Where Do You File Bankruptcy if You Live in San Mateo County? Alameda County? The San Jose Area?

One of the most common questions this office gets is where a bankruptcy case is filed.  Where the case is filed can have a significant impact on the administration of the case.  Different judges have different policies, procedures, and customs.  If you live in the San Francisco Peninsula (for example Daly City, San Mateo, South San Francisco, Pacifica, Redwood City, or San  Bruno) or the City of San Francisco, your case will be probably need to be filed in San Francisco, and you will need to appear at least once at the courthouse downtown to give testimony.  If you live in Alameda County or Contra Costa County, the case will probably be filed in Oakland.  If you live in Santa Clara County, your case will probably be filed in San Jose.  This office regularly represents clients in all three of these courthouses.  As a practical matter, when you use an attorney your bankruptcy documents will be filed with the court electronically.  However, complex rules apply to determine what law applies to a particular case.  Individuals who lived out of state in recent years may need to use their prior state exemptions, or federal exemptions.  Questions?  Contact us for a free consultation.