Bankruptcy filings up 15% in Toledo area

12/2/2017

Case filings in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Toledo rose 15 percent in November, the sixth time this year that monthly totals have exceeded the same period a year ago, according to figures released Friday by the Clerk of Courts office.

Last year, bankruptcy filings increased just four times — and only once by double-digits. The 15 percent increase last month was the fourth time this year bankruptcies have increased by 10 percent or more.

November filings totaled 312 cases, up from with 266 cases filed a year earlier in the 21 northwest Ohio counties covered by the court. Of those filed, 282 were Chapter 7 liquidation cases, an increase of 15 percent, while 29 were Chapter 13 repayment cases, an increase of 14 percent.

Through the first 11 months, 3,749 cases have been filed, an increase of less than 1 percent compared with a year ago. Chapter 7 cases are running 1 percent behind 2016 while Chapter 13 cases are 17 percent ahead of last year.