Filing Bankruptcy in Washington: Chapter 7 & Chapter 13, Step by Step
Washington has two federal bankruptcy districts — the Western District and the Eastern District — and which one hears your case depends on where you live. The federal process is the same statewide. Majors Law Group, P.C., an independent law firm, helps people across Washington file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.
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Bankruptcy.ai — the technology company
Bankruptcy.ai is a separate technology company (Majors.AI, LLC). It builds the software that organizes intake, documents, deadlines, and attorney review. It is not a law firm, is not your lawyer, and does not give legal advice.
Majors Law Group, P.C. — the law firm
Majors Law Group, P.C. is an independent law firm that helps people throughout Arizona and Washington file for bankruptcy relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code. Legal services come only from the firm's licensed attorneys.
How filing bankruptcy in Washington works
1. Take a free, confidential look at your situation
Start with the free qualifying interview or request a consultation. You share the basics — income, debts, assets, and what worries you most — and an attorney at Majors Law Group, P.C. reviews it. Nothing is filed, and there is no obligation.
2. Complete the required credit counseling course
Federal law requires every individual filer to complete an approved credit counseling course within the 180 days before filing. It is usually done online or by phone and takes about an hour. The U.S. Trustee Program publishes the list of approved providers.
3. Gather your documents
Most cases need recent pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, a list of debts, and information about property such as vehicles, a home, or retirement accounts. The Bankruptcy.ai platform lets clients upload these securely instead of mailing or emailing them.
4. Your attorney prepares and files the petition
Your attorney reviews everything, prepares the official bankruptcy forms, and files them with the federal bankruptcy court. The moment a case is filed, the automatic stay generally requires most creditors to stop collection activity.
5. Attend the meeting of creditors
A few weeks after filing, you attend a short meeting with the case trustee — usually by phone or video. The trustee asks questions under oath about the paperwork. Your attorney prepares you beforehand and attends with you.
6. Finish the debtor education course and complete your case
Before a discharge can be entered, filers complete a second short course on personal financial management. In a Chapter 7 case, the process often wraps up in roughly three to four months. A Chapter 13 case runs through a three- to five-year repayment plan.
Where Washington cases are filed
Western District of Washington
Western Washington, including the Puget Sound region and the southwest
Eastern District of Washington
Central and eastern Washington
Official court websites: www.wawb.uscourts.gov · www.waeb.uscourts.gov
What Washington law adds
Washington is one of the states that lets filers choose between the state exemption list and the federal exemption list. You pick one set, not a mix. Which set protects more depends entirely on your property and income, which is why an attorney compares both before filing.
Common questions about filing in Washington
Can I file bankruptcy in Washington without going to court?
In most consumer cases, the only required appearance is the meeting of creditors with the trustee, which in both Washington districts is generally held by phone or video.
Which Washington bankruptcy court do I file in?
It depends on the county where you live. Residents of western Washington generally file in the Western District, and residents of central and eastern Washington in the Eastern District. Your attorney confirms the correct court.
Should I choose Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 in Washington?
That depends on your income, your property, and what you want to keep or catch up on. It is a case-specific decision that a licensed Washington bankruptcy attorney should make with you.
Talk to a bankruptcy attorney serving Washington
Tell us a little about your situation and an attorney at Majors Law Group, P.C. will reach out.
Prefer to start on your own? Take the free qualifying interview →
Bankruptcy.AI is the technology platform of Majors.AI, LLC. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal services. Firms featured on this site, including Majors Law Group, P.C., are separate, independent law firms. This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Majors Law Group, P.C. is a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.