BANKRUPTCY INSIGHTS
Monthly U.S. Bankruptcy Filings Reports, Trends, and Commentary
April Bankruptcy Filings Show Continued Strength Entering Q2
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U.S. bankruptcy filings totaled 56,442 in April, up 13.51% from April 2025 and the highest April total since 2019. While filings eased from March, the decline was milder than the long-run seasonal pattern, leaving April at an elevated level as Q2 began.
Filings also came in 18.90% below the pre-Covid April average based on the 2017-2019 baseline, narrowing the gap from March and moving closer to more typical historical levels.
The filing mix also continued to shift toward Chapter 7. After starting the year at roughly a 60/38 split between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, the mix moved to about 66/33 by March and April, showing a shift toward liquidation cases rather than repayment plans.
On the business side, Chapter 11 and Subchapter V were both up more than 40% year over year in April, suggesting that commercial stress is still building, even if it is not yet driving the broader filing totals.
Read the full April 2026 Bankruptcy Insights Report and latest commentary on April bankruptcy filing trends.
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