What is the bankruptcy means test?

The bankruptcy means test determines whether you qualify to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. It compares your average monthly income over the past 6 months to your state's median income. If you're below the median, you automatically qualify. If above, you must pass a second part examining disposable income.

How much debt do you need to file bankruptcy?

There is no minimum debt amount required to file bankruptcy. However, most bankruptcy attorneys recommend filing only when debt exceeds what you can realistically repay within 5 years, typically $10,000 or more.

How long does bankruptcy stay on your credit report?

Chapter 7 bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years from the filing date. Chapter 13 bankruptcy stays for 7 years. Both affect your ability to get new credit, but the impact diminishes over time as you rebuild.

What states does this calculator support?

BankruptcyByState.net supports bankruptcy means test calculations for all 50 states using current federal and state-specific median income figures.

Privacy Policy — BankruptcyByState.net

Last updated: June 2026. BankruptcyByState.net collects minimal personal information. Our bankruptcy calculators run entirely in your browser — no financial data you enter is ever transmitted to our servers. This policy explains what we do collect, how we use it, and your rights.

1. Information We Collect

Calculator inputs: Never collected. Income, asset, and debt data you enter stays in your browser and is never sent to our servers.

Analytics data: We collect non-personal usage data (pages visited, browser type, general location, referrer) in aggregate to improve the site. This is not linked to any personal identity.

Email address (voluntary): If you submit your email to receive a PDF export or contact us, we store it solely to respond and, occasionally, to notify you of significant data updates. You can unsubscribe at any time by emailing beharris234@gmail.com with "Unsubscribe" in the subject.

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Attorneys in our directory are paid sponsors. When you use a contact link associated with a listing, your information goes directly to that attorney's firm — not to us. The attorney's own privacy policy governs how they handle it.

5. California Residents (CCPA)

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6. Contact

Privacy questions or data requests: beharris234@gmail.com — or visit our Contact page.