Filing Your Bankruptcy Case in the Western District of New York

Once we have completed your bankruptcy schedules and statements (petition), they must be filed with the Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York. You must personally deliver your petition to the Clerk’s Office at the bankruptcy court. Your case must be filed with the Clerk’s Office in the court serving the County in which you live. If you have questions regarding the filing of your case, please contact the Clerk’s Office ahead of time to find out specific instructions.

Where To File Your Case

• BUFFALO

Street Address:	Mailing Address:
2 Niagara Square	United States Bankruptcy Court
Buffalo, NY 14202	Western District of New York
	Robert H. Jackson U.S. Courthouse
Phone: (716) 362-3200	2 Niagara Square
	Buffalo, NY 14202

The Buffalo office serves the Counties of: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming.

• ROCHESTER

Street Address:	Mailing Address:
100 State Street	US Bankruptcy Court, W.D.N.Y.
Rochester, NY 14614	100 State Street
	Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 613-4200

The Rochester office serves the Counties of: Chemung, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Yates.

Number of Copies Required

An original and three (3) copies of a petition are required at the time of filing. If copies are to be returned by mail, submit a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Filing Fee Information

You must pay the entire filing fee when you file your petition with the bankruptcy court unless

• You file an application to pay the filing fee in installments. If your application is approved, you may pay the filing fee in three installments over 90 days after filing, or
• You applied for a waiver of the filing fee. The court will either enter an order to 1) waive the filing fee, 2) order payment to be paid in installments, or 3) pay the filing fee in full.

If you are paying in installments, you must pay the first installment at the time you file your petition. The court might dismiss your case if you don’t pay your fee exactly as required. Be sure to open all mailings from the bankruptcy court.

Methods of Payment

 The following forms of payment are accepted in Buffalo and Rochester:

• Money order or cashier’s check for the exact amount due made payable to: Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
• Cash is accepted in Buffalo (ONLY) and you must have exact change.
• The Clerk’s Offices do not accept personal checks, debit or credit card payment from pro se debtors.

Please click here for additional fee information or contact the Court’s Financial Department at (716) 362-3200 if you have questions.