Nevada led nation in bankruptcy filings in '09

Nevada led the nation in bankruptcy filings during the last fiscal year, according to a new report from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

The Silver State reported 10.49 bankruptcy filings per 1,000 people from Oct. 1 2008 through Sept. 30, 2009, exceeding the national rate of 4.52 filings per 1,000 people.

Following Nevada were Tennessee, at 8.67 per 1,000, and Georgia, at 7.52 per 1,000.

Nationwide, bankruptcy filings were on the rise, up 34.5 percent compared to the 2008 fiscal year, according to the report issued last week.

In Nevada, that increase was 64.5 percent compared to 2008, with 27,560 bankruptcy filings this year up from 16,756 in 2008.

Nevada led the nation in Chapter 7 filings, at 7.53 per 1,000 people. It ranked No. 4 in Chapter 13 filings at 2.81 per 1,000 people.