Access Goodyear Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records for Goodyear residents are kept at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Phoenix, about 20 miles to the east. The federal court handles all bankruptcy cases for Maricopa County, including Goodyear and its 123,000 plus residents. This fast-growing city in the southwest valley has seen steady population increases over the past decade. All Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 filings from Goodyear go through the Phoenix courthouse. You can search these records online any time through PACER or visit the court in person during business hours. The records are public under federal law, meaning anyone can look them up without giving a reason.

Goodyear Bankruptcy Court Details

Goodyear does not have its own bankruptcy court. All Goodyear bankruptcy cases are filed at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Phoenix. The courthouse address is 230 North 1st Avenue, Suite 101, Phoenix, AZ 85003. From Goodyear, take I-10 east toward downtown. The drive is about 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.

The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The phone number is 602-682-4000. You can also call the toll-free line at 800-556-9230. Staff at the clerk's office can help you find Goodyear bankruptcy records by name or case number.

Plan extra time for parking. Street parking near the courthouse is limited. Paid lots and garages are within walking distance. Security screening is required at the entrance. Bring a photo ID.

Free public terminals in the courthouse lobby let you search PACER without fees. This saves money if you need to look at many documents. The Self-Help Center on site has volunteer attorneys who answer basic questions.

Search Goodyear Bankruptcy Records Online

PACER is the fastest way to find Goodyear bankruptcy records. The system runs 24 hours a day from any computer or phone. Start by making a free account at pacer.uscourts.gov. After you register, log in and access the Arizona court at ecf.azb.uscourts.gov.

Search by the person's name, business name, case number, or Social Security number. PACER shows the full docket with every document in the case. You can 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 means light users search for free. The court waives small amounts automatically.

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

PACER registration is free and takes just a few minutes to complete online.

Free Phone Lookup for Goodyear Cases

The Voice Case Information System provides free basic case info by phone. Call 1-866-222-8029 any time, day or night. The automated system works around the clock. You do not need a PACER account.

VCIS tells you the case number, filing date, debtor name, attorney, trustee, and current status. It also gives key dates like the 341 meeting of creditors. This is useful for quick checks when you do not need full documents.

Note: VCIS provides basic data only, not documents or detailed court filings.

Goodyear and Maricopa County Filings

Goodyear is in Maricopa County, the most populated county in Arizona. Over 4.6 million people live here. The Phoenix bankruptcy court serves all of them. This includes Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Glendale, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise, and every other Maricopa city.

With so many residents, the court handles a large volume of cases each year. Multiple bankruptcy judges share the workload. Your case gets assigned to one judge who handles it through completion. Chief Judge Eddward P. Ballinger Jr. leads the court.

Maricopa County Superior Court does not handle bankruptcy. This is strictly a federal matter. State courts play no role. If you need Goodyear bankruptcy records, the federal court in Phoenix is your only source.

Types of Goodyear Bankruptcy Records

Goodyear bankruptcy records cover all case types that residents file. Chapter 7 is the most common type. It wipes out most debts through liquidation. A trustee may sell some assets to pay creditors, but Arizona exemptions let you keep your home, car, and personal items up to certain limits. Most Chapter 7 cases end in three to four months.

Chapter 13 is for people with regular income. You keep your property and pay back some or all debts over three to five years. The monthly payment depends on your income and what you owe. Many Goodyear homeowners use Chapter 13 to catch up on mortgage payments and avoid foreclosure.

Chapter 11 is mainly for businesses that want to reorganize. The company proposes a plan to restructure debts while staying open. Creditors vote on the plan. Some individuals with very high debts also use Chapter 11. These cases are more complex and take longer.

Every Goodyear bankruptcy file has standard documents. The petition starts the case. Schedules list all assets, liabilities, income, and expenses. The statement of financial affairs details recent financial activity. Court orders record every judge decision. The discharge order at the end shows which debts were eliminated.

Goodyear Bankruptcy Records Fees

Viewing Goodyear bankruptcy records through PACER costs $0.10 per page. Each document caps at $3.00 no matter the length. The quarterly fee waiver kicks in if your total is $30 or less. Most casual searchers 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. You can also pay online through Pay.gov. The clerk does not accept cash.

Free access is available. The courthouse has public terminals where you can search PACER without charges. The VCIS phone line at 1-866-222-8029 is free for basic case information. The Maricopa County Law Library also offers free legal research resources.

Goodyear Bankruptcy Bankruptcy Legal Resources

Community Legal Services helps low-income Maricopa County residents with legal problems. Call 602-258-3434 to check if you qualify. They can explain bankruptcy options and help with forms.

The Phoenix courthouse Self-Help Center at 602-682-4007 has volunteer attorneys. They answer questions about bankruptcy forms and procedures. The Self-Help Center page explains what services are available and how to use them.

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 when you have few assets and straightforward debts.

The Maricopa County Law Library at superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/llrc/ has legal research tools. The Volunteer Lawyers Program at 602-506-7948 connects people with free legal help for bankruptcy matters. Many Goodyear attorneys offer free initial consultations.

Filing Bankruptcy from Goodyear

Before filing bankruptcy, Goodyear residents must complete credit counseling. The course takes about an hour. You can do it online or by phone. The U.S. Trustee Program has a list of approved counseling agencies.

Next, fill out the bankruptcy petition and schedules. These forms require detailed financial information. List every creditor you owe money to. List all property you own. Mistakes can cause delays, so many people hire an attorney to prepare the paperwork correctly.

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

After filing, an automatic stay stops most creditors from contacting you. They cannot call, sue, garnish wages, or foreclose. You will attend a 341 meeting where the trustee asks about your finances. Most Chapter 7 cases wrap up in about four months with a discharge order.

Cities Near Goodyear

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