How to Search Bankruptcies (Start Here)
Use the right system for what you need:
- PACER Case Locator: Search all federal bankruptcy courts nationwide by party name. Returns case number, court, filing date, chapter. Free to search; $0.10/page for documents (first $30/quarter waived). Search →
- Individual court PACER: For detailed case documents (schedules, motions, orders), go to the specific district court’s PACER site. Each district has its own.
- State courts: PACER does NOT cover state-level filings. Some states have their own insolvency or assignment records — check the state court system.
⚠ Key: PACER only covers federal bankruptcy (Chapters 7, 11, 13, 15). State-level debt proceedings are in state courts, not PACER.
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What Each System Returns vs Excludes
| System | Returns | Excludes |
|---|---|---|
| PACER Case Locator | Party name, case number, court, chapter, filing/close dates | Full documents (requires individual court PACER) |
| District Court PACER | Full dockets, schedules, motions, orders, discharge info | Cases from other districts |
| Bankruptcy Statistics (uscourts.gov) | Filing trends, annual data by district and chapter | Individual case data |
Use the databases below to search bankruptcies.
Bankruptcy Case Records & Credit Reporting | U.S. Courts
Visit → Official Free
Information about accessing bankruptcy case records and their impact on credit reports.
Bankruptcy Filings Statistics | U.S. Courts
Visit → Official Free
Quarterly bankruptcy filing statistics and data from the federal judiciary.
Find a Case | PACER Federal Court Records
Visit → Official Free
Search for bankruptcy cases in any federal court using the PACER system.
PACER Bankruptcy Case Index
Visit → Official Free
Register with the fee-based U.S. District Court PACER system to search for Federal bankruptcy court records by case number, name, SSN/Tax ID, or.
PACER Bankruptcy Courts
Visit → Official Free
Register with the fee-based U.S. District Court system PACER system to access and search individual PACER court sites for Federal bankruptcy court.
PACER Case Locator | Nationwide Bankruptcy Search
Visit → Official Free
Search the nationwide index of federal bankruptcy court cases through PACER.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to search bankruptcies? ▼
Start with the primary database listed above. Each system is specialized — use the Returns vs Excludes table to identify which one matches your needs.
Why does my search return no results? ▼
Federal databases only cover federal-level data. If you need state or county records, go to the specific state page. Federal and state systems are completely separate.
Is there a single database for all these records? ▼
No. Each federal agency maintains its own system independently. You must search the specific agency that handles the record type you need.
Other Federal Databases
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