N.H. bankruptcies fell 13.8% in 2011

For 4,747 New Hampshire households and businesses, 2011 was a financial disaster, a year in which they were forced to file for bankruptcy. However, that's 760 fewer — or 13.8 percent – than those that filed in 2010.It was the first real annual decline in bankruptcies since the beginning of the century (aside from 2006, when the bankruptcy law changed to make it harder to file). In 2000, bankruptcies declined 11.9 percent.The year ended with 350 filings in December, a slight decline from 364 filed in 2010, and a substantial decline than the 414 filed in 2009. December was slightly up from November, when there were 338 filings — the slowest month in 2011 for the federal Bankruptcy Court in Manchester..Eight businesses filed for bankruptcy protection in December, compared to three during the previous month and eight in October: • D&L Auto Inc., Manchester. Filed Dec. 12, Chapter 11. Assets: $32,000. Liabilities: $3,770. • Cobra Stainless Steel LLC (dba Cobra Stainless & Alloy Steel) Laconia. Filed Dec. 16, Chapter 7, Assets: $0. Liabilities: $150,877. • Lincoln Development LLC, Lincoln. Filed Dec. 19, Chapter 7 (involuntary). Petitioner's claim: $600,000. • Steve Webster's Auto Body & Repair, LLC, Danville. Filed Dec. 21, Chapter 7. Assets: $0. Liabilities: $75,914. • Henderson Associates Inc., Amherst. Filed Dec. 27, Chapter 7. Assets: $4,002. Liabilities: $601,367. • Cottonfoot LLC, (dba Megliotech LLC), Stratham. Filed Dec. 29, Chapter 7. Assets: $24,220. Liabilities: $361,785. • Windsor Industries Corp., Merrimack. Filed Dec. 29, Chapter 7. Assets: $276,103. Liabilities: $316,882. — BOB SANDERS/NEW HAMPSHIRE BUSINESS REVIEW