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Thinking about filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 7? Do you even qualify for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
Most people struggling with debt qualify for Chapter 7, but in some cases Chapter 13 bankruptcy might be a better option for some folks.
Here's how the Chapter 7 eligibility test works:
The first step in the Chapter 7 means test involves comparing your income to a family the same size as yours in your state. If your income falls below the median income for your family size, there is no "presumption of abuse" and you can usually file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
If your income is higher than the applicable median income, a more complicated calculation process is required to determine whether you can file under Chapter 7.
Ask a local participating attorney today if you qualify to file Chapter 7:
Click Here For Free 2 Minute EvaluationFind the median income level of your state to see if you may qualify to file for Chapter 7 and eliminate debt. Then, talk to a bankruptcy lawyer about your debt-relief options.
These numbers are current as of November 10, 2011.
| State | Single-Earner | 2-Person | 3-Person | 4-Person* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| * Add $7,500 for each individual in excess of 4. | ||||
| Alabama | $38,321 | $46,025 | $51,182 | $61,593 |
| Alaska | $52,611 | $70,811 | $77,200 | $88,003 |
| Arizona | $41,385 | $53,781 | $56,508 | $61,267 |
| Arkansas | $34,203 | $44,048 | $47,035 | $56,275 |
| California | $47,683 | $61,539 | $66,050 | $74,806 |
| Colorado | $47,361 | $62,431 | $69,252 |
$79,905 |
| Connecticut | $56,773 | $70,342 | $80,263 | $99,440 |
| Delaware | $48,049 | $59,927 | $71,259 | $79,829 |
| District Of Columbia | $50,552 | $78,313 | $78,313 | $115,995 |
| Florida | $40,766 | $49,729 | $52,840 | $62,742 |
| Georgia | $39,694 | $50,712 | $55,711 | $64,223 |
| Hawaii | $51,099 | $62,432 | $75,900 | $82,726 |
| Idaho | $39,120 | $49,242 | $52,077 | $61,301 |
| Illinois | $45,545 | $57,964 | $66,758 | $79,074 |
| Indiana | $39,987 | $49,669 | $57,696 | $67,296 |
| Iowa | $40,650 | $55,217 | $62,251 | $72,234 |
| Kansas | $41,611 | $55,801 | $62,850 | $72,665 |
| Kentucky | $38,356 | $44,696 | $51,859 | $62,583 |
| Louisiana | $37,931 | $46,169 | $54,638 | $65,778 |
| Maine | $40,532 | $51,738 | $60,195 | $74,738 |
| Maryland | $57,445 | $73,947 | $84,151 | $100,928 |
| Massachusetts | $53,496 | $64,174 | $80,337 | $99,067 |
| Michigan | $43,677 | $50,079 | $58,467 | $70,237 |
| Minnesota | $46,161 | $61,170 | $71,784 | $84,251 |
| Mississippi | $33,126 | $41,601 | $45,536 | $54,765 |
| Missouri | $38,895 | $50,603 | $58,355 | $67,255 |
| Montana | $38,369 | $49,743 | $56,308 | $68,313 |
| Nebraska | $39,192 | $55,519 | $64,700 | $71,247 |
| Nevada | $43,146 | $55,573 | $60,855 | $65,179 |
| New Hampshire | $51,550 | $61,679 | $79,349 | $91,750 |
| New Jersey | $60,322 | $67,503 | $84,896 | $101,957 |
| New Mexico | $37,246 | $49,515 | $51,782 | $54,640 |
| New York | $45,931 | $56,113 | $66,953 | $81,212 |
| North Carolina | $37,892 | $48,710 | $54,310 | $65,036 |
| North Dakota | $42,953 | $58,742 | $67,244 | $79,336 |
| Ohio | $40,471 | $50,253 | $58,376 | $70,599 |
| Oklahoma | $37,466 | $48,313 | $53,332 | $60,395 |
| Oregon | $42,877 | $52,316 | $57,429 | $66,616 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,092 | $53,091 | $66,487 | $76,682 |
| Rhode Island | $46,335 | $59,624 | $66,800 | $86,267 |
| South Carolina | $37,660 | $47,853 | $50,824 | $62,912 |
| South Dakota | $36,799 | $55,026 | $61,612 | $69,006 |
| Tennessee | $37,967 | $47,234 | $51,642 | $60,909 |
| Texas | $39,673 | $53,950 | $57,825 | $63,859 |
| Utah | $48,176 | $55,555 | $59,626 | $64,780 |
| Vermont | $43,544 | $55,110 | $69,736 | $77,296 |
| Virginia | $50,605 | $64,288 | $71,644 | $87,498 |
| Washington | $51,671 | $61,919 | $69,195 | $80,404 |
| West Virginia | $40,887 | $44,018 | $50,987 | $61,691 |
| Wisconsin | $41,880 | $55,671 | $64,724 | $76,117 |
| Wyoming | $48,832 | $62,072 | $67,059 | $73,362 |
| Commonwealth or U.S. Territory |
Single-Earner | 2-Person | 3-Person | 4-Person* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| * Add $7,500 for each individual in excess of 4. | ||||
| Guam | $36,480 | $43,617 | $49,704 | $60,149 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | $24,496 | $24,496 | $28,500 | $41,918 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,190 | $21,190 | $21,479 | $27,838 |
| Virgin Islands | $28,943 | $34,786 | $37,090 | $40,636 |
Note: "Family size" has a specific legal definition. Consult a local bankruptcy attorney for information on how these changes may impact your bankruptcy options. Although we try to keep the means test median income information on this page as up-to-date as possible, the median income table may be updated at any time, and information on this page may be out of date.
The latest information can be found at the U.S. Trustee Program Web site.An attorney can also give you the latest median numbers.
If you're not sure whether filing for bankruptcy could help you, a bankruptcy attorney can help assess your finances and tell you more about your options. You might want to consider Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Click below to ask a bankruptcy lawyer for free if you qualify to file Chapter 7 or 13. Connect with a lawyer near you today and ask if Chapter 13 or 7 could work for you.
Tables updated: November 10, 2011.
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