Where to file bankruptcy in California

Where to file in California, what it costs and what comes next.

Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.

Short answer

You file in the federal bankruptcy district where you lived (your domicile) for most of the 180 days before filing.

Federal bankruptcy courts: 4
Courts: Central District, Eastern District, Northern District and Southern District

Which court you file in, in California

You file in the federal bankruptcy district where you lived (your domicile) for most of the 180 days before filing. California has four districts, split by county. Find yours: Central (ZIP/city search) https://www.cacb.uscourts.gov/all-locations-map, Eastern https://www.caeb.uscourts.gov/Locations, Northern (county map) https://www.canb.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations, Southern = San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Law: 28 U.S.C. 1408

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California

Divisions: Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Ana, San Fernando Valley, Northern (San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties and part of Ventura County)

Clerk's phone: (855) 460-9641

Court's self-help page

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California

Divisions: Sacramento, Fresno, Modesto (Modesto office closed; Modesto Division mail goes to Sacramento)

Clerk's phone: (916) 930-4400 (Sacramento); (559) 499-5800 (Fresno)

Court's self-help page

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California

Divisions: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Santa Rosa

Clerk's phone: (888) 821-7606

Court's self-help page

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California

Divisions: San Diego (serves San Diego and Imperial Counties)

Clerk's phone: (619) 557-5620

Court's self-help page

In nearby states

Nevada: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada
Utah: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Utah
Oregon: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon

Your next steps in California

Find your district
The court is set by where you lived for most of the past 180 days.
Visit the court's website
Local forms and rules are on Central District, Eastern District, Northern District and Southern District.
Take credit counseling
Use an approved agency. U.S. Trustee list of approved credit counseling agencies.
Get the forms ready
The forms are free: official bankruptcy forms.
Ask for free help
Ask for free help: Public Counsel (Los Angeles area; linked by the Central District court) and Bay Area Legal Aid (linked by the Northern District court).

Where to get free help in California

Questions about filing in California

How do I find my bankruptcy court in California?

What income passes the means test in California?

For cases filed on or after April 1, 2026: 1 person: $79,253; 2 people: $102,797; 3 people: $116,541; 4 people: $139,071; Each extra person: +$11,100.

Is there free bankruptcy help in California?

Public Counsel (Los Angeles area; linked by the Central District court), Bay Area Legal Aid (linked by the Northern District court) and University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law - Bankruptcy Pro Se Clinic (Eastern District).

Keep reading about California

Court fees

Chapter 7 filing fee. To file Chapter 7 you pay $338 to the court: a $245 filing fee, a $78 administrative fee and a $15 trustee fee. A married couple filing one joint case pays one set of fees.

Law: 28 U.S.C. 1930(a)(1)(A); Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, items 8 and 9 (effective December 1, 2023)

Chapter 13 filing fee. To file Chapter 13 you pay $313 to the court: a $235 filing fee and a $78 administrative fee.

Law: 28 U.S.C. 1930(a)(1)(B); Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, item 8 (effective December 1, 2023)

Paying in installments. If you cannot pay the whole fee at once, you can ask to pay it in installments. File Official Form 103A with your petition. The court decides the plan: no more than 4 payments, all paid within 120 days after you file. For a good reason the court can give you more time, but the last payment must be made within 180 days. Until the fee is paid in full, you may not pay your lawyer or petition preparer.

Law: Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1006(b) (as amended Dec. 1, 2024)

Fee waiver. In Chapter 7 only, the court may waive the fee. You must have income below 150% of the official poverty line for your family size, and you must be unable to pay the fee even in installments. Ask by filing Official Form 103B with your petition. The judge decides.

Law: 28 U.S.C. 1930(f)(1); Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1006(c)

The meeting of creditors

About a month after you file, you must attend the 'meeting of creditors' (341 meeting). The trustee asks you questions under oath about your property and debts. Creditors may come and ask questions. No judge attends. Chapter 7: 21 to 40 days after filing. Chapter 13: 21 to 50 days after filing. Bring photo ID and proof of your Social Security number. If you file jointly, both spouses must attend.

Law: 11 U.S.C. 341, 343; Fed. R. Bankr. P. 2003(a), 4002(b)(1)

Credit counseling and debtor education

Credit counseling before you file. Before you file, you must take a credit counseling course (a 'briefing') from an agency approved by the U.S. Trustee Program. You must take it within 180 days before you file. It can be in person, by phone or online, alone or in a group. Keep the certificate: you file it with your case. If you skip it, your case can be dismissed.

Law: 11 U.S.C. 109(h), 111

Debtor education after you file. After you file, you must take a second, separate course on personal financial management (debtor education) from an approved provider. In most cases you get no discharge without it. Chapter 7: file the certificate within 60 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors. Chapter 13: by the date of your last plan payment. Some providers send the certificate to the court for you.

Law: 11 U.S.C. 727(a)(11), 1328(g); Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1007(b)(7), 1007(c)(4)

Where to file bankruptcy in California

Short answer

Which court you file in, in California

In nearby states

Your next steps in California

Find your district

Visit the court's website

Take credit counseling

Get the forms ready

Ask for free help

Where to get free help in California

Questions about filing in California

Keep reading about California