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. 26–Nov. 1, 2026, 166 cases were filed here: 95 Chapter 7 and 70 Chapter 13. Nationally, 16,439 cases were filed in the courts I track, the busiest week since I started counting last October.
That’s up from 140 the week before. Before you picture a line out the courthouse door, look at the calendar. Last week ended the month, and month-end weeks run high every single time, like the gym in January. The same week last year had 165 cases here. So, about the same.
The bigger picture: flat
Look at four weeks instead of one and things settle down. Over the last four weeks, Chapter 7 filings in our district totaled 297, up 3% from the four weeks before. Chapter 13 totaled 209, down 4%. Nationally, filings were up 3%. Anything within about 5% I call flat, and that’s what all three are. The 13-week averages say the same thing: about 74 Chapter 7 cases and 54 Chapter 13 cases a week here.
Over the past year, Chapter 7 filings here ran about 70 a week last fall and winter, climbed to about 87 a week during tax-refund season (with a high of 121 the week of Feb. 23), and have settled around 74 since. Chapter 13 has been the steady one, around 46 to 54 a week all year. Nationally, filings stepped up from about 10,800 a week last fall to about 12,200 a week since January and have stayed there.
The official national numbers point the same direction. According to Epiq’s figures published by the American Bankruptcy Institute, total U.S. bankruptcy filings in September 2026 were 52,299, up 6% from September 2025. So filings are a bit higher than a year ago, but they aren’t climbing week to week.
What this means if you’re struggling with debt
The court’s weekly count doesn’t decide anything about your case. Your situation does. But a few things are worth knowing:
- You’re in good company. 166 households and businesses in our part of Missouri filed last week. Bankruptcy is a legal tool, not a character flaw.
- 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 keep a house or car.
- The holidays are coming. If the only way to pay for December is another credit card, get advice before January’s statements arrive, not after.
- Don’t ignore a lawsuit. People often come see me after a garnishment has already started. You usually have more options if you get advice earlier.
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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