District Bankruptcy Benchmarks
Select your federal judicial district to see Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 outcome benchmarks. No personal data is collected.
Chapter 13 Outcomes
Ch. 13 Dismissal Rate vs. National Average (46.6%)
Chapter 7 Outcomes
Ch. 7 Dismissal Rate vs. National Average (2.1%)
Pro Se Filing Rate
Red Flag Thresholds for This District
How to Research Your Attorney
Now that you know your district's benchmarks, here is how to evaluate a specific attorney:
State bar lookup: Every state bar association maintains a free, public directory where you can verify an attorney's license status and check for disciplinary history. Search "[your state] bar association attorney lookup" to find it.
Understanding These Numbers
What is a dismissal rate?
The dismissal rate measures the percentage of filed cases that are terminated without the debtor receiving a discharge. A dismissed case means the debtor went through the process -- paying attorney fees and filing fees -- but did not get the debt relief they sought.
Why Chapter 13 dismissal rates are much higher
Chapter 13 requires debtors to make monthly plan payments for 3-5 years. Many cases are dismissed because debtors cannot sustain those payments. Nationally, about 46.6% of Chapter 13 cases with recorded dispositions are dismissed. This is a known structural challenge, not necessarily a sign of poor representation.
However, an attorney whose Chapter 13 dismissal rate is significantly higher than the district average may be filing cases that are unlikely to succeed, or may not be providing adequate support during the plan period.
Chapter 7 dismissals are rare -- and meaningful
Chapter 7 cases rarely get dismissed (national average: 2.1%). When they are, it is typically for failure to file required documents, failure to pay filing fees, or abuse of the bankruptcy system. An attorney with a high Chapter 7 dismissal rate relative to the district average is a serious red flag.
What the pro se rate tells you
The pro se (self-represented) filing rate indicates what percentage of bankruptcy filings in a district are made without an attorney. A high pro se rate can signal:
- Attorney desert: Affordable bankruptcy representation may be scarce in the area
- Fee concerns: Attorneys in the district may be charging fees that many debtors cannot afford
- Access to justice issues: Legal aid and pro bono resources may be limited
Pro se Chapter 13 cases have extremely high dismissal rates because the repayment plan process requires technical legal knowledge. If you are in a high pro se district, finding an affordable attorney is especially important.
Limitations of this data
Important: This tool shows district-level benchmarks, not individual attorney performance. An attorney's personal dismissal rate may differ substantially from the district average. These benchmarks give you a baseline for comparison -- not a verdict on any specific attorney.
Data is sourced from the Federal Judicial Center's Integrated Database, covering cases filed through 2024. Not all districts have equal coverage in our database. Districts with fewer than 50 tracked cases may show less reliable percentages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a normal Chapter 13 dismissal rate?
Nationally, about 46.6% of Chapter 13 cases with a recorded disposition are dismissed. However, this varies dramatically by district -- from under 20% to over 60%. A dismissal rate significantly above your district's average may indicate a quality concern.
What does a high pro se filing rate mean?
A high pro se (self-represented) filing rate in a district can indicate an "attorney desert" -- a region where affordable bankruptcy representation is scarce. In such districts, it becomes even more important to carefully evaluate any attorney you do find.
How can I check my bankruptcy attorney's dismissal rate?
You can search PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) for your attorney's name and review their case outcomes. Look at the ratio of dismissed cases to discharged cases. Compare that ratio to your district's average shown in this tool. For a detailed how-to, see our research guide.
What is the difference between dismissal and discharge?
A discharge is the successful outcome -- your eligible debts are eliminated. A dismissal means the case was terminated without completing the process. Common reasons include failure to make plan payments, failure to file required documents, or abuse of the bankruptcy system. You paid for legal help but did not get the relief you sought.