The means test in California: median income
Check your income against the California median, and see what the second step and Chapter 13 involve.
Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.
Short answer
Official medians for California from the U.S. Trustee Program. Below the median for your household size means you pass the first step.
- 1 person
- $79,253
- 2 people
- $102,797
- 3 people
- $116,541
- 4 people
- $139,071
- Each extra person
- +$11,100
- Medians apply to cases filed on or after
- April 1, 2026
Check the first step in California
Official Form 122A-1 compares your household's yearly income with the median income in California. Here are the official medians:
- 1 person$79,253
- 2 people$102,797
- 3 people$116,541
- 4 people$139,071
- Each extra person+$11,100
Applies to cases filed on or after April 1, 2026. 1 = one earner; 2, 3, 4 = people in the household; add = amount added for each person over 4
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
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
Divisions: Sacramento, Fresno, Modesto (Modesto office closed; Modesto Division mail goes to Sacramento)
Clerk's phone: (916) 930-4400 (Sacramento); (559) 499-5800 (Fresno)
Divisions: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Santa Rosa
Clerk's phone: (888) 821-7606
Divisions: San Diego (serves San Diego and Imperial Counties)
Clerk's phone: (619) 557-5620
Exemptions in California at a glance
In California you use state exemptions only (exemptions are the property the law lets you keep). California has two state systems; you pick one.
Home (homestead): 704 system: the greater of $300,000 or the countywide median sale price for a single-family home in the calendar year before you claim the exemption, up to $600,000.
Car or other vehicle: $8,625 total equity in motor vehicles (704 system).
Wildcard (any property): None in the 704 system. The 703.140(b) system has a wildcard of $1,950 plus any unused part of its $36,750 residence exemption.
In nearby states
- Nevada: 1 person $72,222 · 2 people $87,914 · 3 people $101,638 · 4 people $114,110
- Utah: 1 person $87,898 · 2 people $95,757 · 3 people $112,751 · 4 people $131,741
- Oregon: 1 person $79,089 · 2 people $93,670 · 3 people $116,729 · 4 people $140,024
- Arizona: 1 person $73,935 · 2 people $89,027 · 3 people $104,965 · 4 people $121,174
- Idaho: 1 person $73,413 · 2 people $86,160 · 3 people $98,381 · 4 people $119,662
- Washington: 1 person $88,585 · 2 people $107,100 · 3 people $131,737 · 4 people $156,567
Your next steps in California
Total your income
Use pay stubs and benefit letters for the 6 full months before you file.
Do the official first step
The official first step is Official Form 122A-1.
Above the median?
You continue with Official Form 122A-2.
Find your court
The forms are filed with Central District, Eastern District, Northern District and Southern District.
Talk to legal aid
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
- Public Counsel (Los Angeles area; linked by the Central District court)
- Bay Area Legal Aid (linked by the Northern District court)
- University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law - Bankruptcy Pro Se Clinic (Eastern District)
- Legal Aid Society of San Diego (Southern District) · (877) 534-2524
- Find free legal aid at LawHelp.org
- Central District – Court's self-help page
- Eastern District – Court's self-help page
- Northern District – Court's self-help page
- Southern District – Court's self-help page
Questions about the means test in California
Can I keep my house in bankruptcy in California?
704 system: the greater of $300,000 or the countywide median sale price for a single-family home in the calendar year before you claim the exemption, up to $600,000. Both figures are adjusted each January 1 (since 2022) for California inflation; no official table of the adjusted figures is published.
How do I find my bankruptcy court 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.
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.