California
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is assigned to the San Jose Division of the Northern District of California under the court's own assignment rule. Which court a case may be filed in is decided separately, by 28 U.S.C. § 1408.
The court Santa Cruz County is assigned to
San Jose Division, Northern District of California (canb)
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.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Cal. — "Where do I file my bankruptcy petition and other documents?" (San Jose Division: Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito)
The Northern District of California in detail →Court source →
What it costs to file here
- Chapter 7 — total court charges at filing
- $338
- Chapter 13 — total court charges at filing
- $313
28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(B); Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Item 8
Court charges only. What a lawyer charges is separate and varies by district and by case. Estimate the full cost →
California median income
The means test compares household income to the published median for the same household size. Being above it is not a bar to filing. Compare your household →
What California law protects
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.
Homestead
- Set by a test other than a dollar capCalifornia Article 4 homestead — annual county-median formula
- $36,750California § 703.140(b)(1) residence interest
More than one amount is current here — which applies depends on facts a lawyer would confirm.
Vehicle
- $8,625California § 703.140(b)(2) motor vehicles
Wildcard
- Set by a test other than a dollar capCalifornia § 703.140(b)(5) wildcard
Bankruptcy lawyers serving Santa Cruz County
No firm currently participates in Santa Cruz County. Tell Arthur what is happening and ask to be connected — the request reaches a person either way, and nothing is shared until you say so.
Turn this into a plan for your exact situation, state, and court.
See My Debt Relief Options→Are you a bankruptcy firm admitted in this district? See whether Santa Cruz County is open →