Bankruptcy / New York / New York

Filing Bankruptcy in New York: 7 Things You Need to Know

Written by Ben Tejes
Updated Apr 16th, 2024

You are considering filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy in New York. Bankruptcy is a common debt relief choice. In fact, many people in New York have received bankruptcy relief, and New York is no different. In fact, there were 16,723 bankruptcies filed in New York in the year ending June 30, 2021 (Source). With a population of 8336817, I’d estimate a fair number of those were in New York.

The purpose of this article is to provide an extensive list of filing bankruptcy in New York including:

  1. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in New York
  2. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in New York
  3. New York Bankruptcy Attorney Fees
  4. Finding a Reputable Bankruptcy Lawyer in New York
  5. Estimating Loss of Belonging (i.e.
  6. Getting Bankruptcy Help in New York
  7. Bankruptcy Alternatives and Conclusion

Without further ado, let’s get started with Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in New York

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the most common consumer bankruptcy in the United States. People appreciate the simplicity of Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the cost of the Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and the speed of debt relief. For example, in New York, you could get debt relief in about 120 days with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

One of the challenges of Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New York is that you have to qualify. In order to qualify in New York, you often have to pass the New York bankruptcy means test. You can estimate that qualification below in New York. Let’s cover how you can qualify.

Chapter 7 Qualification

The first part of the means test is to understand your income in relation to the median income levels for New York. It considers the average family size and income.

To estimate your qualification, you can take the New York Chapter 7 qualification calculator below that is specific to New York.

Finally, the most recent New York median income levels is for cases filed on or after April 1, 2024, and can be found below. 

# of PeopleAnnual Income
1$66,824
2$86,501
3$105,478
4$130,591
5$140,491
6$150,391
7$160,291
8$170,191
9$180,091

If your income exceeds the median, you can move on to the second part of the means test to estimate qualification. The second part of the means test is to understand your actual expenses. You can check out our guide covering trying to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy above the median.

For example, the average median rent amount in New York is $1443, but let's say your rent is almost double that amount. Could you potentially still qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy because of those additional expenses? What you are able to state as ab expense is limited, and you can refer to the current national standard for the maximum amounts, but you may want to speak with your attorney about this situation.

Which Could Would You File In If You Live In New York?

New York is located in the New York Southern district, so our understanding is that you would be filing your bankruptcy in the Manhattan bankruptcy court. Here's the estimated information we have for your court:

Manhattan Bankruptcy Court
Address: 1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004
Phone: (212) 668-2870

Does that mean you would have to drive to court?

Not necessarily. 

Please note that main meeting for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the 341 meeting of creditors, which is often online via Zoom or another teleconference after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Chapter 13 bankruptcy is known as a wage-earner bankruptcy. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a voluntary reorganization of debt.  In Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the individual has debt that they can no longer manage and often own assets that exceed state and/or federal relief. Folks file Chapter 13 bankruptcy often when they do not qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  

Most individuals in New York will qualify for Chapter 13 bankruptcy as long as they are below the debt limits.

Compared to Chapter 7, there is no liquidation in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. Although, the discharge won’t be until around 3 to 5 years. The Chapter 13 bankruptcy will stay on your credit report for 7 years.

New York Bankruptcy Attorney Fees

When looking for a bankruptcy attorney, we recommend that you look for these 5 attributes: Rate, Reliability, Referrals, Reviews, and Relevancy. You can check our guide to find a top bankruptcy attorney in New York.

The estimated Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyer fee in New York is: $795 - $2400.

The estimated Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyer fee in New York is: $3500 - $7500. The Chapter 13 attorney fee is often set across the district, meaning that all Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorneys in a district may charge around the same fee.

New York Bankruptcy Attorneys

One of the most important things to do is to find a reputable bankruptcy attorney in New York if you decide to hire one. This is legal advice related to finances that are going to affect your future. For example, making sure you are in the right bankruptcy chapter (Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13) could cost you thousands more and take you years longer.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Lawyer

As stated above, New York has a population of 8336817. In many cases, individuals in larger cities such as New York City or Buffalo would like a bankruptcy lawyer close by. In smaller cities, I have found that individuals have questions about whether the bankruptcy will show up in the newspaper or whether friends will hear about it. This is a valid question.

Regardless, you can check the Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyers in or near New York using the table below. You just need to input your zip code, and voila, you can choose which Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyer you would like to speak to near or far away from New York in a free bankruptcy lawyer consultation

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Lawyer

Filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy in New York may be a bit more intensive, so you may consider a Chapter 13 bankruptcy that is closer to you. That said, with the internet and the pandemic, many of the meetings are now online and you can generally submit your documentation online as well.

How much a Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney often charges is based on what's called a no-look fee. We do our best to track the Chapter 13 attorney fee in New York.

Bankruptcy Exemptions in New York

As you live in New York, you are often able to use the New York bankruptcy exemptions to help you keep your belongings.

One of the biggest questions people have is whether they are able to keep their homes in bankruptcy. This is where bankruptcy exemptions come into play. As New York has a home ownership % of 32.7% and an estimated estimated home value of $605702, you can understand that many people want to keep this asset. You can often keep your assets using bankruptcy exemptions.

Here are the New York bankruptcy exemptions. The exemptions are revised on different occasions, so you may wish to check the most current information on exemptions. Also, as a reference, New York is a place that allows you to use federal bankruptcy exemptions. You often have to choose which one to use, so a bankruptcy attorney can help you with that option.

Homestead Exemption

The homestead exemption is often broken down by age and whether you are married. 

  • Single and under 65: Specific By Region
  • Single is 65 or older: Specific By Region
  • Married and under 65: Specific By Region
  • Married is 65 or older: Specific By Region

New York specific homestead bankruptcy exemption text: “N.Y. Civ. Prac. L. and R. § 5206(a). *Real property including co-op, condo, or mobile home, to $165,550 for the counties of Kings, New York, Queens, Bronx, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, Westchester, and Putnam; $131,325 for the counties of Dutchess, Albany, Columbia, Orange, Saratoga, and Ulster; $82,775 for the remaining counties in the state. Husband and wife may double.” (Source)

Automobile Exemption

The automobile bankruptcy exemption in New York is $4,825.

Jewelry Exemption

The jewelry bankruptcy exemption in New York is $1,175.

Tools of Trade Exemption

The tools of the trade bankruptcy exemption in New York is $3,575.

Wildcard Exemption

The wildcard bankruptcy exemption in New York is $1,175.

Cash Exemption

The cash bankruptcy exemption in New York is $6,000.

Personal Property Exemption

The personal property bankruptcy exemption in New York is $1,175.

Special Exemption Handling for New York

Below is specific special handling of bankruptcy exemptions in New York.

  • Automobile: up to $11,975 is owned by disabled debtor
  • Personal: up to $1,175 per person

Bankruptcy Help in New York

Unemployment can cause both frustration and angst about options. The most recent statistic I found is that the New York unemployment rate is 6.3%. There may be resources available to help. In addition to the unemployment rate, New York has a disability rate of 10.8%. As such, if you are truly in need and don’t have income, there are resources that may be available that can help you.

Check out the legal aid and free resources that may be available in New York.

Legal Aid and Free Resources

Here are some legal aid resources that may be helpful to you in New York.

The bankruptcy court and district may have free resources that are available to you. I have included the information below. 

Lastly, New York also has a limited English rate of 14.5% and a poverty rate of 17.9%. If you have limited English, you may check out the court websites for New York for additional information on how you can be served. You can also see how filing bankruptcy without an attorney can work if you cannot afford a bankruptcy lawyer.

Courts and Districts in New York

Northern District

  • Suite 509
    445 Broadway
    Albany, NY 12207
  • Binghamton U.S. Courthouse
    15 Henry St.
    Binghamton, NY 13901
  • The Gateway Building
    14 Durkee St.
    Plattsburgh, NY 12901
  • 100 S. Clinton St.
    Syracuse, NY 13261
  • 10 Broad St.
    Utica, NY 13501

Southern

  • 500 Pearl Street
    New York, New York 10007
  • 300 Quarropas Street
    White Plains, New York 10601

Eastern

  • 225 Cadman Plaza East
    Brooklyn, NY 11201
  • 100 Federal Plaza
    Central Islip, NY 11722`

Western

  • 2 Niagara Square
    Buffalo, NY 14202
  • 100 State Street
    Rochester, NY 14614

Debt Settlement in New York

One of the most common alternatives to bankruptcy is debt settlement. A debt settlement firm would negotiate for a lower amount due on your debt in the case of financial hardship. The goal would be to reduce your debt in half. In this case, you would have a lower monthly payment.

If you are looking at debt settlement in New York, you may want to consider a national debt settlement firm to a local one in New York. For example, most of your creditors are probably national banks instead of local New York banks. As such, you can potentially get lower fees by using a national firm. You should strongly consider the pros and cons and credit score impact before taking the plunge as Ascend only recommends 2 debt settlement firms nationwide that both offer free phone evaluations.

Conclusion

Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy in New York can provide debt relief. That said, you may want to consider the cost of bankruptcy in New York, the different bankruptcy chapters, reputable attorneys in New York and alternatives to help you make the most informed decision. 

You can also take our Chapter 7 vs Chapter calculator below to help you estimate the cost and qualification of Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy in New York.