These figures describe filings received by the federal bankruptcy courts. They are useful for understanding the scale and mix of cases in this area, but they do not predict the result of any individual case.
At a glance
Northern Illinois filing figures
Total bankruptcy filings in the Northern District of Illinois.
U.S. Courts sourceChapter 7 filings in the Northern District of Illinois.
U.S. Courts sourceChapter 13 filings in the Northern District of Illinois.
U.S. Courts sourceBankruptcy filings listed for Cook County.
U.S. Courts sourceBankruptcy filings listed for DuPage County.
U.S. Courts sourceBankruptcy filings listed for Kane County.
U.S. Courts sourceBy bankruptcy chapter
Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 accounted for nearly all local filings
Of the 23,483 filings reported for the Northern District of Illinois, 13,656 were Chapter 7 cases and 9,605 were Chapter 13 cases. The remaining filings included 219 Chapter 11 cases and three cases under other chapters.
| Chapter | Filings | Share of district filings |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 7 | 13,656 | 58.2% |
| Chapter 13 | 9,605 | 40.9% |
| Chapter 11 | 219 | 0.9% |
| Other chapters | 3 | Less than 0.1% |
Percentages are calculated from the U.S. Courts filing counts and rounded to one decimal place. View the federal filing table.
Nature of debt
Most reported filings involved nonbusiness debt
The federal table lists 22,668 Northern District filings as nonbusiness cases and 815 as business cases. That means nonbusiness cases made up about 96.5% of the filings in this reporting period.
County figures
Cook County had the largest reported local volume
The county report lists 15,399 filings for Cook County, 1,530 for DuPage County, and 879 for Kane County. Together, those three counties accounted for 17,808 filings in the reporting period.
Methodology and sources
How these figures were prepared
This page uses the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts’ public filing tables for the 12-month period ending September 30, 2026. The district figures come from Table F-2. County figures come from Report F-5A. The U.S. Courts updates these tables quarterly, so this page should be read with the reporting period in mind.
- Table F-2: Business and nonbusiness cases filed by chapter
- Report F-5A: Cases filed by district and county
Cite this page
The Law Firm of Charles Wm. Dobra, Ltd., “Northern Illinois Bankruptcy Statistics: 2026 Data,” last updated October 23, 2026. Available from Northern Illinois Bankruptcy Statistics.
Considering a bankruptcy filing?
Statistics can provide context, but a filing decision depends on your own income, property, debts, and goals. Review the firm’s Chapter 7 bankruptcy guidance or schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your situation.