Buckeye Arizona Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records for Buckeye residents are held at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Phoenix. The federal courthouse sits about 33 miles east of Buckeye, the longest drive of any west valley city to the court. Buckeye has grown fast in recent years and now has about 119,000 residents. The city covers a large area in western Maricopa County. All bankruptcy filings from Buckeye go through the Phoenix federal court, which serves the entire county. You can search Buckeye bankruptcy cases online through PACER any time of day. The court maintains records for Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 cases. These records are public under federal law and anyone can access them.

Buckeye Bankruptcy Court Access

Buckeye does not have a local bankruptcy court. All Buckeye bankruptcy cases go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Phoenix. The address is 230 North 1st Avenue, Suite 101, Phoenix, AZ 85003. From Buckeye, take I-10 east toward downtown Phoenix. The drive is about 40 to 50 minutes depending on traffic and where you start from in Buckeye.

The distance makes online access especially important for Buckeye residents. PACER lets you search records from home without the long drive. But if you need to attend a hearing or file papers in person, the Phoenix courthouse is your destination.

Court hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 602-682-4000 for questions about Buckeye bankruptcy records. The toll-free number is 800-556-9230. Staff can help you find cases by name or case number.

Free public terminals at the courthouse let you search PACER without fees. The Self-Help Center has volunteer attorneys who can answer questions. Bring a photo ID for security screening.

Search Buckeye Bankruptcy Records Online

PACER is the best way for Buckeye residents to access bankruptcy records without driving to Phoenix. The system works 24 hours a day. First, make a free account at pacer.uscourts.gov. Then log in and go to the Arizona court at ecf.azb.uscourts.gov.

You can search by name, case number, or Social Security number. PACER shows the complete docket with every document filed in the case. Download PDFs of petitions, schedules, court orders, and discharge papers. The fee is $0.10 per page with a $3.00 cap per document.

If your quarterly fees stay at $30 or less, you pay nothing. This quarterly waiver means light users effectively search for free.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona website has forms, fee schedules, and guides for anyone who needs to search or file Buckeye bankruptcy records.

The CM/ECF system is where you search Arizona bankruptcy cases after logging into PACER. Results include the full case docket and all public documents.

Free Phone Access to Buckeye Cases

The Voice Case Information System gives free basic case data by phone. Call 1-866-222-8029 any time. The system is automated and runs around the clock. No PACER account is needed.

VCIS provides the case number, filing date, debtor name, attorney name, trustee, and current status. It tells you key dates like the 341 meeting of creditors. This works well when you need quick info without pulling the full case file.

Note: VCIS only gives basic case information, not documents or detailed filings.

Buckeye and Maricopa County Bankruptcy

Buckeye is in Maricopa County, home to over 4.6 million people. The Phoenix bankruptcy court serves the entire county. This includes Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Glendale, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, Avondale, and all other Maricopa cities and towns.

With such a large population, the court handles thousands of cases each year. Multiple judges share the caseload. Your case gets assigned to one judge who handles all motions and hearings. Chief Judge Eddward P. Ballinger Jr. leads the court. The Clerk of Court, Khadijia White-Thomas, manages all administrative matters.

State courts do not handle bankruptcy. Maricopa County Superior Court deals with other types of cases but not bankruptcy. The federal court in Phoenix is your only source for Buckeye bankruptcy records.

Types of Buckeye Bankruptcy Records

Buckeye bankruptcy records include all case types filed by city residents. Chapter 7 is the most common. It eliminates most debts through liquidation. A trustee reviews your assets and may sell some to pay creditors. Arizona exemptions protect your home, car, and personal items up to certain limits. Most Chapter 7 cases wrap up in three to four months.

Chapter 13 works for people with regular income who want to keep their property. You pay back some or all debts over three to five years. The payment depends on your income and what you owe. Many Buckeye homeowners use Chapter 13 to catch up on mortgage payments.

Chapter 11 is mainly for businesses that want to restructure while staying open. Creditors vote on the reorganization plan. Some individuals with very high debts also file Chapter 11. These cases tend to be complex with many documents over months or years.

Every Buckeye bankruptcy file includes standard documents. The petition starts the case. Schedules list all assets, debts, income, and expenses. The statement of financial affairs shows recent financial activity. Court orders document judge decisions. The discharge order at the end releases the debtor from certain debts.

Buckeye Bankruptcy Records Fees

Viewing Buckeye bankruptcy records through PACER costs $0.10 per page. Documents cap at $3.00 each. If your total fees are $30 or less per quarter, the court waives everything. Casual users pay nothing.

At the Phoenix courthouse, paper copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $12.00 per document. Mail requests add a $34.00 search fee per name. Pay by cashier's check or money order to U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Online payments go through Pay.gov. The clerk does not accept cash.

Free options exist. The courthouse has public terminals where you can search PACER without fees. The VCIS phone line at 1-866-222-8029 provides free basic case info. Given the 33-mile drive from Buckeye, online access through PACER is often the most practical choice.

Legal Assistance for Buckeye Residents

Community Legal Services helps low-income Maricopa County residents. Call 602-258-3434 to see if you qualify for free help. They can explain bankruptcy options and assist with paperwork.

The Phoenix courthouse Self-Help Center at 602-682-4007 has volunteer attorneys who answer questions. The Self-Help Center page has information about services and hours.

The court offers an Electronic Self-Representation tool for simple Chapter 7 cases. It guides you through the forms step by step. You answer questions and the system fills in the paperwork. This works best for cases with few assets and straightforward debts.

The Maricopa County Law Library at superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/llrc/ offers legal research resources. The main location is in downtown Phoenix. The Volunteer Lawyers Program at 602-506-7948 connects people with free legal help. Bankruptcy attorneys in Buckeye often offer free initial consultations.

How Buckeye Residents File Bankruptcy

Before filing bankruptcy, you must complete credit counseling. The course takes about an hour. You can do it online or by phone. The U.S. Trustee Program lists approved counseling agencies.

After counseling, fill out the bankruptcy petition and schedules. These forms need detailed financial information. List every creditor and every asset you own. Mistakes or missing info can delay your case. Many Buckeye residents hire an attorney to prepare the forms correctly.

File at the Phoenix bankruptcy court. You can submit electronically through CM/ECF, which saves the long drive. Chapter 7 costs $338 to file. Chapter 13 is $313. Payment plans and fee waivers are available based on income.

Once you file, an automatic stay stops most creditors. They cannot call, sue, garnish wages, or foreclose while the case is pending. You will attend a 341 meeting of creditors where the trustee asks about your finances. Most Chapter 7 cases end in about four months with a discharge order.

Nearby West Valley Cities

Other cities in the west valley use the same Phoenix bankruptcy court. Click below to find local information and resources for nearby areas.