State Guide
Tennessee 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.
All 95 counties in Tennessee are mapped to a court.
Eastern District of Tennessee
41 counties
Chattanooga Division Division
Greeneville Division Division
Knoxville Division Division
Winchester Division Division
Middle District of Tennessee
32 counties
Columbia Division Division
Cookeville Division Division
28 U.S.C. § 123(b) — Middle District, Nashville Division (court at Nashville)
Western District of Tennessee
22 counties
Jackson Division Division
Memphis Division Division
Tennessee in detail
- Tennessee means test median income
The published median annual income by household size, and what the comparison does and does not decide.
- Tennessee bankruptcy exemptions
What state law protects, quoted from the statute that states it.
What we publish for Tennessee
- 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.
- Means test median income
Published medians for 10 household sizes. A comparison, not a decision.
- Which federal court hears your case
All 95 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 Tennessee data
10 calculators run on this state's published figures.
Not yet published for Tennessee
These are sections this page does not cover for Tennessee. Rather than show a summary we cannot source, it says what is missing.
- Exemptions — what state law listsNot yet published
- Wage garnishment limitsNot yet published
- Participating firmsNot yet published
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