Where to file bankruptcy in Ohio
Which Ohio 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. Ohio has two districts, Northern and Southern.
- Federal bankruptcy courts
- 2
- Courts
- Northern District and Southern District
Ohio bankruptcy courts and divisions
You file in the district where you lived (your domicile) for most of the last 180 days. Ohio has two districts, Northern and Southern. To find your division, see the Northern District's county map (https://www.ohnb.uscourts.gov/content/county-distribution-map) or the Southern District's courthouse pages, which list the counties each one serves (https://www.ohsb.uscourts.gov/court-locations-and-entry-requirements).
Law: 28 U.S.C. 1408
Divisions: Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Toledo, Youngstown
Clerk's phone: (216) 615-4300
Divisions: Cincinnati (Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Highland, Lawrence, Scioto counties), Columbus (Athens, Belmont, Coshocton, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Licking, Logan, Madison, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Union, Vinton, Washington counties), Dayton (Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Shelby, Warren counties)
Clerk's phone: 1-833-809-1611
In nearby states
- West Virginia: Southern District and Northern District
- Indiana: Northern District and Southern District
- Kentucky: Eastern District and Western District
What to do now in Ohio
Find your district
Your district depends on where you lived most of the last 180 days.
Visit the court's website
Court websites: Northern District and Southern District.
Take credit counseling
Use an approved agency. U.S. Trustee list of approved credit counseling agencies.
Prepare the forms
Download the official bankruptcy forms.
Free legal help in Ohio
Questions about filing in Ohio
How do I find my bankruptcy court in Ohio?
You file in the district where you lived (your domicile) for most of the last 180 days. Ohio has two districts, Northern and Southern. To find your division, see the Northern District's county map (https://www.ohnb.uscourts.gov/content/county-distribution-map) or the Southern District's courthouse pages, which list the counties each one serves (https://www.ohsb.uscourts.gov/court-locations-and-entry-requirements).
What are the Ohio means test numbers?
For cases filed on or after April 1, 2026: 1 person: $66,239; 2 people: $83,725; 3 people: $102,504; 4 people: $123,702; Each extra person: +$11,100.
Is there free bankruptcy help in Ohio?
Ohio Legal Help — statewide legal information and free legal aid finder and Legal Aid Society of Cleveland — bankruptcy pro bono program (listed by the Northern District court).