Q4 numbers showed a 34% increase in that quarter alone, according to the report.
Individuals seeking bankruptcy protection represent the bulk of filings, with a total of over one million for fiscal year 2008, up from 801,000 in 2007.
Business filings grew to nearly 38,700 for the fiscal year, up from 26,000 for 2007.
The report shows that liquidations under Chapter 7 were up by 40 percent, while Chapter 11 reorganizations rose by 49 percent. Only Chapter 12, designed to protect family farmers, was down, by 8%.
The hardest-hit states were Tennessee, Nevada, Georgia, Alabama, and Indiana.
The Central District of California, covering the Los Angeles area, saw a 96 percent rise in filings.