Although most of bankruptcy is governed by federal law, some aspects of bankruptcy are controlled by state law. For example, all states have a set of exemptions that determine, in part, what property you get to keep in Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
In addition, some state-specific income and expense figures play a prominent role in crucial aspects of bankruptcy, including whether you qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy (that is, can you pass the infamous "means test"?) and determining how long your Chapter 13 plan will last.
To learn about filing for bankruptcy in your state, select your state from the list below.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
D.C.
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
To learn about filing for bankruptcy in your state, select your state from the list below.
Learn about the differences between Chapters 7 and 13, the debts you can eliminate or "discharge," the property you can keep using California bankruptcy exemption laws, bankruptcy qualification requirements, and more.
Illinois bankruptcy exemptions allow you to keep the property necessary for maintaining a home and a job. Prevent unexpected property losses by understanding how to apply exemptions.
Texas bankruptcy exemptions enable you to retain property essential for maintaining a home and employment, but not all assets are safeguarded. Avoid unexpected property losses by learning how to apply these exemptions.
In this comprehensive guide to filing for bankruptcy, you’ll learn about Chapters 7 and 13, the debts you can discharge, the property you can retain under Florida’s exemption laws, and more.
In this comprehensive guide to filing for bankruptcy in Colorado, you’ll learn about the differences between Chapters 7 and 13, the debts you can discharge, the property you can keep under Colorado’s exemption laws, and more.
Nevada's bankruptcy exemptions protect property from creditors. Learn how motor vehicle, homestead, and other exemptions preserve equity in assets like your home, car, and more.
Sidestep the lawyers with do-it-yourself books, documents, and software.
Nolo offers hundreds of consumer-friendly, do-it-yourself legal products for all types of legal situations. Browse our full product list.
Click below to view more legal issues. Our extensive collection of legal topics ranges across different areas of practice.
Our editors have over 100 years of combined experience practicing law. These professionals have worked in a wide range of legal areas, from estate planning to criminal law to business formation and beyond. They’re experts at explaining complicated legal issues in easy-to-understand terms.
Learn more about the team that manages Nolo’s articles, books, and DIY tools.
Find an experienced, local attorney in three easy steps. Our process is designed for ease and simplicity.
Briefly tell us about your case, and provide your contact information.
We find and instantly list attorneys that can best handle your case.
Choose the attorneys you would like to work with.
At Nolo, we prioritize quality and transparency because we know how important reliable legal information is to our readers. Our information is meticulously researched, regularly updated, and written in plain English by our experienced writers and editors. Learn more about our editorial standards.
Grow your firm with Martindale-Nolo, the largest legal network, and learn more about our attorney lead-generation and marketing services.
At Nolo, we prioritize quality and transparency because we know how important reliable legal information is to our readers. Our information is meticulously researched, regularly updated, and written in plain English by our experienced writers and editors. Learn more about our editorial standards.