Where to file bankruptcy in Michigan

The federal bankruptcy courts in Michigan, how to pick yours, fees, required courses and the meeting of creditors.

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 you file.

Federal bankruptcy courts: 2
Courts: Eastern District and Western District

Michigan bankruptcy courts and divisions

You file in the federal bankruptcy district where you lived (your domicile) for most of the 180 days before you file. Michigan has two districts, Eastern and Western. Each court's locations page lists the counties served by each office: Eastern https://www.mieb.uscourts.gov/court-locations; Western https://www.miwb.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations

Law: 28 U.S.C. 1408

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

Divisions: Detroit, Flint, Bay City

Clerk's phone: Detroit (313) 234-0065; Flint (810) 235-4126; Bay City (989) 894-8840

Court's self-help page

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan

Divisions: Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Traverse City, Marquette

Clerk's phone: 616-456-2693

Court's self-help page

In nearby states

Wisconsin: Eastern District and Western District
Ohio: Northern District and Southern District
Indiana: Northern District and Southern District

What to do now in Michigan

Check where you lived
You file where you lived for most of the last 180 days.
Visit the court's website
Court websites: Eastern District and Western District.
Do the first course
Use an approved agency. U.S. Trustee list of approved credit counseling agencies.
Fill in the forms
Download the official bankruptcy forms.
Get help
Ask for free help: Michigan Legal Help (statewide self-help and legal aid finder) and Eastern District bankruptcy court: Finding an Attorney and Legal Aid (lists local legal aid offices and bar referral services).

Where to get free help in Michigan

Questions about filing in Michigan

Where do I file bankruptcy in Michigan?

What income passes the means test in Michigan?

For cases filed on or after April 1, 2026: 1 person: $67,352; 2 people: $83,432; 3 people: $103,449; 4 people: $123,010; Each extra person: +$11,100.

Is there free bankruptcy help in Michigan?

Michigan Legal Help (statewide self-help and legal aid finder), Eastern District bankruptcy court: Finding an Attorney and Legal Aid (lists local legal aid offices and bar referral services) and Eastern District bankruptcy court Pro Bono Program (for adversary proceedings about discharge).

Related Michigan pages

What it costs to file

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)

Two required courses

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 Michigan

Short answer

Michigan bankruptcy courts and divisions

In nearby states

What to do now in Michigan

Check where you lived

Visit the court's website

Do the first course

Fill in the forms

Get help

Where to get free help in Michigan

Questions about filing in Michigan

Related Michigan pages