Where to file bankruptcy in New York

Which New York court you file in, its divisions and phone, and what happens after you file.

Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.

Short answer

You file in the district where you lived (your domicile) for most of the last 180 days. New York has four districts: Eastern (Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island), Southern (Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester, Rockland and the mid-Hudson Valley), Northern and Western.

Federal bankruptcy courts
4
Courts
Eastern District, Northern District, Southern District and Western District

New York bankruptcy courts and divisions

You file in the district where you lived (your domicile) for most of the last 180 days. New York has four districts: Eastern (Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island), Southern (Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester, Rockland and the mid-Hudson Valley), Northern and Western. Columbia, Greene and Ulster counties are served by both the Northern and the Southern District. To find your division, check the court's county list: https://www.nyeb.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations (Eastern), https://www.nysb.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations (Southern), https://www.nynb.uscourts.gov/northern-district-new-york-counties (Northern), https://www.nywb.uscourts.gov/counties-served (Western).

Law: 28 U.S.C. 1408

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York

Divisions: Brooklyn (Kings, Queens and Richmond counties), Central Islip (Nassau and Suffolk counties)

Clerk's phone: (347) 394-1700

Court's self-help page

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of New York

Divisions: Albany (Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Essex, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Ulster, Warren, Washington counties), Utica (Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego, St. Lawrence counties), Syracuse (Cayuga, Cortland, Jefferson, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga, Tompkins counties)

Clerk's phone: 518-257-1661

Court's self-help page

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York

Divisions: Manhattan (Bronx and New York counties), White Plains (Rockland and Westchester counties), Poughkeepsie (Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Sullivan counties; shared with the Northern District for Columbia, Greene and Ulster)

Clerk's phone: 212-668-2870

Court's self-help page

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York

Divisions: Buffalo (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie counties), Rochester (Chemung, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Yates counties); cases from Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties go to either judge

Clerk's phone: (716) 362-3200

Court's self-help page

In nearby states

  • Vermont: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Vermont
  • Connecticut: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut
  • Pennsylvania: Eastern District, Middle District and Western District

What to do now in New York

  1. Find your district

    Your district depends on where you lived most of the last 180 days.

  2. Visit the court's website

    Court websites: Eastern District, Northern District, Southern District and Western District.

  3. Get your counseling certificate

    You need the certificate when you file. U.S. Trustee list of approved credit counseling agencies.

  4. Prepare the forms

    Get the official bankruptcy forms.

Free help in New York

Questions about filing in New York

Which bankruptcy court do I use in New York?

You file in the district where you lived (your domicile) for most of the last 180 days. New York has four districts: Eastern (Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island), Southern (Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester, Rockland and the mid-Hudson Valley), Northern and Western. Columbia, Greene and Ulster counties are served by both the Northern and the Southern District. To find your division, check the court's county list: https://www.nyeb.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations (Eastern), https://www.nysb.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations (Southern), https://www.nynb.uscourts.gov/northern-district-new-york-counties (Northern), https://www.nywb.uscourts.gov/counties-served (Western).

What are the New York means test numbers?

For cases filed on or after April 1, 2026: 1 person: $73,272; 2 people: $92,902; 3 people: $115,579; 4 people: $139,040; Each extra person: +$11,100.

Is there free bankruptcy help in New York?

New York Southern District Bankruptcy Free Legal Clinic (free 30-minute phone consultation with a volunteer bankruptcy lawyer; for Bronx, Dutchess, New York, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Westchester, Columbia, Ulster and Greene counties), City Bar Justice Center — Homeowner and Consumer Debt Advocacy Project (helps eligible New Yorkers prepare a Chapter 7 case; runs the Bankruptcy Pro Bono Panel) and The Legal Project — Bankruptcy and Credit Program (Albany area; free consultations, representation if you qualify by income; listed by the Northern District court).

Related New York pages