St. Louis Bankruptcy Statistics

If you are considering Chapter 13 bankruptcy in St. Louis, these statistics should inform your decision:

• 61.9% of Chapter 13 cases in E.D. Mo. are dismissed. That means many filers spent months or years making payments and got no debt relief at the end.
• 41.3% of filers had a previous bankruptcy case. This "prior filer" rate suggests many people are cycling through the system without achieving lasting relief.
• An estimated 2,393 cases may involve potential 1328(f) eligibility issues -- filings where the debtor had a prior discharge within the statutory time bar.
• Quality of representation matters enormously. The data shows that representation quality is one of the strongest predictors of plan completion.

The Prior Filer Problem

41.3% of E.D. Mo. filers had a prior bankruptcy case. This cycling through the system suggests the first filing failed to provide lasting relief -- and raises questions about whether filers were properly screened under section 1328(f).

2,393 Potential 1328(f) Violations

An estimated 2,393 cases may involve potential eligibility violations under 11 U.S.C. section 1328(f) -- filings where the debtor had a prior discharge within the statutory time bar and could never have received a new discharge. These cases consume court resources and cost consumers time and money for a legally impossible outcome.