6,902
Chapter 11
0.9% of total
458
Chapter 12
0.1% of total
21,907
Business
2.9% of total
FY2018 chapter mix (61.9% Ch.7 / 37.2% Ch.13)
AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics, FY2018 · STEADY · DIP · CH7-LED. Shares use the same national total.
- Ch. 7 61.9%
- Ch. 13 37.2%
- Ch. 11 0.9%
- Business 2.9%
Top states by volume, FY2018
Highest 12 of 51 jurisdictions under the national STEADY · consumer-dominated filing year read. Full roster on All states.
Consumer-dominated filing year
Business filings are only 2.9% of FY2018 (21,907 cases), lower-third business share; consumer dockets dominate.
What the FY2018 national data shows
Federal bankruptcy courts recorded 766,195 total filings across all chapters in FY2018, a decrease of 2.0% from the 781,643 cases filed in FY2017. Chapter 7 liquidation remained the dominant filing type at 61.9% of the national caseload (474,037 cases), followed by Chapter 13 wage-earner repayment plans at 37.2% (284,703 cases). Chapter 11 reorganizations accounted for 0.90% (6,902 cases), and Chapter 12 family-farmer/fisherman filings totaled 458.
FY2018 stamps DIP versus FY2017, with volume mark STEADY: the national docket contracted even while chapter mix stayed CH7-LED. Business filings are only 2.9% (21,907 cases), lower-third business share, so 744,288 consumer filings dominate. Geography still concentrates: California leads at 68,860; top-three share ≈ 21.3%.
FY2018 aggregate only, not legal advice
FY2018 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 FY2018
Nearest national-volume peers and stamp poles for FY2018 (STEADY · DIP · CH7-LED · CONSUMER), replacing the fixed Related strip.
FY2019 · STEADY
ABS(total_filings) peer at 768,740 cases (Δ 2,545 vs FY2018); higher volume · CH7-LED mix vs this page's STEADY · CH7-LED.
FY2017 · STEADY
ABS(total_filings) peer at 781,643 cases (Δ 15,448 vs FY2018); higher volume · CH7-LED mix vs this page's STEADY · CH7-LED.
FY2016 · STEADY
ABS(total_filings) peer at 794,424 cases (Δ 28,229 vs FY2018); higher volume · CH7-LED mix vs this page's STEADY · CH7-LED.
FY2015 · PEAK
ABS(total_filings) peer at 849,490 cases (Δ 83,295 vs FY2018); higher volume · CH7-LED mix vs this page's STEADY · CH7-LED.
FY2020 (SLUMP pole)
Volume-stamp pole: FY2020 marks SLUMP while FY2018 marks STEADY · DIP · CONSUMER.
Means test guide
Source drill for FY2018 (STEADY · CH7-LED · CONSUMER): read the matching AOUSC-context guide after the volume peers.
California (volume lead)
California led FY2018 volume at 68,860 filings under the national STEADY stamp.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.