Bankruptcy.lawBankruptcy.law

Michigan

Lake County, Michigan

Lake County is assigned to the Traverse City Division of the Western District of Michigan 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 Lake County is assigned to

Traverse City Division, Western District of Michigan (miwb)

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, W.D. Mich., Court Locations — Traverse City, "Debtor's county of residence or principal place of business": Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Missaukee, Osceola and Wexford

The Western District of Michigan in detail →Court source →

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 →

Michigan median income

Median annual income, household of one
$67,352

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 →

What Michigan law protects

Homestead

  • $51,150Michigan adjusted homestead
  • $76,725Michigan adjusted senior or disabled homestead

More than one amount is current here — which applies depends on facts a lawyer would confirm.

Vehicle

  • $4,725Michigan adjusted motor vehicle

All Michigan exemptions, with their statutes →

Bankruptcy lawyers serving Lake County

No firm currently participates in Lake 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 Lake County is open →