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San Diego sits in a different federal district from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties, and that changes the details. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California is a single courthouse at 325 West F Street, serving both San Diego and Imperial Counties. It has its own local forms, its own trustee panel, and its own document guidelines. Below are the address and hours, the filing steps, how the trustee meeting works on Zoom, and what the court's guidelines say about the paperwork due before it.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of California (San Diego) — court details
One courthouse for San Diego and Imperial Counties
The court states that it serves San Diego and Imperial Counties. Unlike the Central District, there is no division-by-ZIP-code sorting to worry about: a debtor in Oceanside, Chula Vista, or El Cajon and a debtor in El Centro all file with the same clerk's office. If you are in the Inland Empire or Orange County, you would not use this court, and our overview of Southern California bankruptcy courts shows how the other divisions are assigned.
Our San Diego County page describes the area we serve there. The courthouse is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., a half hour earlier at the start and a half hour later at the end than the Central District's 9:00 to 4:00 clerk hours.
Starting a case on West F Street
You can file in person during business hours, through the court's CM/ECF system if you are an attorney, or through its online eSR tool, which self-represented Chapter 7 and 13 filers can use to prepare a petition. Before you file, finish a credit counseling course from an approved provider, because the U.S. Trustee Program says a case may be dismissed without it. After filing, you must complete the debtor education course to receive a discharge. Our means test article is a good starting point for deciding whether Chapter 7 is available.
The Southern District's own pages put the filing fee at $338, with one fee for a joint petition. A person who cannot pay at once completes form CSD 1006 to request installments and submits it with the petition. A household below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines may submit form B103 for a fee waiver at the clerk's intake window. The court warns that missing an approved installment can lead to dismissal without a discharge. For the larger cost picture, see our Chapter 7 cost guide.
The Zoom meeting and the 14 day document rule
For Chapter 7, 12, and 13 cases here, the U.S. Trustee Program holds meetings of creditors by Zoom. Its Region 15 page says virtual meetings began for cases filed on or after July 1, 2023, with meetings from August 10, 2023 on. Chapter 11 meetings remain by telephone. You need three things to join: the trustee's Meeting ID, a passcode, and an audio-only phone number, all listed by trustee on the program's local meeting page. That page names five Chapter 7 trustees, and you are assigned one after you file.
The Southern District's standing trustees have published Chapter 7 guidelines for debtors. They say individual debtors must attend the initial meeting and that panel trustees cannot excuse the debtor. Documents go to the trustee through an electronic method called E-DOCS no later than 14 days before the meeting, and late documents may cause the meeting to be continued. In every case the guidelines call for 60 days of pay stubs (or self-employment records), bank statements for the month of filing, including any cryptocurrency balances, and your latest federal tax return with all schedules. They also ask for original government photo identification and proof of your full Social Security number.
Our 341 meeting article explains the typical questions. If your trustee asks for more, such as a vehicle valuation or real property paperwork, give it promptly.
When the meeting is not on video
The U.S. Trustee may approve different arrangements when something prevents a debtor from attending by video. In-person meetings are held at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Office Building, 880 Front Street, First Floor, Room 1234, in San Diego, or in El Centro depending on the county where the debtor lives. The guidelines say to call the U.S. Trustee's office at (619) 557-5013 to ask about alternatives such as a telephone appearance.
The U.S. Trustee's Region 15 office is on the third floor of that same building, with office hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It supervises the case trustees and does not represent debtors.
Questions about your own case
The Law Office of Ron Chini is in Irvine, and clients work directly with Ron, who speaks English and Farsi. The court lists online filing tools for people without lawyers, but a petition is signed under penalty of perjury and each exemption choice can affect what you keep. Use our Chapter 7 guides and the main Chapter 7 page to learn how the process works. This page offers general information only and makes no promise about any outcome.
Which counties file here
San Diego County and Imperial County. The Southern District of California has one bankruptcy courthouse, in San Diego, which serves both counties. Orange County files in the Central District's Santa Ana Division, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties in the Riverside Division, and Los Angeles County in the Los Angeles or San Fernando Valley Divisions.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court FAQ
Do Imperial County residents file in San Diego?
Is the San Diego 341 meeting in person?
What documents does the San Diego trustee want before the meeting?
How do I ask to pay the filing fee in installments here?
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Ron has practiced bankruptcy law from his Irvine office since 2009. Clients work directly with him — not a paralegal or a call center.
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