Utah bankruptcy filings are down 76% from 2005

A total of 499 Utahns filed for bankruptcy in September, down from 2,208 filings in the same month of 2005, according to figures released Friday by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Utah.

Last year's high number of filings came as people tried to beat a new bankruptcy law that went into effect Oct. 17.

Filings for the first nine months of 2006 in Utah decreased by 76 percent compared to the same period in 2005, the court reported.