U.S. Bankruptcy Courts — Judicial Business 2024

Nonbusiness petitions (i.e., those filed primarily by individuals with mainly consumer debt), which accounted for approximately 95 percent of all petitions, rose 16 percent to 481,350. Business petitions, which amounted to 5 percent of all petitions, climbed 33 percent to 22,762. Increases in 2023 and 2024 occurred after a downturn in filings that began with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, although filings this year did not reach pre-pandemic levels.  

Petitions may be filed under chapters 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 15 of the Bankruptcy Code. Most nonbusiness petitions were filed under chapter 7 or under chapter 13. Most business petitions were filed under chapter 7 or under chapter 11.

Filings under chapter 7 rose 20 percent to 298,644 and constituted 59 percent of all cases filed. Nonbusiness chapter 7 filings accounted for 96 percent of all chapter 7 cases filed and amounted to 60 percent of all nonbusiness filings. Business chapter 7 petitions went up 28 percent and constituted 53 percent of all business cases filed, compared with 55 percent in 2023.

Cases filed under chapter 13 increased 10 percent to 195,971. These petitions accounted for 39 percent of all filings. Nonbusiness chapter 13 petitions grew 10 percent, rising to 194,402 and amounting to 40 percent of all nonbusiness petitions. Business chapter 13 petitions rose 28 percent and represented 7 percent of all business cases filed, the same as in 2023.

Chapter 11 filings jumped 39 percent to 9,012. Chapter 11 cases, which typically require significantly more court resources than do cases filed under chapter 7 or chapter 13, accounted for 2 percent of all filings. Business petitions filed under chapter 11 increased 41 percent to 8,608 and amounted to 38 percent of all business cases filed, 2 percent more than 2023.

Filings under chapters 9 and 12 of the Bankruptcy Code collectively accounted for less than 1 percent of all petitions filed. Filings under chapter 15 also accounted for less than 1 percent of all petitions filed.

Bankruptcy filings increased in all circuits. The District of Columbia Circuit had the largest percentage increase over last year as filings there jumped 26 percent. The Ninth Circuit had the largest numeric growth, a rise of 17,029 cases (up 26 percent from last year). 

The federal Judiciary has 90 bankruptcy courts, one in each judicial district except for the Districts of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (where bankruptcy cases are heard by a district court judge or a visiting bankruptcy judge), and except for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas (which share a bankruptcy court). This year, 87 of the 90 bankruptcy courts reported higher filings than the previous year. 

The number of bankruptcy cases terminated rose 8 percent to 494,468. Pending cases grew 1 percent to 664,827.

For data on activity in the U.S. bankruptcy courts, see the F series of tables.

Adversary Proceedings

Adversary proceedings are separate civil lawsuits that arise in bankruptcy cases, including actions to object to or revoke discharges, to obtain injunctions or other equitable relief, and to determine the dischargeability of a debt. Adversary proceedings may be associated with consumer bankruptcy cases, but most arise in cases filed under chapter 11. Because of time limits imposed by Section 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, the number of adversary proceedings filed usually is related to the number of chapter 11 cases filed two years earlier.

In 2024, filings of adversary proceedings increased 32 percent to 16,537. This was 24 percent below the total for 2020. Of the 90 bankruptcy courts, filings of adversary proceedings increased in 54 courts, declined in 33 courts, and remained the same in 3 courts. Twelve districts had reductions of 20 percent or more (compared with 18 districts in 2023). The largest numeric decrease was a drop of 449 filings (down 57 percent to 335) in the District of Delaware. Thirty-seven districts registered gains of 20 percent or more (compared with 24 districts in 2023). The Southern District of New York reported the largest numeric growth, an increase of 2,836 filings (up 955 percent), with many of these cases involving Celsius Network, LLC.

Terminations of adversary proceedings went up 8 percent to 13,876. Pending adversary proceedings grew 15 percent to 21,051.

Data on adversary proceedings in the bankruptcy courts can be found in Table F-8.