Where to file bankruptcy in Wisconsin

Which Wisconsin 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. The Eastern District covers Brown, Calumet, Dodge, Door, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Green Lake, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Racine, Shawano, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago counties; all other counties are in the Western District.

Federal bankruptcy courts
2
Courts
Eastern District and Western District

The bankruptcy courts in Wisconsin

You file in the district where you lived (your domicile) for most of the last 180 days. The Eastern District covers Brown, Calumet, Dodge, Door, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Green Lake, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Racine, Shawano, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago counties; all other counties are in the Western District.

Law: 28 U.S.C. 1408; 28 U.S.C. 130

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

Divisions: Milwaukee and Green Bay courthouses (court also held at Oshkosh)

Clerk's phone: 414-297-3291

Court's self-help page

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

Divisions: Madison and Eau Claire divisions (hearings also held at Onalaska for La Crosse, and Wausau)

Clerk's phone: 833-758-0380

Court's self-help page

In nearby states

  • Michigan: Eastern District and Western District
  • Minnesota: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota
  • Iowa: Northern District and Southern District

Steps to file in Wisconsin

  1. Find your district

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

  2. Read your court's pages

    Local forms and rules are on Eastern District and Western District.

  3. Take credit counseling

    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 Wisconsin

Questions about filing in Wisconsin

Where do I file bankruptcy in Wisconsin?

You file in the district where you lived (your domicile) for most of the last 180 days. The Eastern District covers Brown, Calumet, Dodge, Door, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Green Lake, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Racine, Shawano, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago counties; all other counties are in the Western District.

What income passes the means test in Wisconsin?

For cases filed on or after April 1, 2026: 1 person: $71,168; 2 people: $90,252; 3 people: $108,516; 4 people: $133,384; Each extra person: +$11,100.

Is there free bankruptcy help in Wisconsin?

Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee (Chapter 7 help for low-income Milwaukee County residents; walk-in clinic), Pro Se Bankruptcy Help Desk (Milwaukee Bar Association volunteers), Thursdays 9:00-10:30 a.m., U.S. Courthouse, 517 E. Wisconsin Ave., Room 153, Milwaukee and Legal Action Wisconsin (free civil legal help for people with low income).

Keep reading about Wisconsin