Diocese Bankruptcy Claims
How to file abuse claims when a Catholic diocese has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Strict deadlines apply. Free confidential case review.
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More than two dozen US Catholic dioceses have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy since 2004. When a diocese enters bankruptcy, civil abuse claims must be filed through a court-supervised trust process. Strict deadlines apply, and missing them permanently bars a claim.
- Filing within court-set proof of claim deadlines
- Compensation based on available assets and total claims
- Representing your claim in the trust process
- Dioceses including Stockton, Fresno, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland, and Santa Rosa
- Claims against religious orders within bankruptcy proceedings
Diocese Bankruptcy Cases: Status and Settlements
Each page below explains one diocese's case: the court and case number, how much has been offered or agreed, where the case stands and what it means for survivors. Facts were checked on the date shown on each page.
Archdiocese of San Francisco bankruptcyCase 23-30564. $395 million agreement in principle for about 530 survivors, announced June 29, 2026.Diocese of Fresno bankruptcyCase 25-12231. 165 claims filed by the February 2, 2026 deadline; mediation under way.Diocese of Oakland bankruptcyCase 23-40523. Plan confirmation contested in September 2026; the diocese’s plan proposes a trust of about $224 million.Diocese of Sacramento bankruptcyCase 24-21326. More than 250 lawsuits; in mediation, with a plan due by September 30, 2026.Diocese of San Diego bankruptcyCase 24-02202. More than 480 claims; no plan or settlement announced as of mid-2026.Diocese of Santa Rosa bankruptcyCase 23-10113. About 260 claims; mediation ongoing and no plan filed as of July 2026.Diocese of Norwich bankruptcyCase 21-20687. Plan confirmed June 13, 2025, with a $31 million fund; many claims involve Mount Saint John.Archdiocese of New Orleans bankruptcyCase 20-10846. $230 million plan confirmed December 8, 2025; payments to about 600 survivors delayed into 2026.Archdiocese of Baltimore bankruptcyCase 23-16969. 900 to 1,000 claims; competing plans sent back by the judge in August 2026.Diocese of Camden bankruptcyCase 20-21257. $87.5 million plan confirmed March 2024; additional $180 million agreed February 2026, subject to court approval.Diocese of Albany bankruptcyCase 23-10244. $148 million settlement announced March 2026, before any insurer money; plan still to come.Diocese of Buffalo bankruptcyCase 20-10322. $326 million settlement; survivors voting in autumn 2026 ahead of an October confirmation hearing.Diocese of Ogdensburg bankruptcyCase 23-60507. Plan filed in late August 2026 for an $83 million fund covering about 125 claims.Diocese of Rochester bankruptcyCase 19-20905. Plan confirmed September 5, 2025, with a $256.35 million settlement fund.Diocese of Rockville Centre bankruptcyCase 20-12345. Plan confirmed December 4, 2024, with a settlement of just over $323 million.Diocese of Syracuse bankruptcyCase 20-30663. $176 million settlement; final court approval February 25, 2026.
| Diocese | State | Case no. | Settlement | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archdiocese of San Francisco | California | 23-30564 | $395M agreed in principle | Plan being drafted |
| Diocese of Fresno | California | 25-12231 | None yet | In mediation |
| Diocese of Oakland | California | 23-40523 | About $224M proposed | Plan confirmation contested |
| Diocese of Sacramento | California | 24-21326 | None yet | Mediation; plan due Sep 30, 2026 |
| Diocese of San Diego | California | 24-02202 | None yet | In mediation; claims disputed |
| Diocese of Santa Rosa | California | 23-10113 | None yet | In mediation |
| Diocese of Norwich | Connecticut | 21-20687 | $31M | Plan confirmed Jun 2025 |
| Archdiocese of New Orleans | Louisiana | 20-10846 | $230M (expected ~$304M) | Plan confirmed Dec 2025; payments pending |
| Archdiocese of Baltimore | Maryland | 23-16969 | Competing plans: $246M vs $441M | Disclosure statements denied Aug 2026 |
| Diocese of Camden | New Jersey | 1-20-21257 | $87.5M plus $180M | $180M awaiting court approval |
| Diocese of Albany | New York | 23-10244 | $148M (insurers not yet included) | Plan still to be filed |
| Diocese of Buffalo | New York | 1-20-10322 | $326M | Survivor vote; hearing Oct 2026 |
| Diocese of Ogdensburg | New York | 23-60507 | $83M proposed | Plan filed Aug 2026 |
| Diocese of Rochester | New York | 2-19-20905 | $256.35M | Plan confirmed Sep 2025 |
| Diocese of Rockville Centre | New York | 20-12345 | About $323M | Plan confirmed Dec 2024 |
| Diocese of Syracuse | New York | 20-30663 | $176M | Final approval Feb 2026 |
State Law Notice: Laws governing civil claims for religious institution abuse vary significantly by state. Filing deadlines, lookback windows, and available defendants differ depending on where the abuse occurred and your current state of residence. The information on this page is general in nature. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon without first speaking to a qualified attorney about your specific circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to abuse lawsuits when a diocese files for bankruptcy?
Lawsuits against the diocese are paused, and all abuse claims are dealt with inside the Chapter 11 case. The court sets a deadline for filing claims, and survivors are usually paid from a trust set up under the diocese's reorganisation plan.
What is a bar date in a diocese bankruptcy?
The bar date is the court-ordered deadline for filing a claim. In most diocese cases, survivors file a confidential sexual abuse proof of claim form by that date. Missing it can mean losing the right to any compensation.
Can I still file a claim after the bankruptcy deadline has passed?
Sometimes, but it is difficult. Late claims may be allowed only in limited circumstances with court permission, and some plans make separate provision for survivors who come forward later. Get advice as soon as possible.
Will my name be made public if I file a claim in a diocese bankruptcy?
Usually not. Abuse claim forms in diocese bankruptcies are normally kept confidential under court orders, and survivors are often identified only by a number.
How much compensation will I get from a diocese bankruptcy trust?
It depends on the size of the trust, the number of claims and how the plan scores each claim, which usually reflects the nature and impact of the abuse. Amounts vary widely between cases and between survivors.
Do parishes and insurers pay into diocese bankruptcy settlements?
Often, yes. Many plans include money from parishes, schools, related entities and insurers in exchange for releasing them from further claims. How these releases work can affect your options.
Further Reading
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