Bankruptcy courts · Beverly Hills
Which Bankruptcy Court Will Hear My Case?
Which bankruptcy court will hear your case depends on where you live, usually by ZIP code. If you live in Los Angeles County, your case goes to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, at its Los Angeles, Woodland Hills or Santa Barbara courthouse. Call (310) 362-9071 and we will tell you which one is yours.
- The Central District of California has five divisions
- Our clients' cases are heard in three of them
- Your ZIP code decides which one
At a glance
How the Central District is divided
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California covers Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. It splits that area into five divisions.
| Division | Courthouse | Area it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Roybal Federal Building, 255 East Temple Street, Los Angeles | Los Angeles County, except ZIP codes served by the Northern and San Fernando Valley Divisions |
| San Fernando Valley | 21041 Burbank Boulevard, Woodland Hills | The northwest part of Los Angeles County and a small part of Ventura County |
| Northern | 1415 State Street, Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, most of Ventura County, and a small part of Los Angeles County, including Malibu |
| Riverside | Riverside | Riverside and San Bernardino Counties |
| Santa Ana | Santa Ana | Orange County |
The division areas come from the court's manual, which assigns each case by the debtor's city and ZIP code. Addresses come from the court's location pages on cacb.uscourts.gov.
Your ZIP code decides your courthouse
Your ZIP code decides your courthouse. The court keeps a list of the communities and ZIP codes that go to the San Fernando Valley and Northern Divisions. Everything else in Los Angeles County goes to the Los Angeles Division.
Some results surprise people. Malibu is in Los Angeles County, but the court names it as part of the Northern Division, so Malibu cases go to Santa Barbara. Calabasas and the City of San Fernando go to Woodland Hills. Burbank and Glendale sit next to the Valley, but they are not on the Valley list, so they go to Los Angeles.
The City of Los Angeles is split. Valley neighborhoods, such as Woodland Hills, go to the San Fernando Valley Division. The rest of the city goes to the Los Angeles Division. If you live in the City of Los Angeles, we check your ZIP code against the court's list. The court also has a Court Locator on its website.
The cities we serve and their division
Here is where cases from each of the 30 cities we serve are heard. See all our locations.
| City | Division | Courthouse |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Los Angeles or San Fernando Valley, by ZIP code | Los Angeles or Woodland Hills |
| West Hollywood | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Culver City | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Santa Monica | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Inglewood | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Burbank | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Glendale | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Pasadena | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| South Pasadena | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Alhambra | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Monterey Park | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Montebello | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Commerce | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Vernon | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Huntington Park | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Bell | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Maywood | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Lynwood | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Compton | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Gardena | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Hawthorne | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Lawndale | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| El Segundo | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Manhattan Beach | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Hermosa Beach | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Redondo Beach | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Torrance | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| Calabasas | San Fernando Valley | Woodland Hills |
| San Fernando | San Fernando Valley | Woodland Hills |
| Malibu | Northern | Santa Barbara |
Beverly Hills, where our office is, is in the Los Angeles Division. You meet with us in Beverly Hills or by video no matter which courthouse hears your case.
What happens in person and what happens by video
Most of a bankruptcy case happens on paper and online, not in a courtroom. Here is what to expect.
- Filing. Lawyers file cases electronically. You do not need to go to the courthouse to file.
- The 341 meeting. The U.S. Trustee for Region 16 holds Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 meetings of creditors by Zoom for cases filed on or after May 1, 2024. There is a phone option, and in-person meetings are rare. See the 341 meeting of creditors.
- Court hearings. Many Chapter 7 cases have no hearing that you must attend. When there is a hearing, each judge posts rules on whether you may appear by video or phone.
- The clerk's office. Each courthouse's clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, except federal holidays. In-person intake visits are by appointment.
If you do need to go to a courthouse, expect to pass through a metal detector. Each division page lists what the court says about parking.
What to watch for
- Using a mailing address instead of where you live. The court looks at your residence.
- A recent move. Where you have lived in the last 180 days can affect where you file. Tell us if you moved recently.
- Guessing from your city name. In the City of Los Angeles, two neighbors in different ZIP codes can go to different courthouses.
- Assuming you must travel. Your 341 meeting is by video in most cases, even for Santa Barbara cases.
What it costs
- Chapter 7: flat attorney fee from $1,200, plus the $338 court filing fee
- Chapter 13: attorney fee quoted in writing, and part of it can be paid through the plan
- Payment plans are available, and the first consultation is free
Bankruptcy court questions
Which bankruptcy court hears my case in Los Angeles County?
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California hears your case if you live in Los Angeles County. Your ZIP code decides whether it goes to Los Angeles, Woodland Hills or Santa Barbara.
Why does a Malibu case go to Santa Barbara?
A Malibu case goes to Santa Barbara because the court's rules name Malibu as part of the Northern Division, even though Malibu is in Los Angeles County.
Do Burbank and Glendale cases go to Woodland Hills?
No, Burbank and Glendale cases go to the Los Angeles Division, not Woodland Hills. They are not on the court's San Fernando Valley list.
Will I have to go to the courthouse?
You may not have to go to the courthouse at all. Filing is electronic, and 341 meetings in this region are held by Zoom for cases filed on or after May 1, 2024. Some hearings can be attended by video or phone, depending on the judge.
Can I file in a different division if it is closer to work?
No, you generally cannot pick a division because it is closer to work. The court assigns cases by where you live. We check this for you before filing.
Free consultation
Find out which courthouse is yours
Call (310) 362-9071 or send the form. Tell us your ZIP code and we will tell you where your case goes.
Law Offices of John Asuncion9454 Wilshire Blvd., Penthouse Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(310) 362-9071
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.