Bankruptcy Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 Filing Ratio
Ratio of Chapter 7 liquidation to Chapter 13 repayment-plan filings
Where the Bankruptcy Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 Filing Ratio stands now
The Bankruptcy Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 Filing Ratio was 1.8 times in the third quarter of 2026, down from the 2.9 times peak in the first quarter of 2021. It has been higher than a year earlier for 11 quarters in a row.
What it means for households: Bankruptcy Statistics Behind on payments? Bankruptcy: What to Know
How the Bankruptcy Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 Filing Ratio has moved since 2017
Bankruptcy Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 Filing Ratio: up since 2023
Chapter 7 cases per Chapter 13 case, rolling 12-month totals, quarterly: 1.8 times in the third quarter of 2026, up from 1.7 times a year earlier. Quarterly, 2017–2026.
What the Bankruptcy Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 Filing Ratio measures
Bankruptcy Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 Filing Ratio by quarter, 2017 to 2026
| Quarter | Ratio | Change from a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | 1.79x | +0.09x |
| Q2 2026 | 1.77x | +0.11x |
| Q1 2026 | 1.75x | +0.14x |
| Q4 2025 | 1.72x | +0.15x |
| Q3 2025 | 1.7x | +0.18x |
| Q2 2025 | 1.66x | +0.18x |
| Q1 2025 | 1.61x | +0.16x |
| Q4 2024 | 1.57x | +0.15x |
| Q3 2024 | 1.52x | +0.12x |
| Q2 2024 | 1.48x | +0.1x |
| Q1 2024 | 1.45x | +0.06x |
| Q4 2023 | 1.42x | −0.02x |
| Q3 2023 | 1.4x | −0.14x |
| Q2 2023 | 1.38x | −0.38x |
| Q1 2023 | 1.39x | −0.72x |
| Q4 2022 | 1.44x | −0.96x |
| Q3 2022 | 1.54x | −1.1x |
| Q2 2022 | 1.76x | −1.07x |
| Q1 2022 | 2.11x | −0.78x |
| Q4 2021 | 2.4x | −0.02x |
| Q3 2021 | 2.64x | +0.54x |
| Q2 2021 | 2.83x | +0.99x |
| Q1 2021 | 2.89x | +1.2x |
| Q4 2020 | 2.42x | +0.75x |
| Q3 2020 | 2.1x | +0.45x |
| Q2 2020 | 1.84x | +0.2x |
| Q1 2020 | 1.69x | +0.06x |
| Q4 2019 | 1.67x | +0.03x |
| Q3 2019 | 1.65x | 0x |
| Q2 2019 | 1.64x | −0.02x |
| Q1 2019 | 1.63x | −0.03x |
| Q4 2018 | 1.64x | −0.01x |
| Q3 2018 | 1.65x | +0.01x |
| Q2 2018 | 1.66x | +0.03x |
| Q1 2018 | 1.66x | — |
| Q4 2017 | 1.65x | — |
| Q3 2017 | 1.64x | — |
| Q2 2017 | 1.63x | — |
Quarterly · 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 | Chambers County, AL | 99.9 |
| 2 | Shelby County, TN | 99.8 |
| 3 | Houston County, AL | 99.7 |
| 4 | Tift County, GA | 99.6 |
| 5 | Montgomery County, AL | 99.5 |
| 6 | Panola County, MS | 99.5 |
| 7 | Dale County, AL | 99.5 |
| 8 | Union Parish, LA | 99.4 |
| 9 | Morehouse Parish, LA | 99.3 |
| 10 | Letcher County, KY | 99.3 |
Questions about the Bankruptcy Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 Filing Ratio
What is the Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 bankruptcy ratio?
It is the number of Chapter 7 cases filed over 12 months divided by the number of Chapter 13 cases filed over the same 12 months. For the 12 months through the third quarter of 2026 it was 1.79 times, up from 1.7 times a year earlier, in the third quarter of 2025.
What is the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy?
Chapter 7 is liquidation: a trustee can sell property the law does not protect, and eligible debts can be discharged. Individuals and businesses can file under it. Chapter 13 is for individuals with regular income, who repay debts under a court-supervised plan. Who can use each chapter depends on facts Table F-2 does not contain.
Does a change in the ratio show why people chose a chapter?
No. A change in the ratio shows that the mix of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases changed. It does not show filers' income, debts, assets or reasons. The Courts count cases, not people, and state no cause for the mix. The ratio is descriptive, not a prediction.
Where does the Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 data come from?
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts publishes Table F-2 each quarter, with 12-month case counts by chapter for periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31. American Default divides the Chapter 7 total by the Chapter 13 total. The Courts do not publish the ratio themselves.
Sources and method for the Bankruptcy Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 Filing Ratio
- Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-2 We use the quarterly figures as published, from the second quarter of 2017 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.