Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Filings (YoY % Change)
Year-over-year change in 12-month Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings
Where the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Filings (YoY % Change) stands now
The Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Filings (YoY % Change) was 7.9% in the third quarter of 2026, down from the 32.5% peak in the first quarter of 2023.
What it means for households: Bankruptcy Statistics Behind on payments? Bankruptcy: What to Know
How the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Filings (YoY % Change) has moved since 2018
Chapter 13 filings, 12 months through Q3 2026: 7.9% higher than a year earlier
Change in rolling 12-month Chapter 13 filings, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts: 7.9% in the third quarter of 2026. Quarterly, 2018–2026.
What the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Filings (YoY % Change) measures
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Filings (YoY % Change) by quarter, 2018 to 2026
| Quarter | Rate (%) | Change from a year earlier (percentage points) |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | 7.9 | — |
| Q2 2026 | 7.6 | — |
| Q1 2026 | 6.3 | — |
| Q4 2025 | 5.4 | — |
| Q3 2025 | 3.6 | — |
| Q2 2025 | 4.1 | — |
| Q1 2025 | 6.2 | — |
| Q4 2024 | 7.2 | — |
| Q3 2024 | 10.0 | — |
| Q2 2024 | 11.0 | — |
| Q1 2024 | 12.7 | −19.8 |
| Q4 2023 | 17.1 | −13.8 |
| Q3 2023 | 19.5 | −7.1 |
| Q2 2023 | 27.3 | +12.7 |
| Q1 2023 | 32.5 | +27.4 |
| Q4 2022 | 30.9 | +54.2 |
| Q3 2022 | 26.6 | +66.0 |
| Q2 2022 | 14.6 | +64.5 |
| Q1 2022 | 5.1 | +62.6 |
| Q4 2021 | −23.3 | +22.2 |
| Q3 2021 | −39.4 | −6.5 |
| Q2 2021 | −49.9 | −31.5 |
| Q1 2021 | −57.5 | −54.1 |
| Q4 2020 | −45.5 | −44.4 |
| Q3 2020 | −32.9 | −33.3 |
| Q2 2020 | −18.4 | −19.0 |
| Q1 2020 | −3.4 | −3.5 |
| Q4 2019 | −1.1 | +0.4 |
| Q3 2019 | 0.4 | +3.1 |
| Q2 2019 | 0.6 | +4.2 |
| Q1 2019 | 0.1 | — |
| Q4 2018 | −1.5 | — |
| Q3 2018 | −2.7 | — |
| Q2 2018 | −3.6 | — |
Quarterly · Computed from Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Table F-2
Counties with the highest default and legal scores
There's no county figure for this measure, so this list uses the default and legal part of our County Distress Index.
| Rank | County | Score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coahoma County, MS | 99 |
| 2 | Clayton County, GA | 98.8 |
| 3 | Petersburg city, VA | 98.8 |
| 4 | Russell County, AL | 98.2 |
| 5 | Dougherty County, GA | 98.2 |
| 6 | Dallas County, AL | 98.1 |
| 7 | Bibb County, GA | 97.8 |
| 8 | Lauderdale County, TN | 97.1 |
| 9 | Crittenden County, AR | 96.9 |
| 10 | Montgomery County, AL | 96.9 |
Questions about Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings
How much have Chapter 13 filings changed?
For the 12 months through the third quarter of 2026, Chapter 13 filings were 7.9% higher than a year earlier. We compute the change from the Courts' Table F-2 counts; it covers a full 12 months, not a single quarter.
What is Chapter 13 bankruptcy?
Chapter 13 lets an individual with regular income propose a plan to repay debts over time, usually three to five years, under court supervision. A filing starts a case. It does not mean a plan was confirmed or completed, and the court can dismiss the case or convert it to Chapter 7.
Does the Chapter 13 figure count people?
No. It counts court cases. A married couple can file one joint petition, and business cases are included. The figure is also national: district changes differ, and Table F-2 reports districts separately.
Where does this data come from?
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts publishes Table F-2 each quarter with 12-month filing counts by chapter and district. It prints the Chapter 13 counts but not their percent change; American Default computes that from two tables. There is no fixed release calendar.
Sources and method for the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Filings (YoY % Change)
- Computed from Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Table F-2 We use the quarterly figures as published, from the second quarter of 2018 through the third quarter of 2026, with no adjustment of our own. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts’s report
We write with assistance from AI tools. Figures come from the data and sources named on this page.