Joel R. Glucksman
Partner
201-896-7095 jglucksman@sh-law.comFirm Insights
Bankruptcy Filings Fall, Chapter 11 Filings Rise Compared to April 2019
Author: Joel R. Glucksman
Date: May 7, 2020
Key Contacts
Back
The American Bankruptcy Institute reports that the government’s measures in April appear to have helped individual citizens avoid bankruptcy…
The American Bankruptcy Institute reports that the government’s measures in April appear, for now, to have helped individual citizens avoid bankruptcy. Note, however, the rise in commercial Ch. 11 filings – both year-over-year and month-on-month.
Total U.S. bankruptcy filings in April 2020 decreased 46 percent from the previous year, according to data provided by Epiq Systems, Inc. Bankruptcy filings totaled 38,428 in April 2020, down from the April 2019 total of 71,303. The 36,150 consumer bankruptcy filings in April 2020 were down 47 percent from the April 2019 consumer total of 67,802. Total commercial filings decreased 35 percent in April 2020, as the 2,278 filings were down from the 3,501 commercial filings registered in April 2019. Conversely, total commercial Chapter 11 filings were up 26 percent to 560 in April 2020 from the April 2019 total of 444.
“The extraordinary measures taken by Congress and the Administration to assist individuals and businesses weather the initial economic shock caused by the pandemic have likely staved off bankruptcy filings to date,” said ABI Executive Director Amy Quackenboss. “As financial challenges continue to escalate amid this crisis, bankruptcy is sure to offer a financial safe harbor from the economic storm.”
April’s total bankruptcy filings represented a 39 percent decrease when compared to the 62,866 total filings recorded the previous month. Total noncommercial filings for April also represented a 39 percent decrease from the March 2020 noncommercial filing total of 59,684. The commercial filing total represented a 28 percent decrease from the March 2020 commercial filing total of 3,182. Commercial chapter 11 filings increased 6 percent from the 530 filings in March 2020.
The average nationwide per capita bankruptcy filing rate in April was 2.09 (total filings per 1,000 per population), a decrease from the 2.29 filing rate during the first three months of the year. Average total filings per day in April 2020 were 3,239, a 3 percent decrease from the 3,323 total daily filings in April 2019. States with the highest per capita filing rates (total filings per 1,000 population) in April 2020 were:
1. Alabama (5.02)
2. Tennessee (4.44)
3. Mississippi (3.99)
4. Georgia (3.78)
5. Delaware (3.52)
If you have questions, please contact us
If you have any questions or if you would like to discuss the matter further, please contact me, Joel Glucksman, or the Scarinci Hollenbeck attorney with whom you work, at 201-896-4100.
- Practices: Corporate Transactions & Business, Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights
- Locations: Red Bank, NJ, New York City, Little Falls, NJ
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Related Posts
See all
Crisis-Proofing Your New Jersey Business: Building a Crisis Response Plan Before You Need One
For New Jersey businesses, crisis preparedness should be viewed as a legal and operational function, not simply an emergency-management exercise. A well-designed crisis response plan can help preserve evidence, protect confidential communications, meet reporting obligations, limit unnecessary exposure, and prevent an already difficult situation from becoming a larger legal problem. Key Takeaways A serious crisis […]
Author: Sean M. Pena
Monmouth County's Next Development Wave: What Developers and Investors Need to Know
Monmouth County is entering a significant new phase of development. For those looking to acquire property or undertake a new project, understanding the market opportunity is only the beginning. The more important question is whether a particular property can actually be developed as contemplated and what approvals, agreements, and other conditions will be required to […]
Author: Donald M. Pepe
Are Your Conversations with AI Shielded from Discovery? Courts Are Split
Whether a client’s prompts to a generative AI tool and the documents it produces are protected from disclosure depends on the case type, who claims protection, and whether counsel was involved. In United States v. Heppner, a New York federal judge ruled that a criminal defendant’s communications with an AI platform were protected by neither […]
Author: Chris Seelinger
Guardianships in New Jersey: When a Loved One Can No Longer Manage Personal or Financial Affairs
When a family member can no longer make important decisions for themself, the question is often not whether the family will step in, but whether they have the legal authority to do so. A spouse may manage household finances, or an adult child may arrange medical care and pay bills. Still, informal assistance does not […]
Author: Marc J. Comer
New Jersey’s Revised UHAC Regulations: What Residential Developers Need to Know About Affordable Housing Commitments
New Jersey residential developers with affordable housing obligations should carefully review their existing approvals, development agreements, and proposed deed restrictions in light of the State’s revised UHAC regulations (Uniform Housing Affordability Controls). The regulations, which took effect on November 6, 2025, significantly change the administration and physical requirements for affordable housing units. For developers with […]
Author: Wendy Rubinstein Quiroga
“No Comment” Culture: Why Silence Is Often the Riskiest Legal Strategy
A “no comment” response is sometimes the right call when a legal problem arises. As a blanket policy, however, it lets allegations go unanswered, deadlines pass, evidence disappear, and manageable disputes grow into expensive litigation. The businesses that fare best are usually the ones that say little publicly while acting decisively behind the scenes. When […]
Author: Sean M. Pena
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!
Explore What Matters Most to You.
Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.
Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.