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POSTED: Saturday, October 31, 2009

Hawaii bankruptcy filings rose 37.6 percent in October from the year-ago month, but the number of cases declined slightly from September, according to preliminary data yesterday from U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

The 271 filings this month—which could increase if any are filed electronically today—were 12 fewer than September but up from 197 in October 2008.

Chapter 7 liquidation filings jumped 34 percent to 217 from 162, while Chapter 13 filings, which allow individuals with regular sources of income to set up plans to pay creditors over time, rose 60.6 percent to 53 from 33.

There was one Chapter 11 filing, which is for business reorganizations, compared with two a year ago.

LOOKING FOR RELIEF

Statewide filings through the past 12 months:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

October 2009	271
September 2009	283
August 2009	258
July 2009	270
June 2009	271
May 2009	250
April 2009	251
March 2009	270
February 2009	226
January 2009	208
December 2008	223
November 2008	215
October 2008	197

Source: Office of the U.S. Trustee