Bankruptcy.lawBankruptcy.law

State Guide

Alabama Bankruptcy Guide

Alabama is one of two states where the bankruptcy courts are administered by a Bankruptcy Administrator rather than the United States Trustee.

Which court hears a case from each county

Each county below is assigned to a federal district, and larger districts divide further by division. Every assignment comes from the court’s own published order or local rule.

Bankruptcy venue is governed by 28 U.S.C. § 1408, not by county alone. It can rest on domicile, residence, a principal place of business, or principal assets in the United States, measured over the 180 days before filing — so a recent move can change which district is available. Confirm venue before filing.

All 67 counties in Alabama are mapped to a court.

Middle District of Alabama

23 counties

U.S. Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Ala. — Montgomery (Northern Division) official divisions page: "Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Chilton, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery, Pike"

Northern District of Alabama

31 counties

Birmingham Division Division

U.S. Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Ala. — Realignment of Divisions (effective October 1, 2025): "Western Division ... Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston Counties" (office in Tuscaloosa)

Southern District of Alabama

13 counties

28 U.S.C. § 81(c) — Southern District, Southern Division (court at Mobile): "Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington"

Alabama in detail

What we publish for Alabama

  • State exemption system (opt-out vs federal election)

    This state has opted out of the federal exemption list for debtors whose applicable exemption law is this state's law. Which state's law applies is set by 11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(3)(A) from where the filer was domiciled before filing, not from where they live today — and § 522(b)(3) still allows the federal list where that domicile rule would otherwise leave a debtor with no exemptions at all.

  • Exemptions — what state law lists

    6 verified categories, each quoted from the statute that states it.

  • Means test median income

    Published medians for 10 household sizes. A comparison, not a decision.

  • Which federal court hears your case

    All 67 mapped to a district and division, each with the court's own order or rule cited.

  • Local court practice (341 format, plan form, no-look fee)

    Verified for 3 of 3 districts.

  • Tools using Alabama data

    10 calculators run on this state's published figures.

Not yet published for Alabama

These are sections this page does not cover for Alabama. Rather than show a summary we cannot source, it says what is missing.

  • Wage garnishment limitsVerified — not yet on a page

    Verified, and currently reachable only through the garnishment estimator rather than a page.

  • Participating firmsNot yet published

Turn this into a plan for your exact situation, state, and court.

See My Debt Relief Options→