Newark Bankruptcy Statistics

If you are considering Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Newark, these statistics should inform your decision:

• 61.2% of cases are dismissed. That means the majority of filers spent months or years making payments and got no debt relief at the end.
• Only 38.8% receive a discharge. This is the percentage of filers who successfully complete their plan.
• 31.6% are prior filers. This high rate suggests many people cycle through the system without achieving lasting relief.
• An estimated 3,348 cases may involve potential 1328(f) eligibility violations -- filings where the debtor could never have received a discharge.
• Quality of representation matters. The data shows that representation quality is one of the strongest predictors of plan completion.

The Prior Filer Problem

31.6% of D.N.J. filers had a prior bankruptcy case. This cycling suggests the first filing failed to provide lasting relief -- and raises questions about whether filers were properly screened under section 1328(f).

3,348 Potential 1328(f) Violations

An estimated 3,348 cases may involve eligibility violations under 11 U.S.C. section 1328(f) -- filings where the debtor had a prior discharge within the statutory time bar and could never have received a new discharge.