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

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York encompasses 17 counties across the western region of the state. The district handles case administration through two primary divisional hubs centered in Buffalo and Rochester.

The Clerk’s headquarters is based in the Buffalo office, overseen by the Clerk of Court, Michael T. Powers.

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

General Court Contact & Locations

The Clerk’s Office is your primary resource for case administration, electronic database indexing, and filing. Note that court staff members are strictly prohibited by federal law from providing legal advice. Only a lawyer is qualified to give legal advice.

Office Role	Contact Information
Buffalo Clerk’s Office (Main)	(716) 362-3200
Rochester Clerk’s Office	(585) 613-4200
McVCIS (Voice Case Info)	1-866-222-8029
Public Office Hours	Mon – Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Excluding Federal Holidays)

Bankruptcy cases are generally routed to and assigned by the specific courthouse servicing the county where the debtor resides.

Buffalo (Headquarters): Robert H. Jackson U.S. Courthouse, 2 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202.

Rochester: Kenneth B. Keating Federal Building, 100 State Street, Rochester, NY 14614.

Bankruptcy Judges

The Western District of New York features active and recalled judicial chambers split across its main locations. Following the retirement of Judge Paul R. Warren, Judge Timothy P. Lyster handles the active Rochester docket alongside Chief Judge Bucki in Buffalo.

Judge	Chambers Location
Hon. Carl L. Bucki, Chief Judge	Buffalo
Hon. Timothy P. Lyster, Chief Judge	Rochester
Hon. Michael J. Kaplan (Retired / Recalled)	Buffalo

Divisions and Counties

The 17 counties of the Western District are assigned under the territorial jurisdiction of either the Buffalo or Rochester divisions. Your initial filing location and mandatory meeting of creditors are determined by your county of residence.

Buffalo Division

County	County	County	County
Allegany	Cattaraugus	Chautauqua	Erie
Genesee*	Niagara*	Orleans*	Wyoming*

*Note: Assignment may shift dynamically between Buffalo and Rochester for certain specific chapters or complex cases within Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming boundaries.

Rochester Division

County	County	County	County
Chemung	Livingston	Monroe	Ontario
Schuyler	Seneca	Steuben	Wayne
Yates

Professor’s Important Note

Local rules and procedures vary widely between jurisdictions, even within the state of New York. Always confirm specific motion guidelines, the submission of proposed orders, and calendaring motions by reviewing the judge’s webpage.

If you are trying to review information for other federal boundaries across the state, you can access our comprehensive directory links here. Always make sure to review the Western District of New York’s website for updates.

Educational Resources

• 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:

• A step-by-step master guide on Filing for Bankruptcy and Navigating the Petition.
• Access full directories for the Federal Bankruptcy Court System and Trustee Contact Information.
• Protect your assets by reviewing your specific State Bankruptcy Exemptions or compare them against the Federal Bankruptcy Exemptions.
• Prepare for your court date with the updated brief on the 341 Meeting of Creditors Rules and Procedures.

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