How to Find Out If Someone Declares Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy records can be accessed instantly online.

Bankruptcy is a legal process, governed by the federal bankruptcy courts, designed to help consumers have a new financial start. All bankruptcy cases are public record and available to anyone who requests the information. Anyone who has filed for bankruptcy will be listed in the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system under the state in which he filed. All records are available for viewing, downloading or printing at little to no charge.

Instructions

1. Register for an account on the PACER website. Enter your information to include your name, address and email address. Log in after you receive your password. The password will be mailed to your email address after you register.

2. Click on the "Find a Case" tab at the top of the page. Locate the state in which you think the bankruptcy case was filed and select it.

3. Review the information regarding court records, and then click the "Query" tab in the blue bar at the top of the page.

4. Fill in as much information as possible. At a minimum, enter the last name for the person whose records you are searching. The more information you can enter, the more the results will be narrowed down. Click "Search" to begin the search.

5. Read the names of the potential matches and select the appropriate one. Look to the left side of the screen to see the available documents. Each document you open will cost 8 cents; however, PACER does not bill a user unless she exceeds $10 in search fees per quarter. When you open a document, you have the choice to view the document or print the document. You can also copy and paste into a Word document to save for later viewing. Some files will allow you to download. You will be able to view the bankruptcy petition, as well as any other document that was part of the bankruptcy case.

Tips & Warnings

• If you accumulate more than $10 of search fees (125 pages at 8 cents a page) in a quarter, PACER will mail a bill to the address listed when you registered. You would have to search several bankruptcy cases to reach $10.

References

• Public Access to Court Electronic Records: PACER
• United States Courts: Bankruptcy

Resources

• Public Access to Court Electronic Records: Register for a PACER (Case Search) Account