Personal bankruptcy filings double since last year

VICTORVILLE • Bankruptcies in the High Desert are running at such a rampant rate that one local law firm said they are being inundated with filings.

“We are seeing about a 75 percent increase in petitions over last year at this time,” said Sylvia Ogata, legal assistant with Ripley and Associates who has worked in the bankruptcy department of the firm for 10 years.

She said a year ago they would file maybe 15 a month. Now they do 30 a month.

The increased filings in the High Desert seem to mirror a national trend. According to data from Automated Access to Court Electronic Records, there were over 120,000 U.S. bankruptcy filings in May 2009 or 6,020 for each of the 20 business days in May.

Ogata said their office files a combination of Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which is liquidation of all debts, and Chapter 13 which allows for repayment of all or part of the debts under a court order payment plan.

Attorney Robert Ripley of Ripley and Associates said a majority of the filings in his office are for Chapter 7 and just a few Chapter 13.

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Patrick Thatcher may be reached at 951-6227 or at pthatcher@VVDailyPress.com.