U.S. Bankruptcy Filings Rise 11% to 574,314 in 2025 as Oklahoma Cases Climb to 7,453
Updated
Updated · cnhinews.com · Aug 17
U.S. Bankruptcy Filings Rise 11% to 574,314 in 2025 as Oklahoma Cases Climb to 7,453
3 articles · Updated · cnhinews.com · Aug 17
Summary
574,314 bankruptcy cases were filed nationwide in 2025, up 57,006 from 2024, while Oklahoma filings rose by 844 to 7,453.
Chapter 7 liquidation remains the main route for many low-income filers, Legal Aid attorneys in Tahlequah said, because clients often lack the resources for Chapter 11 or other repayment plans.
About $338 in filing fees, extensive records including pay stubs, tax returns and bank statements, and amendment costs of $35 or more can add hurdles even as bankruptcy can stop collection on discharged debts.
Older adults are increasingly seeking help, attorneys said, as wage garnishment can reach 25% in some cases and debt relief is being used with partners such as Cherokee Nation Human Services to reduce poverty risks.
Even with the 2025 increase, filings remain far below the 2,078,415 cases recorded nationally in 2005 and Oklahoma's 39,431 filings in 2020.