Washington bankruptcy courts and county map

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 39 counties in Washington are mapped to a court.

Eastern District of Washington

20 counties

U.S. Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Wash. — Case Assignment Rules (pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 154(a), effective November 1, 2019): "cases regarding debtors with their residence, principal place of business, or principal assets in the following counties will be assigned to the bankruptcy judge with a duty station in Yakima (the 'Yakima Judge'): Adams, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Kittitas, Klickitat, Walla Walla, and Yakima."

Western District of Washington

19 counties

Seattle Division Division

Tacoma Division Division

U.S. Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Wash. — Local Bankruptcy Rule 1072-1: after listing the Tacoma counties (Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston, Wahkiakum), "All other cases shall be filed at Seattle." (i.e., the remaining Western District counties: Clallam, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom)

Washington in detail

Washington means test median income
The published median annual income by household size, and what the comparison does and does not decide.
Washington bankruptcy exemptions
What state law protects, quoted from the statute that states it.

What we publish for Washington

Means test median income
Published medians for 10 household sizes. A comparison, not a decision.
Which federal court hears your case
All 39 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 2 of 2 districts.
Tools using Washington data
10 calculators run on this state's published figures.

Not yet published for Washington

These are sections this page does not cover for Washington. 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