Personal bankruptcy filings in Massachusetts decreased 16 percent in 2011 from a year earlier, according to a new report from The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman.

There were 14,716 Chapter 7 bankruptcies filed in Massachusetts last year, down from 17,496 filed in 2010. Chapter 7 of the U.S. bankruptcy code is the most common option for individuals seeking debt relief, and accounted for almost 75 percent of Massachusetts’ bankruptcy filings last year.

In the fourth quarter, 3,158 filers statewide sought bankruptcy protection under Chapter 7, compared to 4,008 in the fourth quarter of 2010. The fourth quarter saw the slowest quarterly Chapter 7 bankruptcy pace of 2011 – it represented 21 percent of the annual total. In the second quarter, bankruptcies peaked for the year and represented 28 percent of the annual total.

"I’m encouraged by the drop in bankruptcy filings, it indicates that consumers are more optimistic about their ability to pay off debt and clean up their financial situations," said The Warren Group CEO Timothy M. Warren Jr. "The decrease in bankruptcy filings is running parallel with lower unemployment rates in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen enough improvement in the employment picture to confidently say the economy has completely turned the corner."

People filing under Chapter 7 bankruptcy can eliminate most debt after non-exempt assets are used to pay off creditors. In contrast, Chapter 13 requires debtors to arrange for a three- or five-year debt-repayment plan.

Filings under Chapter 13 of the U.S. bankruptcy code dropped 11 percent to 4,813 in 2011, from 5,392 in 2010.

Chapter 11 filings, which are used for business bankruptcies and restructuring, also declined in 2011. Filings decreased 9 percent to 215, down from 237 in 2010.

A total of 19,744 filers statewide sought protection under Chapter 7, Chapter 13 and Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy code in 2011, down from 23,125 in 2010.