More than one out of ten personal bankruptcy filings were made last year by Californians, but the rate of increase is only 40% of the national average. Meanwhile, Ohio has emerged as one of the most populous states with the largest increase in consumer deadbeats, as bankruptcy filings increased 31.5%. Nationwide, personal bankruptcy filings set a new record last year with 1,452,030 filings, a 19.2% increase over 2000. Chapter 7 filings were up 22.8% during 2001, with a record 1,054,925 filings processed, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Stalled, but anticipated, bankruptcy reform legislation may have driven the record number of Chapter 7 filings.
TOP STATES FOR PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY FILINGS
STATE 2001 2000 INCREASE
California: 148,421 138,124 +7.45%
Florida: 85,216 71,284 +19.5%
Texas: 73,866 59,529 +24.1%
Illinois: 73,036 59,892 +21.9%
Ohio: 69,292 52,713 +31.5%
Georgia: 68,933 58,915 +17.0%
New York: 66,628 57,207 +16.5%
(Source: Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts)
