Louisiana Chapter 7 Means Test Calculator (2026)
The Louisiana Chapter 7 Means Test (Part 1)
Compare your household income to the Louisiana median for your household size, using U.S. Trustee figures effective July 15, 2026. Nothing you enter is stored.
Louisiana Chapter 7 Six-Month Income Worksheet
Enter each of the six complete calendar months used for the current monthly income calculation. The worksheet totals the period, calculates the monthly average, and annualizes it. Nothing entered here is stored.
| Household Size | Annual Median | Monthly Equivalent | Six-Month Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $59,447 | $4,954 | $29,724 |
| 2 | $72,348 | $6,029 | $36,174 |
| 3 | $84,602 | $7,050 | $42,301 |
| 4 | $103,628 | $8,636 | $51,814 |
For households larger than four, add $11,100 per additional person to the annual figure. Use the official table in effect on the expected filing date.
A Louisiana Six-Month Example
Assume a two-person Louisiana household received $5,426 in each of the six complete calendar months before filing. The six-month total would be $32,556, the current monthly average would be $5,426, and the annualized income would be $65,112. That is $7,236 below the two-person Louisiana median shown on this page. This illustrates the first income comparison only. It does not decide the full means test or Chapter 7 eligibility.
How Louisiana Changes The Means-Test Estimate
The first comparison is not a national income limit. It uses the Louisiana median for the household size and the government table in effect on the filing date. On this page, the annual figures run from $59,447 for one person to $103,628 for four people, a difference of $44,181. A five-person Louisiana household would use $114,728 before moving to the expense portion of the test.
A Louisiana Close-To-The-Line Example
If a two-person household averaged $5,908 monthly during the six-month lookback period, its annualized income would be $70,896. That is only $1,452 below the current two-person Louisiana median used here. A bonus, job change, unpaid leave, or a different filing month could change that comparison, which is why the six actual calendar months matter.
Where Location Inside Louisiana Can Matter
Louisiana is served by the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana. The correct filing district depends on venue facts such as where a person has lived or kept a principal residence, assets, or business. Part 2 can also use location-sensitive housing and utility standards. Those allowances may differ by county inside Louisiana, so a statewide median-income result should not be treated as a complete eligibility decision.
| Item | Why It Matters In Louisiana |
|---|---|
| Filing Date | Controls which U.S. Trustee median table applies. |
| Household Size | Changes the Louisiana income threshold, including the added amount above four people. |
| Six-Month Income | Uses income received in the six complete calendar months before filing, not simply current salary. |
| County | Can affect location-based housing and utility allowances used in Part 2. |
| Filing District | Determines the federal bankruptcy court that handles the case. |
Records To Gather For A Louisiana Review
- Pay statements and other income records for each of the six complete lookback months.
- Documents supporting household size and regular contributions from other household members.
- Housing, utility, vehicle, tax, insurance, child care, support, and secured-debt amounts that may matter in Part 2.
- The expected filing date and county, especially when the result is close to the median.
Official Resources: U.S. Trustee Means-Testing Data · IRS Local Housing And Utility Standards · U.S. Courts Court Locator
If You Are Above The Louisiana Median
Being above the Louisiana median does not end it. Part 2 subtracts allowed expenses, and many above-median Louisiana filers still pass. If Chapter 7 does not fit, Chapter 13, debt settlement, or a debt management plan might. Bankruptcy is a lasting decision, so compare the options first.
The Two Parts Of The Louisiana Means Test
Part 1 in Louisiana is the income screen above: your annualized income against the Louisiana median for your household size. Clear it and you generally qualify. If your Louisiana income is higher, Part 2 deducts housing, transportation, taxes, and support on Form 122A-2, and a large share of Louisiana filers pass there. Social Security generally does not count. Our national means test guide covers Part 2 in detail.
Other Ways Out Of Debt In Louisiana
Chapter 7 is one tool, not the only one. Many Louisiana households resolve their debt through settlement or a management plan instead of a filing, each with its own trade-offs on cost, credit, and time. It is worth seeing which fits before you decide. You can check available debt relief options at no cost and with no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income limit for Chapter 7 in Louisiana?
It is the Louisiana median family income for your household size. Effective July 15, 2026, it is $59,447 for 1 person, $72,348 for 2, $84,602 for 3, and $103,628 for 4, adding $11,100 per additional person. At or below that Louisiana figure, you generally pass Part 1.
What if my income is above the Louisiana median?
Not a problem on its own. An income over the Louisiana median simply moves you to Part 2, which deducts housing, transportation, taxes, and support, and plenty of Louisiana filers pass there.
Does this calculator run the full Louisiana means test?
It covers Part 1 only, the income comparison against the Louisiana median. Part 2 deductions on Form 122A-2 are not calculated here, so use this as a first read and confirm with a Louisiana bankruptcy attorney.
Is Social Security counted in the Louisiana means test?
Social Security benefits are generally excluded from current monthly income for the means test, though most other income is included. A bankruptcy attorney can confirm what counts in your specific situation.
Official Source
Related Resources
- National Chapter 7 means test calculator
- Bankruptcy exemptions calculator
- Debt settlement vs. bankruptcy
- All debt and tax calculators
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