Where to file bankruptcy in Louisiana
Where to file in Louisiana, what it costs and what comes next.
Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.
Short answer
You file in the federal district where you lived (your domicile) for most of the last 180 days. Your parish decides the district: Eastern District parishes at https://www.laeb.uscourts.gov/parish-information; the Middle District is Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes (https://www.lamb.uscourts.gov/MiddleDistrictMap); all other parishes are in the Western District (offices listed at https://www.lawb.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations).
- Federal bankruptcy courts
- 3
- Courts
- Eastern District, Middle District and Western District
Which court you file in, in Louisiana
You file in the federal district where you lived (your domicile) for most of the last 180 days. Your parish decides the district: Eastern District parishes at https://www.laeb.uscourts.gov/parish-information; the Middle District is Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes (https://www.lamb.uscourts.gov/MiddleDistrictMap); all other parishes are in the Western District (offices listed at https://www.lawb.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations).
Law: 28 U.S.C. 1408; 28 U.S.C. 98
Divisions: New Orleans (13 parishes: Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington)
Clerk's phone: (504) 589-7878
Divisions: Baton Rouge (Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana parishes)
Clerk's phone: 225-346-3333
Divisions: Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, Shreveport
Clerk's phone: (318) 445-1890; toll free (866) 356-5221
In nearby states
- Mississippi: Northern District and Southern District
- Arkansas: Eastern District and Western District
- Alabama: Northern District, Middle District and Southern District
Steps to file in Louisiana
Check where you lived
The court is set by where you lived for most of the past 180 days.
Read your court's pages
Court websites: Eastern District, Middle District and Western District.
Take credit counseling
Use an approved agency. U.S. Trustee list of approved credit counseling agencies.
Fill in the forms
The forms are free: official bankruptcy forms.
Free help in Louisiana
- Bankruptcy Self-Help Resource Center (The Pro Bono Project, New Orleans) - phone hotline first Friday of each month, 9 AM to noon · 504-581-4043
- Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (Chapters 7 and 13) · 225-448-0080
- Southern University Bankruptcy Law Center (Chapter 7 only) · 225-771-3333
- Louisiana State Bar Association - Find Legal Help
- Find free legal aid at LawHelp.org
- Eastern District – Court's self-help page
- Middle District – Court's self-help page
- Western District – Court's self-help page
Questions about filing in Louisiana
Which bankruptcy court do I use in Louisiana?
You file in the federal district where you lived (your domicile) for most of the last 180 days. Your parish decides the district: Eastern District parishes at https://www.laeb.uscourts.gov/parish-information; the Middle District is Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes (https://www.lamb.uscourts.gov/MiddleDistrictMap); all other parishes are in the Western District (offices listed at https://www.lawb.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations).
What are the Louisiana means test numbers?
For cases filed on or after April 1, 2026: 1 person: $59,447; 2 people: $72,348; 3 people: $84,602; 4 people: $103,628; Each extra person: +$11,100.