Arizona Bankruptcy Records
Arizona bankruptcy records are federal court documents. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona keeps all case files for the state. You can search these records through PACER, the federal court records system. Anyone can look up bankruptcy filings for free at court public access terminals. The court has three offices in Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma. Two more sites in Flagstaff and Bullhead City hold hearings only. Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, and Chapter 13 cases all go through this federal court. Search Arizona bankruptcy cases by name, case number, or tax ID through the federal system.
Arizona Bankruptcy Records Quick Facts
Arizona Bankruptcy Court System
Bankruptcy is a federal matter. It falls under the U.S. Constitution, not state law. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona handles all bankruptcy filings in the state. This court is part of the federal judiciary. It serves all 15 Arizona counties from offices in Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma. State and county courts have no role in bankruptcy cases.
The Phoenix office at 230 North 1st Avenue is the main court location. Chief Judge Eddward P. Ballinger Jr. leads the court. Clerk of Court Khadijia White-Thomas runs day-to-day operations. You can reach the Phoenix office at 602-682-4000 or call toll-free at 800-556-9230. The court is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. Staff can help you find Arizona bankruptcy records and explain how to use the public access terminals.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court District of Arizona website provides forms, fee schedules, and case information for anyone who needs to file or search records.
The Tucson office serves southern Arizona. It sits at 38 South Scott Avenue in the James A. Walsh Federal Courthouse. Call 520-202-7500 for help with Tucson area bankruptcy records. The Yuma office at 98 West 1st Street handles cases for the western border region. Note that Yuma does not accept payments. You must pay fees through Phoenix, Tucson, or the Pay.gov website.
Search Arizona Bankruptcy Records Online
PACER is the main way to search Arizona bankruptcy records from home. PACER stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. The federal court system runs this database. It holds over one billion documents from courts across the country. You can search 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The system works from any computer or phone with internet access.
To use PACER, you need a free account. Go to pacer.uscourts.gov to sign up. After you log in, you can search for Arizona bankruptcy cases by party name, case number, or Social Security number. Each search shows case details, filing dates, and a full list of all documents. You can view and download PDFs of any public filing in the case.
PACER charges $0.10 per page. A cap of $3.00 applies to each document. If your total fees stay at $30 or less per quarter, the court waives all charges. This means light users pay nothing. Heavy users pay only for what they access beyond the threshold.
For direct access to Arizona cases, go to ecf.azb.uscourts.gov after logging into PACER. This takes you right to the Arizona Bankruptcy Court CM/ECF system. CM/ECF is the Case Management and Electronic Case Files system used by federal courts.
Note: You can search Arizona bankruptcy records for free at public terminals in the Phoenix and Tucson courthouses.
Arizona Bankruptcy Court Locations
The court operates three full-service offices. Each one accepts filings and holds hearings. Two more sites host hearings only. Which location you use depends on where you live in Arizona. All locations handle the same types of bankruptcy cases.
Phoenix is the main office. It sits in downtown Phoenix at 230 North 1st Avenue, Suite 101. The phone number is 602-682-4000. This office serves Maricopa County and most of central Arizona. Free public access computers let you search Arizona bankruptcy records without PACER fees. A Self-Help Center offers assistance to people filing on their own.
The court locations page lists addresses, phone numbers, and hours for all Arizona bankruptcy court sites.
Tucson serves southern Arizona from the James A. Walsh Federal Courthouse at 38 South Scott Avenue. Call 520-202-7500 for questions. Pima County residents file here. Yuma handles the western border region from 98 West 1st Street on the 2nd floor. The Yuma phone is 928-261-4500. Remember that Yuma cannot take payments.
Flagstaff hosts hearings at 123 North San Francisco Street in the AWD Building. This helps Coconino County residents avoid long trips to Phoenix. Bullhead City holds hearings at the Superior Court building on 2225 Trane Road. Mohave County residents can attend court here instead of driving to Phoenix.
Arizona Bankruptcy Record Fees
Fees apply when you search or copy Arizona bankruptcy records. PACER charges $0.10 per page viewed online. Each document caps at $3.00 no matter how long it is. The court waives all fees if you use less than $30 per quarter. Most people doing basic searches pay nothing.
The filing fee schedule shows current costs for all court services.
Paper copies cost $0.50 per page at the clerk's office. A certified copy costs $12.00 per document. If you mail a request, the court charges $34.00 for each name or number searched. Pay with a cashier's check or money order made out to U.S. Bankruptcy Court. You can also pay online through Pay.gov. The court does not accept cash.
Note: Filing for bankruptcy itself has separate fees that range from $338 to over $1,700 based on the chapter you file.
Types of Arizona Bankruptcy Records
Arizona bankruptcy records cover four main case types. Each type serves a different need. The case documents show what chapter the debtor filed, what debts they listed, and how the court resolved the case. All these records are public under federal law.
Chapter 7 is the most common type. It wipes out most debts through liquidation. A trustee sells the debtor's non-exempt property to pay creditors. Most Chapter 7 cases wrap up in three to four months. The records show what assets the debtor had and which creditors got paid.
Chapter 13 lets people with regular income keep their property. The debtor pays back some or all debts over three to five years. Arizona bankruptcy records for Chapter 13 cases include the payment plan and proof of each payment made. These cases can last years, so the files tend to be larger.
Chapter 11 is for businesses or people with large debts. The debtor proposes a plan to restructure what they owe. Creditors vote on the plan. The court decides if it works. Chapter 11 records often run hundreds of pages. Chapter 12 works like Chapter 13 but is only for family farmers and fishermen. It is rare in Arizona.
Every Arizona bankruptcy file includes these documents:
- The petition that starts the case
- Schedules listing all assets and debts
- Statement of financial affairs
- Proofs of claim from creditors
- Court orders and the discharge order
Help with Arizona Bankruptcy Filings
The court runs a Self-Help Center for people who cannot afford a lawyer. Volunteer attorneys offer free advice. They can answer questions about forms and procedures. The center is in the Phoenix courthouse. You can reach it by phone at 602-682-4007.
The Self-Help Center page explains services and hours for Arizona bankruptcy filers who need guidance.
The court also offers a tool called Electronic Self-Representation (eSR). It guides you through filing a Chapter 7 case step by step. The tool fills in forms based on your answers. It works best for simple cases with no assets to distribute. You can find it on the court website.
For free over-the-phone help, call the Bankruptcy Help Line at 866-553-0893. Spanish speakers can get assistance too. The U.S. Trustee Program for Region 14 oversees Arizona bankruptcy cases and monitors for fraud.
Are Arizona Bankruptcy Records Public
Yes. Federal law makes bankruptcy records public. Under 11 U.S.C. Section 107, anyone can see case files. You do not need to be a party to the case. You do not need to give a reason for your search. The records are open to all.
Some limits apply. Social Security numbers are redacted from public documents. Bank account numbers stay hidden too. A party can ask the court to seal certain records. The judge decides after a hearing. Sealed records are rare. Most Arizona bankruptcy filings stay fully public.
You can view Arizona bankruptcy records in person at any court office. Use the free public terminals to search and view documents without PACER fees. Bring a photo ID for security screening. Staff can help you find what you need.
Free Phone Access to Arizona Cases
The Voice Case Information System (VCIS) gives free case info by phone. Call 1-866-222-8029 any time. The system works 24 hours a day. It is automated and easy to use. You can get basic details about any Arizona bankruptcy case without a PACER account.
VCIS provides the case number, filing date, and current status. It shows debtor and attorney names. You can hear key dates like the 341 meeting time. The system is useful for quick lookups when you do not need full documents.
Legal Help for Arizona Bankruptcy
Several groups help low-income Arizona residents with bankruptcy matters. Community Legal Services covers Maricopa, Mohave, La Paz, and Yavapai counties. Call 602-258-3434 in Phoenix or 800-852-9075 elsewhere. They can explain your options and help with forms.
Southern Arizona Legal Aid serves most of southern and eastern Arizona. This includes Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Graham, and Santa Cruz counties. Call 520-623-9465 in Tucson or toll-free at 800-248-6789. They focus on people facing debt problems and foreclosure.
DNA People's Legal Services helps Navajo Nation residents. Call 833-362-1102 for help. The Maricopa County Law Library at superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/llrc/ has legal research resources. Step Up to Justice and other volunteer programs offer free help in Pima County.
Browse Arizona Bankruptcy Records by County
All 15 Arizona counties are served by the federal bankruptcy court. Pick a county below to find local resources and the nearest court location for bankruptcy records.
Bankruptcy Records in Major Arizona Cities
Residents of major Arizona cities file for bankruptcy at the federal court. Pick a city below to learn about local resources and how to access bankruptcy records.