Before 2012, all Marin County debtors filing for bankruptcy were required to file their cases at the Santa Rosa division Bankruptcy Court.  This was a bit of a headache, because these debtors had to appear at their creditors’ meetings in Santa Rosa, which is a good hour’s drive on the 101, and often in traffic (both ways sometimes!).  Late last year however, the United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of California, announced that chapter 13 debtors who live in Marin County, and who are therefore much closer in distance to the San Francisco division Bankruptcy Court, will, at least temporarily, be filing their cases in the San Francisco division court.  This means that their creditors’ meetings, and any other hearings related to their cases, will be located at the San Francisco division as well.

Here is the announcement and here is the reason for the change.