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California Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy laws and resources vary from state to state. The following page provides information and resource links for the state of California.
If you are not looking for information regarding California, please use the links on the right to find information for your state.
- Courts - Location and Contact Information
- Bankruptcy Laws
- Approved Credit Counseling/Debtor Education Agencies
- California Attorneys
- Other Bankruptcy California Resources
California Bankruptcy Courts - Location & Contact Information
California bankruptcy courts are divided into four districts, which are further divided into several divisions. Generally, the debtor’s county of residence will determine which district and division the bankruptcy petition is filed. It may also be determined by the location of the debtor’s principal place of business or principal assets.
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTIES OF JURISDICTION: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, San Mateo and Sonoma Counties| DIVISION | STREET ADDRESS | MAILING ADDRESS | TELEPHONE |
| San
Francisco Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 235 Pine Street 19th Floor San Francisco, CA 94104 |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court PO Box 7341 San Francisco, CA 94120 |
(415) 268-2300 |
| Oakland Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 1300 Clay Street Oakland, CA 94612 |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court PO Box 2070 Oakland, CA 94604 |
(510) 879-3600 |
| Santa Rosa Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 99 South "E" Street Santa Rosa, CA 95404 |
Same |
(707) 525-8539 |
| San Jose Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 280 South First Street Room 3035 San Jose, CA 95113-3099 |
Same |
(408) 535-5118 |
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTIES OF JURISDICTION: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties| DIVISION | STREET ADDRESS | MAILING ADDRESS | TELEPHONE |
| Los Angeles Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 255 E. Temple Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 |
Same | (213) 894-3118 |
| Riverside Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 3420 Twelfth Street Riverside, CA 92501 |
Same | (951) 774-1000 |
| Santa Ana Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 411 West Fourth Street Santa Ana, CA 92701 |
Same |
(714) 338-5300 |
| Santa Barbara Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 1415 State Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 |
Same |
(805) 884-4800 |
| San Fernando Valley Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 21041 Burbank Boulevard Woodland Hills, CA 91367 |
Same | (818) 587-2900 |
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTIES OF JURISDICTION: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo and Yuba Counties| DIVISION | STREET ADDRESS | MAILING ADDRESS | TELEPHONE |
| Sacramento Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 501 I Street, Suite 3-200 Sacramento, CA 95814 |
Same | (916) 930-4400 |
| Fresno Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 2500 Tulare St., Suite 2501 Fresno, CA 93721 |
Same | (559) 499-5800 |
| Modesto Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 1130 12th Street Suite C Modesto, CA 95354 |
Same |
(209) 521-5160 |
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTIES OF JURISDICTION: Imperial and San Diego Counties| DIVISION | STREET ADDRESS | MAILING ADDRESS | TELEPHONE |
| San Diego Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 325 West F Street San Diego, CA 92101 |
Same | (619) 557-5620 |
California Bankruptcy Laws and Exemptions
California Exemptions
The U.S. Bankruptcy Code allows individual debtors to exempt certain property from creditor claims based on exemptions under either federal law or state law. Exemptions vary from state to state. Some states have adopted their own set of bankruptcy exemptions that are used in place of the federal exemptions. However, other states give debtors an option to choose between either state or federal exemptions.
For California bankruptcy filings, state exemptions are used. There are two sets of law that debtors can select when filing a bankruptcy petition.
Click here for bankruptcy exemptions under "Set 1" of the California Code.
Click here for bankruptcy exemptions under "Set 2" of the California Code.
Contact a California bankruptcy lawyer for more information regarding California bankruptcy exemptions.
California Means Test
The new bankruptcy laws enacted in 2005 also require that debtors pass a means test before filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. There are two ways to pass the means test:
1. the debtor's annual income (calculated using the average gross income for the six month period prior to filing) must be below the state median. Census Bureau statistics for state median income by family size can be found here.
2. If income exceeds the median income, individuals may still file Chapter 7 bankruptcy based on results ofForm 22A: Chapter 7 Statement of Current Monthly Income and Means-Test Calculation.
California Credit Counseling & Debtor Education Agencies
Pursuant to the new bankruptcy laws enacted in 2005, individuals who file personal bankruptcy (with limited exceptions) in California must:
1. take a credit counseling course from an approved California credit counseling provider within six months before filing bankruptcy; and
2. complete a debtor education course from an approved California debtor education agency prior to receiving a bankruptcy discharge.
California Personal Bankruptcy Attorneys
To find California bankruptcy lawyers in your area, you may want to contact your local county bar association or the California State Bar Association:
| San Francisco 180 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 538-2000 |
Los Angeles 1149 South Hill Street Los Angeles, CA 90015 (213) 765-1000 |
Sacramento 1201 K Street Suite 720 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 442-8018 |
Based on income, free bankruptcy advice and representation may also be obtained from the following organizations: See the Law Help California's website for a list of organizations that provide legal services to low income clients in California.
If you are concerned about the representation provided to you by a California bankruptcy attorney, contact:
Office of the Chief Trial Counsel/Intake
State Bar of California
1149 South Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(800) 843-9053 Toll Free
(213) 765-1200
Please visit the Bar Association's online guide to filing a complaint.
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Resources for California Bankruptcy Laws
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California - administrative and procedural information for Northern District of California bankruptcy filings
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California - administrative and procedural information for Central District of California bankruptcy filings
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California - administrative and procedural information for Eastern District of California bankruptcy filings
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California - administrative and procedural information for Southern District of California bankruptcy filings
Office of the U.S. Trustee for Region 17 - oversees the administration of Northern and Eastern Districts of California personal bankruptcy cases and case trustees
Office of the U.S. Trustee for Region 16 - oversees the administration of Central District of California personal bankruptcy cases and case trustees
Office of the U.S. Trustee for Region 15 - oversees the administration of Southern District of California personal bankruptcy cases and case trustees
California State Bar Association - information about the California bar, membership, ethics, continuing legal education, and resources for the public.
       
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