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Colorado bankruptcies climb 23% in March

DENVER — Colorado bankruptcy filings climbed 23% in March compared with the prior year, but increases were modest throughout much of the Boulder Valley and Northern Colorado.

That’s according to a BizWest analysis of U.S. Bankruptcy Court data. Numbers cited include all new filings, including open, closed and dismissed cases. Data may differ slightly from official bankruptcy statistics.

Colorado recorded 900 filings in March, compared with 730 for the same period a year ago. Individual filings totaled 890 in March, up from 716 a year ago, but business filings declined from 14 in March 2025 to 10 this year. Year-to-date filings total 2,129, up 19.3% from 1,784 through March 2025.

In the Boulder Valley and Northern Colorado, filings increased in Boulder, Broomfield and Larimer counties but declined slightly in Weld.

  • Boulder County recorded 27 bankruptcy filings in March, up 4% from 26 in the same month the prior year. Boulder County recorded 15 bankruptcy filings in February. Year-do-date filings total 64, down 1.5% from 65 through March 2025.
  • The City and County of Broomfield recorded eight bankruptcy filings in March, up 33% from six in the same period in 2025. Broomfield recorded 11 bankruptcy filings in February. Year-to-date filings total 23, down 11.5% from 26 through March 2025..
  • Larimer County filings totaled 41 in March, up 11% from 37 the prior year. Larimer recorded 35 bankruptcy filings in February. Year-to-date filings total 103, down 6% from 110 through March 2025..
  • Weld County bankruptcy filings totaled 55 in March, down 2% from 56 the same month a year ago. Weld recorded 48 bankruptcy filings in February. Year-to-date filings total 161, up 6.6% from 151 through March 2025.
Latest bankruptcy filings
Colorado bankruptcy filings are running well ahead of last year’s pace, with 2,129 cases filed through March 2026 — a 19.3% increase over the same period in 2025 — as individual filings climb sharply.
2026 YTD Total
2,129
▲ 19.3% vs 2025
Individual YTD
2,082
▲ 19.3% vs 2025
Business YTD
47
▼ 4.1% vs 2025
Full-Year 2025
8,549
Jan–Dec 2025
2025 monthly total 2026 monthly total
Colorado statewide: 2026 YTD 2,129 filings through March, up 19.3% vs same period 2025.
Source: U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Colorado. Cases filed during month, counting open and closed cases, including dismissed cases. 2026 data covers January–March only. Individual and business filing counts may not sum to total due to other chapter types.
Colorado bankruptcy filings, 2019–2026
Statewide bankruptcy filings collapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic, bottomed out in late 2021, and have risen sharply ever since — with the first quarter of 2026 running nearly 20% above the same period last year.
Pre-pandemic peak
1,188
Apr 2019
COVID-era trough
377
Dec 2021
2025 full year
8,549
▲ 11.3% vs 2024
2026 YTD
2,129
▲ 19.3% vs Jan–Mar 2025
Monthly filings 12-month avg. COVID-era trough
Colorado monthly: peak 1,188 (Apr 2019), trough 377 (Dec 2021), 900 in Mar 2026.
Source: U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Colorado. Cases filed during month, counting open and closed cases, including dismissed cases. 2026 data through March only. 12-month rolling average displayed from December 2019 onward. Shaded region indicates approximate COVID-era filing trough (April 2020–December 2021).
Annual bankruptcy filings, 2019–2026
Bankruptcy filings in BizWest's four-county region fell sharply during the pandemic but have climbed steadily since — with Weld County now leading the region in volume.
Boulder 2026 YTD
64
▼ 1.5% vs Jan–Mar 2025
Broomfield 2026 YTD
23
▼ 11.5% vs Jan–Mar 2025
Larimer 2026 YTD
103
▼ 6.4% vs Jan–Mar 2025
Weld 2026 YTD
161
▲ 6.6% vs Jan–Mar 2025
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 YTD
Annual filings by county 2019–2026 YTD: all show pandemic trough 2020–2021 and recovery. Weld leads in volume.
Source: U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Colorado. Cases filed during month, counting open and closed cases, including dismissed cases. 2026 YTD covers January–March only and is not directly comparable to full-year totals. Individual and business breakdown available from 2023 onward only.
Bankruptcy filings, 2019–2026
Bankruptcy filings in BizWest's four-county region fell sharply during the pandemic but have climbed steadily since — with Weld County now leading the region in volume.
Boulder peak
42
May 2019
Broomfield peak
17
Jul 2019
Larimer peak
68
Apr 2019
Weld peak
79
Oct 2025
Boulder Broomfield Larimer Weld │ Shaded = COVID-era trough
Monthly filings 2019–2026: Weld leads, peaking at 79 in Oct 2025. All counties troughed during 2020–2021 COVID period.
Source: U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Colorado. Cases filed during month, counting open and closed cases, including dismissed cases. 2026 data through March only. Shaded region indicates approximate COVID-era filing trough (Apr 2020–Dec 2021).
Latest bankruptcy filings
Bankruptcy filings in BizWest's four-county region fell sharply during the pandemic but have climbed steadily since — with Weld County now leading the region in volume.
Boulder YTD
64 filings
▼ 1.5% vs 2025
Broomfield YTD
23 filings
▼ 11.5% vs 2025
Larimer YTD
103 filings
▼ 6.4% vs 2025
Weld YTD
161 filings
▲ 6.6% vs 2025
Boulder 2025 Boulder 2026 Broomfield 2025 Broomfield 2026 Larimer 2025 Larimer 2026 Weld 2025 Weld 2026
Jan–Mar filings 2025 vs 2026: Boulder 65→64, Broomfield 26→23, Larimer 110→103, Weld 151→161.
Source: U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Colorado. Cases filed during month, counting open and closed cases, including dismissed cases. Data covers January–March 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. YTD % change calculated on Jan–Mar filings only.