Every Monday I count how many people filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. That’s the court that handles cases from St. Charles, St. Louis and the rest of eastern Missouri. For the week of Oct. 19–25, 2026, 140 cases were filed here: 82 Chapter 7 and 57 Chapter 13. Nationally, 11,858 cases were filed in the courts I track.
That’s a big jump from the week before, when our district had 103. Before anybody calls the evening news: weekly numbers bounce around like a kid after Halloween candy. A holiday, a month-end, or one busy afternoon at the clerk’s office can swing them by a third. Compared with the same week last year, our district is up 22% (140 vs. 115) while the national count is down 1%. One week is one week, though.
The bigger picture: pretty flat
Look at four weeks instead of one and things settle down. Over the last four weeks, Chapter 7 filings in our district totaled 284, about the same as the four weeks before (288). Chapter 13 totaled 227, up 24%, but most of that came from one unusually busy week at the end of September (88 Chapter 13 cases). Nationally, filings were up 4%. Over the last 13 weeks, all three are essentially flat.
Over the past year, Chapter 7 filings here have followed a familiar pattern. They ran about 68 a week last fall and winter, then climbed during tax-refund season to about 87 a week from mid-January to early April, with a high of 121 the week of Feb. 23. Since spring, Chapter 7 has settled at about 74 a week. Chapter 13 has been the steady one, around 50 a week all year.
The national numbers tell a similar story: about 10,700 a week last fall, a holiday low of 6,731 the week before Christmas, then about 12,200 a week since January. Month-end weeks run high everywhere, so don’t be surprised if next week’s count, which includes Oct. 31, pops again.
What this means if you’re struggling with debt
Not much, by itself. The court’s numbers don’t decide anything about your case. Your situation does. But here are a few things worth knowing:
- You’re not alone. About 140 households in our part of Missouri filed last week alone. Bankruptcy is a legal tool, not a moral failing.
- Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 do different jobs. Chapter 7 can wipe out many unsecured debts, like credit cards and medical bills, usually in a few months. Chapter 13 sets up a three-to-five-year repayment plan and is often used by people trying to catch up on a house or car.
- Don’t wait for the garnishment. People often come see me after a lawsuit or a wage garnishment has already started. You have more options if you get advice earlier.
- Think twice before raiding your retirement account to pay credit cards. Many retirement accounts are generally protected in bankruptcy, so ask a bankruptcy lawyer before you cash one out.
This is general information, not legal advice, and every case is different. I can’t promise any particular result, but I can tell you where you stand.
If you’re in St. Charles, St. Louis or anywhere nearby and the bills are winning, contact Markwell Law for a consultation. We’ll go through your situation in plain English and talk about whether bankruptcy makes sense for you, or whether it doesn’t.
Source: CourtListener docket data for U.S. Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Mo., and U.S. bankruptcy courts nationally; national figures cover most but not all courts.
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