U.S. Bankruptcy Help

Understand Bankruptcy, Use Free Tools, and Explore Consumer-Debt Research

U.S. Bankruptcy Help is an attorney-led educational publisher. We help people evaluate bankruptcy, understand the filing process, find state-specific information, and explore original bankruptcy and consumer-debt data.

See How We Can HelpUse Free Bankruptcy ToolsExplore Research & Data

Written and reviewed by experienced bankruptcy attorneys. Educational information only; U.S. Bankruptcy Help is not a law firm.

Information you can evaluate

Attorney-written and reviewedClear editorial standardsTransparent fundingPublic court and Federal Reserve sources
Expert commentary featured byU.S. News & World ReportMoneyLionAOLYahoo FinanceMoneywiseMedia & press

Three ways to begin

How Can We Help?

You do not need to understand bankruptcy terminology before you start. Choose the description that is closest to what you are trying to do.

Private educational calculators and checkers

Free Bankruptcy Tools

Explore eligibility, chapter choice, property protection, repayment, and student-loan questions. The nine tools in this directory do not require your name, email address, or phone number.

Featured eligibility tool

Chapter 7 Means Test Calculator

How could income and allowed expenses affect Chapter 7 eligibility?

Use the Means Test Calculator
You provide
Household, income, and expense information
You receive
An educational means-test estimate
Privacy
No contact information required

Eligibility & Chapter Choice

Median Income CalculatorChapter 7 Means TestChapter 7 vs. Chapter 13

Property & Exemptions

Exemption Risk EstimatorExemption Law FinderHomestead EstimatorVehicle Estimator

Repayment & Student Loans

Chapter 13 Plan PaymentStudent Loan Discharge Checker
View All Free Tools

Looking for the separate questionnaire? The bankruptcy quiz can collect contact information if you request a response.

Original analysis and public data

Research & Data

Track bankruptcy filings, consumer credit, and delinquency using federal court and Federal Reserve sources, with reporting periods and methodology explained.

U.S. Courts · 12 months ending June 30, 2026

Total bankruptcy filings

608,511+12.2% year over year

Compared with 542,529 in the equivalent 2025 reporting period.

Five-year comparable trend

12-month periods ending June 30
Five-year total filings trendTotal filings rose in every comparable June reporting period from 2022 through 2026. The exact values are listed below.2022380,6342023418,7242024486,6132025542,5292026608,511
  • 2022380,634
  • 2023418,724
  • 2024486,613
  • 2025542,529
  • 2026608,511
Chapter 7382,161+14.7% year over year
Chapter 13215,490+7.6% year over year
Chapter 1110,320+22.7% year over year
Business filings26,941+16.9% year over year
View All Bankruptcy Filing Statistics

Original reports

Analysis Beyond the Data Tables

Explore attorney-informed reports about financial shocks, consumer decisions, and the pressures that can lead households toward bankruptcy.

The One-Shock Economy2026 Consumer Bankruptcy Action Report
View All ResearchFor Journalists

Guidance where you live

State Bankruptcy Guides

Explore 19 detailed state hubs with Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 information, exemptions, courts and trustees, income guidance, and local debt-pressure topics where available.

Browse All Detailed State Guides48-State Exemption Reference

Resource directory

Browse Bankruptcy Topics

Use these grouped guides to move from a broad question to the specific issue you need.

Chapter 7 & Eligibility

Chapter 7 overviewMeans test and eligibilityMedian income calculatorHow often can you file?

Chapter 13 & Repayment

Chapter 13 overviewPlan payment calculatorChapter 7 vs. Chapter 13Vehicle cramdown

Filing & Automatic Stay

Bankruptcy filing processWhat happens when you fileHow bankruptcy stops creditorsChapter timelines

Debt Collection & Garnishment

Wage garnishment overviewDoes bankruptcy stop garnishment?How fast can it stop?Bill-collector rights

Home, Car & Exemptions

Bankruptcy exemptionsCan you keep your house?Can you keep your car?Exemption risk estimator

Medical Debt & Student Loans

Medical bills in bankruptcyStudent loans in bankruptcyStudent loan discharge checkerCivil lawsuit debt

People and process

Attorney-Led, Transparently Published

U.S. Bankruptcy Help is an educational publisher, not a law firm. Resources are written, reviewed, and editorially supervised by experienced bankruptcy attorneys and legal professionals.

Our editorial policy explains how we source, review, and update information. Our funding disclosure explains how the site operates.

Meet Our TeamEditorial StandardsFunding & TransparencyMedia & Press
Casey YontzBankruptcy Attorney · Founder and Director

18+ years of legal experience

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Benjamin WrightBankruptcy Attorney · Attorney Writer

18+ years of legal experience

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Scott GreevesBankruptcy Attorney · Attorney Writer

30+ years of legal experience

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Explore Bankruptcy Help by State

Browse our state guides to learn exemptions, means test rules, costs, and local procedures. Use these links to jump between states and compare your options.