Massachusetts Bankruptcy Guide

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.

11 of 14 Massachusetts counties have a published court assignment. The remaining 3 are not listed here rather than guessed at.

Massachusetts in detail

• Massachusetts means test median income

  The published median annual income by household size, and what the comparison does and does not decide.

• Massachusetts bankruptcy exemptions

  What state law protects, quoted from the statute that states it.

What we publish for Massachusetts

• Means test median income

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

• Which federal court hears your case

  11 of 14 have a published court assignment.

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

  Verified for 1 of 1 district.

• Tools using Massachusetts data

  10 calculators run on this state's published figures.

Not yet published for Massachusetts

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

• State exemption system (opt-out vs federal election)Not yet published
• Exemptions — what state law listsNot yet published
• Wage garnishment limitsNot yet published
• Participating firmsNot yet published