Karen Redmond, 202-502-2600

August 16, 2007 — Bankruptcy filings in the federal courts continued a slow upward creep. In the 12-month period ending June 30, 2007, there were 751,056 bankruptcy cases filed, according to statistics released today by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. This total is a 49.4 percent drop when compared to filings for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2006 when cases totaled 1,484,570. But June's 12-month total is greater than the 12-month totals for March 2007 (695,575 cases) and December 2006 (617,660).

Bankruptcy filings were strongly impacted by the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005. The June 2006 filing totals included the surge of filings that occurred in October 2005 when many of the bill's provisions were implemented. June 2007 totals reflect bankruptcy filings post-BAPCPA.

Additional statistics released today include business and non-business filings for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2007 (Table F-2, 12-month); a comparison of June 2006 and 2007 filings (Table F), 3rd quarter filings (Table F-2, 3-month); monthly filings for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2007 (Table F-2, Monthly); and filings per capita.

Business and Non-Business Filings

Non-business filings for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2007 totaled 727,167, down 50 percent from the 1,453,008 non-business filings for June 30, 2006. Business filings totaled 23,889, down 24 percent from the 31,562 reported in June 30, 2006.

Filings by Chapter, 12-month Period
Ending June 30

Of the total number of bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending June 30, 2007, there were 450,332 Chapter 7 filings, down 61 percent from the 1,164,815 Chapter 7 filings in June 2006. Chapter 13 filings, the next largest group of filings, totaled 294,693, down 6 percent from the 313,085 Chapter 13 filings reported for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2006. Chapter 11 filings also fell in this 12-month period, dropping to 5,586 or 10 percent from the 6,224 Chapter 11 filings of June 30, 2006. Only Chapter 12 filings increased. Chapter 12 bankruptcy filings totaled 386, up 7 percent from the 360 Chapter 12 bankruptcies filed as of June 30, 2006.

The Judiciary's Third Quarter Filings

Third quarter filings, the 3-month period ended June 30, 2007, totaled 210,449, up 35 percent from the 155,833 cases filed in the Judiciary's fiscal year 2006 third quarter. So far, filings for the June quarter are the highest of any quarter in fiscal year 2007 (October 1, 2006 - September 30, 2007). First quarter filings totaled 177,599 and second quarter filings totaled 193,641.

For more on bankruptcy and its chapters, visit the Judiciary's web site or go to www.fjc.gov/federal/courts.nsf. Local bankruptcy court rules and historic data on bankruptcy filings are also available. Additional bankruptcy statistics, including bankruptcies by county, can be found on the Judiciary's PACER system.

Quarterly Filings*

* Because of ongoing corrections to the bankruptcy database, the quarterly data may not total to the most recent annual figures.