Understanding the 94 Districts
The United States is divided into 94 federal judicial districts, each with its own bankruptcy court. These districts are grouped into 12 regional circuits (plus the Federal Circuit, which does not handle bankruptcy). Every bankruptcy case is filed in the district where the debtor lives.
Federal court data shows that Chapter 13 dismissal rates vary dramatically across these 94 districts -- from under 25% in some districts to over 55% in others. Even districts within the same state can differ by 15 or more percentage points.
The data below reflects approximate dismissal rate ranges derived from federal bankruptcy court records. These are ranges, not exact point estimates, because rates fluctuate year to year. The purpose is to show the overall pattern and help you understand where your district falls relative to others.
How to find your district: If you are unsure which federal judicial district you are in, visit the U.S. Courts court finder and enter your zip code. The result will tell you which district and circuit you belong to.
Key Insight: Within-State Variation
One of the most important findings from federal court data is that districts within the same state can have very different outcomes. This means state-level averages can be misleading. Your specific district is what matters.
Factors that cause within-state variation include:
- Different standing trustees with different practices
- Different bankruptcy judges with different approaches to plan confirmation and dismissal
- Different local rules governing deadlines, payment methods, and plan requirements
- Different attorney pools -- some districts have more experienced consumer practitioners
- Different economic conditions -- urban vs. rural, different industries, different cost of living
All 94 Districts by Circuit
Reading the table: "Low" means approximately 25-35% dismissal rate. "Moderate" means approximately 35-45%. "High" means approximately 45-55%+. These are approximate ranges from federal court records and vary by time period.
First Circuit
| District | State | Range |
|---|---|---|
| D. Maine | ME | Low |
| D. Massachusetts | MA | Low |
| D. New Hampshire | NH | Low |
| D. Rhode Island | RI | Low |
| D. Puerto Rico | PR | Moderate |
Second Circuit
| District | State | Range |
|---|---|---|
| D. Connecticut | CT | Low |
| N.D. New York | NY | Low |
| E.D. New York | NY | Moderate |
| S.D. New York | NY | Low |
| W.D. New York | NY | Low |
| D. Vermont | VT | Low |
Third Circuit
| District | State | Range |
|---|---|---|
| D. Delaware | DE | Moderate |
| D. New Jersey | NJ | Moderate |
| E.D. Pennsylvania | PA | Moderate |
| M.D. Pennsylvania | PA | Low |
| W.D. Pennsylvania | PA | Low |
| D. Virgin Islands | VI | Moderate |
Fourth Circuit
| District | State | Range |
|---|---|---|
| D. Maryland | MD | Moderate |
| E.D. North Carolina | NC | Moderate |
| M.D. North Carolina | NC | Moderate |
| W.D. North Carolina | NC | Moderate |
| D. South Carolina | SC | High |
| E.D. Virginia | VA | Moderate |
| W.D. Virginia | VA | Moderate |
| N.D. West Virginia | WV | Moderate |
| S.D. West Virginia | WV | Moderate |
Fifth Circuit
| District | State | Range |
|---|---|---|
| E.D. Louisiana | LA | High |
| M.D. Louisiana | LA | High |
| W.D. Louisiana | LA | High |
| N.D. Mississippi | MS | High |
| S.D. Mississippi | MS | High |
| E.D. Texas | TX | Moderate |
| N.D. Texas | TX | Moderate |
| S.D. Texas | TX | High |
| W.D. Texas | TX | Moderate |
Sixth Circuit
| District | State | Range |
|---|---|---|
| E.D. Kentucky | KY | Moderate |
| W.D. Kentucky | KY | Moderate |
| E.D. Michigan | MI | Moderate |
| W.D. Michigan | MI | Low |
| N.D. Ohio | OH | Moderate |
| S.D. Ohio | OH | Moderate |
| E.D. Tennessee | TN | High |
| M.D. Tennessee | TN | High |
| W.D. Tennessee | TN | High |
Seventh Circuit
| District | State | Range |
|---|---|---|
| C.D. Illinois | IL | Moderate |
| N.D. Illinois | IL | High |
| S.D. Illinois | IL | Moderate |
| N.D. Indiana | IN | Moderate |
| S.D. Indiana | IN | Moderate |
| E.D. Wisconsin | WI | Low |
| W.D. Wisconsin | WI | Low |
Eighth Circuit
| District | State | Range |
|---|---|---|
| E.D. Arkansas | AR | Moderate |
| W.D. Arkansas | AR | Moderate |
| N.D. Iowa | IA | Low |
| S.D. Iowa | IA | Low |
| D. Minnesota | MN | Low |
| E.D. Missouri | MO | Moderate |
| W.D. Missouri | MO | Moderate |
| D. Nebraska | NE | Low |
| D. North Dakota | ND | Low |
| D. South Dakota | SD | Low |
Ninth Circuit
| District | State | Range |
|---|---|---|
| D. Alaska | AK | Low |
| D. Arizona | AZ | Moderate |
| C.D. California | CA | Moderate |
| E.D. California | CA | Moderate |
| N.D. California | CA | Low |
| S.D. California | CA | Low |
| D. Guam | GU | Moderate |
| D. Hawaii | HI | Low |
| D. Idaho | ID | Low |
| D. Montana | MT | Low |
| D. Nevada | NV | Moderate |
| D. Northern Mariana Islands | MP | Moderate |
| D. Oregon | OR | Low |
| E.D. Washington | WA | Low |
| W.D. Washington | WA | Low |
Tenth Circuit
| District | State | Range |
|---|---|---|
| D. Colorado | CO | Low |
| D. Kansas | KS | Moderate |
| D. New Mexico | NM | Moderate |
| E.D. Oklahoma | OK | Moderate |
| N.D. Oklahoma | OK | Moderate |
| W.D. Oklahoma | OK | Moderate |
| D. Utah | UT | Low |
| D. Wyoming | WY | Low |
Eleventh Circuit
| District | State | Range |
|---|---|---|
| M.D. Alabama | AL | High |
| N.D. Alabama | AL | High |
| S.D. Alabama | AL | High |
| M.D. Florida | FL | Moderate |
| N.D. Florida | FL | High |
| S.D. Florida | FL | Moderate |
| M.D. Georgia | GA | High |
| N.D. Georgia | GA | Moderate |
| S.D. Georgia | GA | High |
D.C. Circuit
| District | State | Range |
|---|---|---|
| D. District of Columbia | DC | Moderate |
Data Methodology
The dismissal rate classifications above are derived from federal bankruptcy court records maintained by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and the Federal Judicial Center (FJC). The FJC Integrated Database contains records for millions of federal bankruptcy cases filed across all 94 districts.
We classify districts into approximate ranges rather than providing exact percentages because:
- Rates fluctuate year to year based on economic conditions and local changes
- Different study periods produce slightly different results
- The definition of "dismissal" can vary (some studies include conversions, others do not)
- Cases filed in one year may not be resolved for 3-5 years, creating lag
For detailed district-level analysis, visit the 1328f.org districts page, which provides interactive data from this database.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many federal bankruptcy districts are there?
There are 94 federal judicial districts in the United States, including districts in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Each district has its own bankruptcy court with one or more bankruptcy judges.
How do I find which district I'm in?
Your bankruptcy district is based on where you live. Visit the U.S. Courts court finder and enter your zip code. States with one district (like Kansas or Colorado) have all residents in the same district. States like California and Texas are divided into multiple districts by geographic region.
Can I file in a different district to get better odds?
No. Bankruptcy venue rules under 28 U.S.C. Section 1408 require you to file in the district where you have lived for the greater part of the prior 180 days. Filing in the wrong venue can result in dismissal or transfer of your case. The rules exist to prevent "forum shopping" -- choosing a court for strategic advantage rather than geographic appropriateness.
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Related Resources
howtofilebankruptcy.org -- Filing guide with district-specific considerations
1328f.org -- Research platform with interactive district data
1328f.com -- Free bankruptcy discharge screener
Last updated: March 2026. Data sourced from federal bankruptcy court records (FJC Integrated Database).