The Tennessee Answer in One Paragraph
Tennessee filers choose between Chapter 7 (liquidation, 3-4 months, strong discharge rate) and Chapter 13 (3-5 year repayment plan, better for saving a home from foreclosure or for filers above the means test). Three Tennessee-specific inputs drive the choice: (1) the Tennessee means test median of $61,602 for a 1-person household, (2) the Tennessee homestead exemption of $5,000 ($7,500 joint) / $25,000 elderly, and (3) the local filing mix and outcome data below. Everything else on this page is elaboration on those three factors.
Quick Side-by-Side
Chapter 7 in Tennessee
Chapter 13 in Tennessee
Tennessee Means Test Thresholds (April 2026)
Tennessee's single-person median of $61,602 is below the national average. Most filers here clear Part 1 of the means test on income alone and qualify for Chapter 7 without running the full Part 2 expense deduction.
| Household Size | Tennessee Median Income |
|---|---|
| 1-person household | $61,600 |
| 2-person household | $80,100 |
| 3-person household | $93,600 |
| 4-person household | $109,000 |
| 5-person household | $118,300 |
| 6-person household | $127,500 |
For household sizes above 6, add $11,100 per additional member. Full details at the Tennessee means test calculator. For a general discussion, see our means test overview.
Tennessee Homestead Exemption and the Chapter Choice
Tennessee's homestead exemption protects $5,000 ($7,500 joint) / $25,000 elderly of primary-residence equity under Tenn. Code 26-2-301. If your home equity is below that amount, Chapter 7 can usually wipe out your unsecured debt without putting the home at risk. If your equity exceeds the exemption, Chapter 13 is typically the right tool to keep the home while cramming down or curing mortgage arrears over 3-5 years.
Tennessee is a state-exemptions-only jurisdiction. The federal exemption scheme under 11 U.S.C. Section 522(d) is not available. Review the full exemption list at bankruptcyexemptionsbystate.com/tennessee before assuming any specific asset is safe.
Homestead amount (Tennessee): $5,000 ($7,500 joint) / $25,000 elderly. Statute: Tenn. Code 26-2-301.
Tennessee's Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13 Filing Mix
Warning sign: Tennessee's Ch. 7/13 mix is unusual. Of 1,840 consumer cases in the federal database, 68.0% are Chapter 13 and only 32.0% are Chapter 7. That is the inverse of the national average (where Chapter 7 accounts for roughly two-thirds of filings). This pattern is driven in part by local practitioner habit, trustee posture, and court-level plan-confirmation dynamics. If a Tennessee attorney steers you toward Chapter 13, ask explicitly why Chapter 7 is not the right fit for your facts -- not for the local default.
Why does filing mix matter? Attorney fee structures often favor Chapter 13 (paid through the plan rather than up-front), which can produce local-market bias toward Chapter 13 that is not driven by individual debtor facts. FJC data lets you see whether Tennessee's mix matches the economics of the typical filer's situation.
Tennessee Federal Court Data
Numbers below come from the Federal Judicial Center Integrated Database, covering 1,840 consumer bankruptcy cases filed in Tennessee's federal bankruptcy courts.
| Chapter | Cases Filed | Discharge Rate (resolved) |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 7 | 589 | 95.5% |
| Chapter 13 | 1,251 | 17.3% |
Outcomes in Tennessee differ sharply between the chapters. Of resolved Chapter 7 cases in the FJC database, 95.5% end in discharge. Of resolved Chapter 13 cases, only 17.3% end in discharge; the remaining 82.7% are dismissed before the plan completes. If you are physically able to file either chapter, this gap is a reason to think hard before committing to a 3-5 year Chapter 13 plan in Tennessee.
Which Chapter Fits Which Tennessee Filer?
- If your income is below the Tennessee median ($61,602, 1-person) and you own little non-exempt property: Chapter 7 is almost certainly the right choice. Fast, cheap, and the highest discharge rate in consumer bankruptcy.
- If you are behind on your mortgage or car loan and want to keep the collateral: Chapter 13 lets you cure arrears over 36 to 60 months while the automatic stay blocks foreclosure and repossession.
- If a Tennessee attorney steers you to Chapter 13 despite passing the means test: get a specific, written reason tied to your assets, income, or debts. Local default in Tennessee is Chapter 13-heavy; your facts may still fit Chapter 7.
- If you have high home equity and Tennessee caps the homestead exemption: run the numbers on Chapter 13 cramdown, lien stripping (for wholly underwater junior liens), and the federal BAPCPA homestead cap before assuming Chapter 7 is safe.
- If you have filed before within the lookback windows: use the 1328(f) discharge screener first -- a prior Chapter 7 discharge bars another Chapter 7 for 8 years, and a prior Chapter 13 discharge bars another Chapter 13 for 2 years.
Rule of thumb for Tennessee: if you qualify for Chapter 7 on the means test AND your home equity is within the $5,000 ($7,500 joint) / $25,000 elderly homestead, Chapter 7 is almost always the right choice. Chapter 13 is the right answer when specific facts (arrears, non-exempt equity, prior Chapter 7 within 8 years) rule Chapter 7 out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 better in Tennessee?
For most Tennessee filers who pass the means test, Chapter 7 is faster, cheaper, and succeeds more often. Chapter 13 is the right choice if you need to save a home from foreclosure, cure arrears, catch up on priority taxes, or cannot qualify for Chapter 7.
What is the Chapter 7 income limit in Tennessee?
There is no hard dollar limit. The means test compares your 6-month average income (annualized) to the Tennessee median for your household size. One person: $61,602. Four person: $109,000. Above-median filers can still qualify by running Part 2 expense deductions.
Can I use federal bankruptcy exemptions in Tennessee?
No. Tennessee opted out of the federal bankruptcy exemption scheme. Filers must use state exemptions exclusively.
How much home equity is protected in Tennessee bankruptcy?
Tennessee's homestead exemption protects $5,000 ($7,500 joint) / $25,000 elderly under Tenn. Code 26-2-301. Federal BAPCPA limits (11 U.S.C. Section 522(p)) can cap this at approximately $214,000 for a residence acquired within 1,215 days of filing.
How long does bankruptcy take in Tennessee?
Chapter 7 takes 3 to 4 months from filing to discharge in Tennessee federal bankruptcy court. Chapter 13 takes 3 years (below-median) or 5 years (above-median) of monthly plan payments before discharge.
Can I switch from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7 in Tennessee?
Yes. Under 11 U.S.C. Section 1307(a), a Chapter 13 debtor in Tennessee generally has the right to convert to Chapter 7 at any time, as long as the case was not previously converted from Chapter 7. You must still pass the means test at the time of conversion.
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Last updated: 2026-04-18. Not legal advice. Statutory homestead and median-income figures are reproduced from public sources and may lag statutory amendments -- verify against current state statute before relying.
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