Free Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator For Your State, County & Zip Code - Based on Bankruptcy Form 22A

Don't Know your Zip?...

Browse by City or State

Alabama Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Anniston | Birmingham | Dothan | Mobile | Montgomery | Opelika | Tuscaloosa |

Alaska Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Anchorage | Fairbanks | Juneau | Ketchikan | Nome |

Arizona Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Phoenix | Prescott Valley | Tucson | Yuma |

Arkansas Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Batesville | El Dorado | Fayetteville | Fort Smith | Harrison | Helena | Hot Springs | Jonesboro | Little Rock | Pine Bluff | Texarkana |

California Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Eureka | Fresno | Los Angeles | Modesto | Oakland | Riverside | Sacramento | Salinas | San Diego | San Francisco | San Jose | Santa Ana | Santa Barbara | Santa Rosa | Woodland Hills |

Colorado Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Denver | Grand Junction | Pueblo |

Connecticut Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Bridgeport | Hartford | New Haven |

Delaware Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Wilmington |

District of Columbia Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Washington |

Florida Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Fort Lauderdale | Fort Myers | Gainesville | Jacksonville | Miami | Orlando | Panama City | Pensacola | Tallahassee | Tampa | Viera | West Palm Beach |

Georgia Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Atlanta | Augusta | Brunswick | Columbus | Dublin | Gainesville | Macon | Newnan | Rome | Savannah | Statesboro | Waycross |

Hawaii Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Honolulu |

Idaho Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Boise | Coeur d Alene | Moscow | Pocatello |

Illinois Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Benton | Chicago | Danville | East Saint Louis | Peoria | Rockford | Springfield |

Indiana Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Evansville | Fort Wayne | Hammond | Indianapolis | Lafayette | New Albany | South Bend | Terre Haute |

Iowa Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Cedar Rapids | Des Moines | Dubuque | Fort Dodge | Independence | Mason City | Sioux City |

Kansas Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Kansas City | Topeka | Wichita |

Kentucky Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Ashland | Bowling Green | Covington | Frankfort | Lexington | London | Louisville | Owensboro | Paducah | Pikeville |

Louisiana Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Alexandria | Baton Rouge | Lafayette | New Orleans | Shreveport |

Maine Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Bangor | Portland |

Maryland Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Baltimore | Greenbelt | Salisbury |

Massachusetts Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Boston | Hyannis | Springfield | Worcester |

Michigan Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Bay City | Detroit | Flint | Grand Rapids | Kalamazoo | Lansing | Marquette | Traverse City |

Minnesota Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Duluth | Fergus Falls | Minneapolis | Saint Paul |

Mississippi Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Aberdeen | Greenville | Gulfport | Hattiesburg | Jackson | Oxford |

Missouri Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Cape Girardeau | Hannibal | Kansas City | Saint Louis |

Montana Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Billings | Butte | Great Falls | Kalispell | Missoula |

Nebraska Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Lincoln | Omaha |

Nevada Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Las Vegas | Reno |

New Hampshire Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Manchester |

New Jersey Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Camden | Newark | Trenton |

New Mexico Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Albuquerque | Las Cruces | Roswell |

New York Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Albany | Brooklyn | Buffalo | Islip | New York | Poughkeepsie | Rochester | Syracuse | Utica | White Plains |

North Carolina Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Asheville | Charlotte | Greensboro | Raleigh | Wilson | Winston Salem |

North Dakota Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Bismarck | Fargo | Grand Forks | Minot |

Ohio Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Akron | Canton | Cincinnati | Cleveland | Columbus | Dayton | Toledo | Youngstown |

Oklahoma Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Oklahoma City | Okmulgee | Tulsa |

Oregon Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Eugene | Portland |

Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Erie | Harrisburg | Johnstown | Philadelphia | Pittsburgh | Reading | Wilkes Barre |

Rhode Island Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Providence |

South Carolina Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Charleston | Columbia | Spartanburg |

South Dakota Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Aberdeen | Pierre | Rapid City | Sioux Falls |

Tennessee Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Chattanooga | Greeneville | Jackson | Knoxville | Memphis | Nashville | Winchester |

Texas Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Albilene | Amarillo | Austin | Beaumont | Corpus Christi | Dallas | El Paso | Fort Worth | Galveston | Houston | Laredo | Lubbock | Midland | Plano | San Angelo | San Antonio | Tyler | Waco | Wichita Falls |

Utah Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Ogden | Saint George | Salt Lake City |

Vermont Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Rutland |

Virginia Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Alexandria | Newport News | Norfolk | Richmond | Roanoke |

Washington Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Seattle | Spokane | Tacoma | Yakima |

West Virginia Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Beckley | Bluefield | Charleston | Clarksburg | Huntington | Parkersburg | Wheeling |

Wisconsin Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Eau Claire | Madison | Milwaukee |

Wyoming Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator

Casper | Cheyenne |

Help Topics

• What is the Means Test?
• Do I need to complete the Means Test?
• How long does it take?
• Household Size
  (When is a family of 3 not a family of 3?)
• Roommates & domestic partners? contributions to household income
• Other noteworthy calculators on the Web
• If I pass the Means Test, can a judge still prevent me from filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy?
• If I fail the Means Test, can a judge still let me file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy?
• What are "priority claims" on line 44?

What is the means test?

You may have read that the new bankruptcy law imposes a "means test" on who can file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

You might think this new test will prevent you from filing. But, chances are, you're wrong. Most people considering bankruptcy have no trouble passing the means test. Indeed, some lawyers think more people will qualify for Chapter 7 under this test than under the old law, where judges had no fixed formula.

Use this calculator find out where you stand.

The Formula

The law now uses a standard mathematical formula to determine whether you can file for Chapter 7 -- or, to put it in legal terms, whether filing for Chapter 7 would be an 'abuse' of the bankruptcy system. (Those who fail the means test, are left with a Chapter 13 repayment plan as their only bankruptcy option.)

The means test is actually a two-part test and you only need to pass one of them to qualify for Chapter 7.

Test 1. "Median Income"
This is a very simple test that compares your average household income for the past six calendar months to the median income for your state, If your income is below the median, you qualify for Chapter 7. If it is above the median, you must pass Test 2.

Test 2. "Disposable Income"
This test deducts expenses from your income to determine how much you can pay your unsecured creditors over the next five years:

• If you can pay at least $10,950 ($182.50 per month), you can't file for Chapter 7.
• If you can pay at least $6,575 ( about $110 per month) and that is at least 25% of what you currently owe your unsecured creditors, you can't file for Chapter 7.
• If your disposable income is less than $110 per month, you can file for Chapter 7.

Certain deductions are standard allowances based on the number of vehicles you operate, the number of people in your household, and the cost of living in Maricopa County.

In addition, to these standard deductions, you can also deduct the full amount of certain actual expenses such as mortgage and vehicle loan payments.

Do I need to complete the means test?

If you are filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you do not need to complete the means test. However, you do need to complete a form almost identical to it — and that will determine how much you must pay in a Chapter 13 plan.

If you want to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must at least complete the first part of the form to figure your "current monthly income" (CMI), which is based on your average income over the past six calendar months. That number will determine whether you must complete the rest of the form.

If your CMI is below the median income for Arizona for a household your size, then you do not need to complete the means test.

If your CMI is higher than the median for Arizona for a household your size, you must complete the means test to compute your monthly "disposable" income (that is, income minus expenses). The result of that computation will determine whether you are eligible for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

How long does this take?

Using this calculator takes about 20 minutes. For some, the answer may be obvious after only a few questions.

Is it private?

This calculator is completely anonymous. We do not ask -- and no not want -- any personally identifying information linking you to these numbers, other than a zip code. We do keep statistical data on amounts that user have entered, so that the site may monitor the needs of its users and adjust services accordingly. However, To us, this is data for statistical analysis only. For more information. See the privacy notice.

Garbage in, garbage out

If you don't put in the correct numbers in the correct blanks, this calculator won't give you an accurate result. It only does the math. It is your responsibility to put the right numbers in the right blanks. Helpful resources are available throughout the test to help you figure out what the form is asking for and what to put where.

Be sure to account for all the different kinds of income you receive. If you're not sure what to put in an 'expense' blank, skip it. You may find that it doesn't' matter -- that is, you may qualify regardless of what number you put in that blank.

If you need assistance, this website has listing of books and local services that offer bankruptcy help.

Where to find the Official Means Test form

If you end up actually filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy you need to fill out official form (22A). which you can find here. This calculator is based on that form.

Household Size: When is a family of 3 not a family of 3?

This is a topic that has been discussed in various blogs here and here.

The issue of household size can be tricky in cases of shared custody, children who live at college part of the year, or non-custodial children living in the household.

There will undoubtedly be litigation on this subject. The official form seems to suggest that the issue is whether the person is part of the household and is a dependent. (That is, you can't include a roommate who is not your dependent in your household size, yet you may have to include the portion of their income that contributes to the overall income of the household. See the help topic on that subject. This can be an issue for same-sex couples who cannot legally marry.)

Contributions of roommates or domestic partners to household income

At least one site on the web has addressed this issue. King's Bankruptcy Media (a lawyer's website) states what appears to be the correct rule: that, if a roommate or domestic partner is contributing income to the household, then that portion of the roommate's income must be included in the overall amount of 'household income' on line 8 of the official form, where it asks for "contributions to household income."

Other Noteworthy Calculators on the Web

CNN/Money Magazine's Budget Calculator compares your monthly expenses to national averages for people with your income and home situation. It's not localized by location.

The bankruptcy court for the Middle District of Florida provides an Excel worksheet of a means test calculator, but it only has figures for counties in that Florida district.

ChooseToSave.org offers an extensive list of calculators for all types of financial decisions including car loans, credit cards, college savings, to retirement savings options.

If I Pass the Means Test, Can I still be barred from filing bankruptcy?

Yes, you can still be barred from filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Passing the means test removes one barrier: it means that you are not "presumed" to be "abusing" the bankruptcy system. It is an essential first step, and for most people, that is that. They are clear to file.

However, in some cases, a bankruptcy judge may rule that you're abusing the system based on other conduct that has been brought to the court's attention. See the examples below

Example 1: In Iowa, a judge ruled that a debtor was abusing the system because in the year preceding his bankruptcy, he received substantial sums of money from various sources and spent it all on unnecessary indulgences, rather than pay down his debt. In re James, 345 B.R. 664 (Bkrtcy.N.D.Iowa 2006).

Example 2: In another example, a Northern California court denied a debtor the right to file Chapter 7 because the debtor was about to have a substantial increase in income. In re Pak, 343 B.R. 239 (Bkrtcy.N.D.Cal. 2006).

Other courts have ruled just the opposite -- that the new law prevents them from looking at anything other than the income six months prior to filing. See. e.g., In re Rotunda, (Bkrtcy.N.D.N.Y.) (chapter 13 plan approved based on income for six months prior to filing).

The debate remains unresolved as of this writing (October 2006).

For more information see, Morgan King's Guide to Bankruptcy Practice (Question #26) and Kevin Chern's Bankruptcy Lawyer's Blog.

If I fail the Means Test, can a judge allow me to file anyway?

Yes, a judge can allow you to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy even if you fail the means test, but only you are able able to show "special circumstances."

Some examples of possible "special circumstances" are job loss or pay cut, a serious medical condition, or unusually high child care expenses.  You must be able to produce proof of your expenses and that your expenses are reasonable -- and that you have no reasonable alternative.

What are "priority claims"?

This is a technical term used in bankruptcy law. A list of the most common priority claims can be found on Form 10 (Proof of Claim). These include

• past due debts for child and spousal support,
• most unpaid taxes, and wages,
• salaries or commissions you owe to employees and
• contributions you owe to an employee benefit fund.

The full list of the nine types of priority debt is found in section 507(a) of the bankruptcy code.

Alabama Bankruptcy Law, Alaska Bankruptcy Law, Arizona Bankruptcy Law, Arkansas Bankruptcy Law, California Bankruptcy Law, Colorado Bankruptcy Law, Connecticut Bankruptcy Law, Delaware Bankruptcy Law, District of Columbia Bankruptcy Law, Florida Bankruptcy Law, Georgia Bankruptcy Law, Hawaii Bankruptcy Law, Idaho Bankruptcy Law, Illinois Bankruptcy Law, Indiana Bankruptcy Law, Iowa Bankruptcy Law, Kansas Bankruptcy Law, Kentucky Bankruptcy Law, Louisiana Bankruptcy Law, Maine Bankruptcy Law, Maryland Bankruptcy Law, Massachusetts Bankruptcy Law, Michigan Bankruptcy Law, Minnesota Bankruptcy Law, Mississippi Bankruptcy Law, Missouri Bankruptcy Law, Montana Bankruptcy Law, Nebraska Bankruptcy Law, Nevada Bankruptcy Law, New Hampshire Bankruptcy Law, New Jersey Bankruptcy Law, New Mexico Bankruptcy Law, New York Bankruptcy Law, North Carolina Bankruptcy Law, North Dakota Bankruptcy Law, Ohio Bankruptcy Law, Oklahoma Bankruptcy Law, Oregon Bankruptcy Law, Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Law, Rhode Island Bankruptcy Law, South Carolina Bankruptcy Law, South Dakota Bankruptcy Law, Tennessee Bankruptcy Law, Texas Bankruptcy Law, Utah Bankruptcy Law, Vermont Bankruptcy Law, Virginia Bankruptcy Law, Washington Bankruptcy Law, West Virginia Bankruptcy Law, Wisconsin Bankruptcy Law, Wyoming Bankruptcy Law