U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Southern District of New York | Prof. Hernandez

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York includes eight counties across southeastern New York, with concurrent jurisdiction over 3 neighboring counties.

To handle its vast volume of consumer, small business, and complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings, the Southern District maintains three distinct staffed divisional courthouses located in Manhattan, White Plains, and Poughkeepsie.

The Clerk’s headquarters is located in the Manhattan office at Bowling Green, overseen by the Clerk of Court, Vito Genna.

Updated on June 7, 2026.

By Alexander Hernandez, J.D., Professor, and Author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge).

Information for General Court Contact & Locations

The Clerk’s Office is your primary resource for case administration, document submission, and filing. As a reminder, court staff is strictly prohibited by federal law from providing legal advice.

Office DivisionContact Information
Manhattan Clerk’s Office (Main)(212) 668-2870
White Plains Clerk’s Office(914) 467-7250
Poughkeepsie Clerk’s Office(845) 452-4200
Court Services Help Line(212) 284-4040
Voice Case Information (McVCIS)1-866-222-8029
Public Office HoursMon – Fri, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Primary Court Locations & Filing Offices

Cases are automatically assigned to the divisional courthouse serving the specific county where the debtor resides or maintains their principal place of business.

  • Manhattan (Headquarters): Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, One Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004-1408.
  • White Plains: 300 Quarropas Street, Room 147, White Plains, NY 10601.
  • Poughkeepsie: 355 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.

Security Reminder: A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID is strictly required to pass through security and gain entrance to any of the Southern District courthouses.

Bankruptcy Judges

The Southern District of New York bankruptcy judges handle Chapter 7, 11, 13, and Subchapter V dockets across the three divisions.

JudgePrimary Chambers Location
Hon. Martin Glenn, Chief JudgeManhattan
Hon. Sean H. LaneManhattan / White Plains
Hon. Lisa G. BeckermanManhattan
Hon. Philip BentleyManhattan
Hon. David S. JonesManhattan
Hon. Michael E. WilesManhattan
Hon. John P. Mastando IIIManhattan
Hon. Kyu Young PaekManhattan
Hon. James L. Garrity, Jr.Manhatten
Hon. Shireen A. BardayManhattan

Divisions and Counties

Your filing division is strictly determined by your county of residence. The jurisdiction is as follows:

Manhattan Division

  • Serves Bronx and New York (Manhattan) counties.

White Plains Division

  • Serves Rockland and Westchester counties.

Poughkeepsie Division

  • Serves Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, and Sullivan counties.
  • Note: This division also shares concurrent jurisdiction over Columbia, Ulster, and Greene counties.

Professor’s Important Final Note

As a final reminder, local practices, loss mitigation protocols, and standing operational orders vary drastically between districts, even within the same state. The Southern District of New York is known for its highly detailed Local Bankruptcy Rules and distinct procedural guidelines that govern everything from mandatory electronic filing (CM/ECF) down to courtroom decorum.

Always confirm your specific divisional rules and judge-specific chamber guidelines on the official website for the Southern District of New York.

If you are looking for other districts of New York, you can find that comprehensive directory information via this link. This includes information on the Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 trustees for the Southern District.

Professor Hernandez is an attorney specializing in consumer finance and debt relief. He is the author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge) and teaches law and finance courses in both English and Spanish at an international university.

  • For Institutions: Colleges and universities can purchase or request examination copies of my textbook directly from Routledge Publishing.
  • For Students & Practitioners: Single print and digital copies are available via Amazon Books.
  • Video Lectures: Stream comprehensive legal breakdowns and video explanations on the Prof. Hernandez YouTube Channel.

Bankruptcy Court & Consumer Resources

Explore a deep dive for consumer guides and court directories to navigate your legal options:

Please note that the information on this site does not constitute legal advice and should be considered for informational purposes only.