Bankruptcy.lawBankruptcy.law

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

U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Tennessee — Northern Division (Knoxville), Counties Served

Middle District of Tennessee

32 counties

28 U.S.C. § 123(b) — Middle District, Nashville Division (court at Nashville)

Western District of Tennessee

22 counties

U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Tennessee, L.B.R. 1002-1 n.1: "The Eastern Division of this Judicial District at Jackson consists of the following counties: Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, McNairy, Madison, Obion, Perry, and Weakley."

Tennessee in detail

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

Turn this into a plan for your exact situation, state, and court.

See My Debt Relief Options