Litchfield County, Connecticut

Which bankruptcy court hears a case from Litchfield County?

Litchfield County is assigned to the Bridgeport Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut. The court's own "Where To File" guidance puts it plainly: Litchfield and Fairfield Counties file with the Bridgeport Bankruptcy Court.

Residence is a strong signal but not the whole rule. Venue for a case under title 11 looks to the district in which your domicile, residence, principal place of business in the United States, or principal assets in the United States were located for the 180 days immediately before you file, or for a longer portion of that period than in any other district (28 U.S.C. § 1408). So a recent move into or out of Connecticut, or a business or principal assets located in another district, can change the answer.

The district courts hold original and exclusive jurisdiction over cases under title 11 (28 U.S.C. § 1334), and a voluntary case begins when the petition is filed with the bankruptcy court (11 U.S.C. § 301).

• Division for Litchfield County: Bridgeport, District of Connecticut
• Venue test: the greater part of the 180 days before filing
• Factors: domicile, residence, principal place of business, principal assets

What does this court require of someone filing without a lawyer?

The District of Connecticut publishes material built specifically for self-represented filers. Its "Petition Forms for Individuals to File Bankruptcy and Filing Guidelines" page provides chapter-specific fillable packets for Chapter 7, 11, 12 and 13 individual cases, together with instructions on the forms and on paying the petition filing fee. National official forms come from the Judicial Conference; the court maintains a separate set of approved local forms, including a Notice of Appearance for a self-represented filer.

The court also has a local rule addressing commencement or continuation of a case without counsel, Local Bankr. R. 1002-1, listed in its Local Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.

Federal law requires an individual debtor to file a list of creditors, schedules, a statement of financial affairs, pay advices from the 60 days before filing, and a statement of monthly net income (11 U.S.C. § 521), plus a certificate from the approved credit counseling agency that provided services and any debt repayment plan developed through it.

• Chapter-specific individual filing packets are published by the court
• Local forms are separate from the national official forms
• A credit counseling certificate and any repayment plan are filed with the court (11 U.S.C. § 521)

What are the filing fees, and how does this court take payment?

The Chapter 7 filing fee is $245 under 28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(A), (f)(1), with an additional administrative amount of $78 and a trustee surcharge of $15 under the Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule. The Chapter 13 filing fee is $235 under 28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(B), with the same $78 administrative amount. The court's Fees page presents these as one combined petition figure; confirm the current total there before you file.

The district's instructions for self-represented debtors state that a fee is required when you file under Chapter 7 or 13 unless an Application to Pay the Filing Fee in Installments — or, in a Chapter 7 case, an Application to Have the Chapter 7 Filing Fee Waived — is filed at the same time as the petition. Payment may be made online through Pay.gov by debit card or ACH, or in person by debit card, money order, bank check, or cash in the exact amount. A self-represented filer's credit card and personal check are not accepted for the petition fee.

How does the meeting of creditors work in this district?

Within a reasonable time after the order for relief, the United States trustee convenes and presides at a meeting of creditors (11 U.S.C. § 341). The bankruptcy judge may not preside at or attend that meeting. Before it concludes, the trustee orally examines a Chapter 7 debtor to confirm you understand the consequences of seeking a discharge, including effects on credit history, your ability to file under a different chapter, the effect of a discharge, and the effect of reaffirming a debt.

What the District of Connecticut adds is a document deadline. Under Local Bankr. R. 4002-1, a Chapter 7 debtor must deliver the documents listed in Appendix I to the trustee no later than seven days before the first scheduled meeting of creditors, in legible form, along with the Domestic Support Obligation Disclosure and Personal Injury Information Forms where they apply. Chapter 13 debtors deliver the Appendix J documents on the same seven-day schedule. Pay advices from the 60 days before filing go to the trustee rather than the court docket. Failure to provide these documents may constitute cause for dismissal.

• The U.S. trustee convenes and presides; the judge does not attend (11 U.S.C. § 341)
• Trustee documents are due seven days before the first scheduled meeting
• Pay advices go to the trustee, not the court file

What local rules and orders change the process here?

Several District of Connecticut rules shape ordinary consumer cases. Local Bankr. R. 1007-1 requires a Creditor List covering every creditor and party-in-interest on Schedules D, E, F, G and H, filed with the voluntary petition, as both a PDF and a .txt upload to the case's creditor table, with an attention line for business entities. Failure to file it in compliance may result in dismissal after notice of the deficiency.

Chapter 13 filers use a district-wide form. Local Bankr. R. 3015-2 requires all Chapter 13 plans to be filed on the Local Form Chapter 13 Plan in Appendix E, and provides that unless the court orders otherwise the confirmation hearing may be held no earlier than 20 days and no later than 45 days after the first date set for the § 341(a) meeting. An objection to confirmation is due no later than seven days before the hearing. The debtor, or the debtor's attorney, must appear at confirmation unless excused by court order.

Amendments run through Local Bankr. R. 1009-1 and the court's Amendment Cover Sheet.

• Creditor List due with the petition, in PDF and .txt (Local Bankr. R. 1007-1)
• Chapter 13 plans must use the Appendix E local form (Local Bankr. R. 3015-2)
• Simultaneous petitions are restricted (Local Bankr. R. 1017-1)

Which Connecticut questions should you settle before filing?

Three Connecticut-specific questions commonly come up before a petition is filed: which exemption list applies to you, what conditions attach to the homestead protection, and how much of your wages state law shields from a judgment creditor. This page cannot answer those from the sources supplied for it — the packet behind this page carries the District of Connecticut's procedural rules and the federal venue, duty and meeting provisions, not Connecticut's exemption or wage statutes. That is a limit of this page's evidence, not a statement about what the law provides.

We publish those answers separately, with their own citations. Settling them early matters because your schedules state what property you claim as exempt, and the trustee's Appendix I or J document request arrives on a seven-day clock once your meeting is scheduled.

You also decide chapter before filing, and the fee structure differs: Chapter 7 carries a conditional statutory waiver route under 28 U.S.C. § 1930(f)(1), while the installment route is available in either chapter.

• Which exemption list applies to your case
• What conditions attach to Connecticut's homestead protection
• How much of your wages a judgment creditor can reach

Where can a Litchfield County resident get help?

Start with the court's own published material, because it is the authority on its own procedure. The Local Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure page lists every rule with its appendices; the Forms and Local Forms pages separate national official forms from Connecticut local forms; and the Petition Forms for Individuals page gathers the chapter packets and filing-fee instructions in one place. The court's Local Rules also establish a pro bono panel and referral of pro bono counsel under Local Bankr. R. 9083-6.

If you want a Connecticut bankruptcy attorney, Arthur — the Bankruptcy.law AI Navigator — can take you through a free Roadmap built from your situation and, where a participating firm holds the territory, offer to pass your details to that firm. That introduction happens only if you fill in and submit the consent form yourself; nothing is sent otherwise, your conversation is never shared, and declining the automated-contact option changes only the channels a firm may use.

Arthur explains and organises. He does not give legal advice or file anything.

• The court's local rules and local forms pages are the primary procedural source
• A pro bono panel exists under Local Bankr. R. 9083-6
• An attorney introduction happens only through a consent form you submit

Frequently asked questions

Does living in Litchfield County guarantee my case goes to Bridgeport?

It is the court's stated assignment — Litchfield and Fairfield Counties file with the Bridgeport Bankruptcy Court. But venue under 28 U.S.C. § 1408 looks at domicile, residence, principal place of business or principal assets over the 180 days before filing, so a recent move or a business elsewhere can point to a different district.

Can I pay the Connecticut filing fee with a credit card?

Not as a self-represented debtor paying a petition filing fee. The district's instructions state that credit cards are not accepted from self-represented individuals for petition filing fees, and that debtors' personal checks are also not accepted. Debit card or ACH through Pay.gov, money order, bank check, or exact-amount cash in person are the listed methods.

What do I have to send the trustee before my creditors' meeting?

Local Bankr. R. 4002-1 requires Chapter 7 debtors to deliver the Appendix I documents, and Chapter 13 debtors the Appendix J documents, in legible form no later than seven days before the first scheduled meeting of creditors, with the Domestic Support Obligation Disclosure and Personal Injury Information Forms where applicable. Failing to provide them may constitute cause for dismissal.

Is there a Connecticut-specific Chapter 13 plan form?

Yes. Local Bankr. R. 3015-2 requires all Chapter 13 plans to be filed using the Local Form Chapter 13 Plan in Appendix E of the local rules. The court publishes fillable and printable versions, completion instructions, and a local Certificate of Service form for serving plans and hearing notices.

When is the Chapter 13 confirmation hearing held?

Unless the court orders otherwise, Local Bankr. R. 3015-2 provides that the confirmation hearing may be held no earlier than 20 days and no later than 45 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors under § 341(a). Objections to confirmation are due no later than seven days before the hearing date.

Does this page tell me what property Connecticut lets me keep?

No. The sources supplied for this page cover District of Connecticut procedure and the federal venue, debtor-duty and creditors'-meeting provisions, not Connecticut's exemption or wage-protection statutes. We publish those separately with their own citations. An absent answer here reflects this page's evidence, not a gap in the law.

Sources

• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Connecticut, "Where To File": "Litchfield and Fairfield Counties file with the Bridgeport Bankruptcy Court."
• 28 U.S.C. § 1408 — Venue of cases under title 11
• 28 U.S.C. § 1334 — Bankruptcy cases and proceedings
• 11 U.S.C. § 301 — Voluntary cases
• 11 U.S.C. § 341 — Meetings of creditors and equity security holders · official source
• 11 U.S.C. § 521 — Debtor's duties · official source
• 28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(A), (f)(1) · official source
• 28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(B) · official source
• Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Item 8
• Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Item 9
• D. Conn. Bankr. L. R. 4002-1 — Documents to Be Delivered to Trustee Prior to Section 341 Creditors' Meeting
• D. Conn. Bankr. L. R. 1007-1 — Lists, Schedules, and Statements
• D. Conn. Bankr. L. R. 1009-1 — Amendments to Creditor Lists, Schedules, and Statements
• D. Conn. Bankr. L. R. 1017-1 — Simultaneous Petitions
• D. Conn. Bankr. L. R. 3015-2 — Chapter 13 - Confirmation
• CTB official page — Local Form Chapter 13 Plan and Certificate of Service
• CTB Instructions for Paying the Bankruptcy Case (Petition) Filing Fee for Self-Represented Debtors
• CTB official page — Fees
• CTB Payment - How to Submit Payment for Filing and Service Fees via Pay.gov
• CTB official page — Petition Forms for Individuals to File Bankruptcy and Filing Guidelines
• CTB official page — Local Forms
• CTB official page — Forms
• CTB official page — Local Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure
• CTB Guide to Amending Bankruptcy Schedules, Statements, or Lists
• CTB Instructions for Completing the Local Form Chapter 13 Plan

Related

• Build your personalised roadmap
• Find your local bankruptcy court
• The 341 Meeting of Creditors: What Actually Happens
• Continuance in Bankruptcy: Moving a Meeting or Hearing
• Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer by State
• Statutes and rules library

What it costs to file here

Chapter 7 — total court charges at filing

$338

28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(A), (f)(1); Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Item 8; Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Item 9

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 →

Connecticut median income

Median annual income, household of one

$84,302

USTP Median Family Income (2026-07-15 period)

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 →