Yuma County Bankruptcy Records

Yuma County bankruptcy records are federal court documents maintained by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona. Residents of Yuma city, San Luis, and all other Yuma County areas have direct local access to the federal court. The Yuma Division office at 98 West 1st Street is one of only three federal bankruptcy court offices in all of Arizona. This saves residents from the 180-mile drive to Phoenix. You can search Yuma County bankruptcy records through PACER online or visit the local courthouse for in-person help. However, the Yuma office does not accept payments. You must pay filing fees and copy fees through Phoenix, Tucson, or the Pay.gov website. Yuma County is Arizona's largest majority-Hispanic county. Spanish-language resources are available through the federal court system.

Yuma Bankruptcy Court Office

The Yuma Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court sits in the John M. Roll U.S. Courthouse at 98 West 1st Street, 2nd Floor, Yuma, AZ 85364. This is the only federal bankruptcy court office in southwestern Arizona. Call 928-261-4500 for questions about Yuma County cases. The toll-free number is 800-556-9230.

The Yuma court location page shows address details and important notices for Yuma County filers.

Court hours run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bring a photo ID for security screening. The building has metal detectors at the entrance. Staff can help you locate Yuma County bankruptcy records and explain how to use the court systems.

The Yuma office handles filings and hearings for local residents. You can file a new case, check dockets, view documents on public terminals, and attend hearings here. Judges travel from Phoenix to hear Yuma cases on scheduled days.

Note: The Yuma office does NOT accept payments. You must pay through Phoenix, Tucson, or Pay.gov online. Plan for this if you need to file or order certified copies.

Yuma Bankruptcy Payment Options

Unlike Phoenix and Tucson, the Yuma court office cannot process payments. This is an important rule to know before your visit. If you plan to file a new bankruptcy case, you must pay filing fees another way. If you need certified copies, you must pay separately.

Payment options for Yuma County residents include mailing a cashier's check or money order to the Phoenix office at 230 N 1st Ave, Suite 101, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Make it out to U.S. Bankruptcy Court. You can also pay online through Pay.gov. The Tucson office at 38 South Scott Avenue also accepts payments if you are traveling east.

Some filers coordinate by phone with the Phoenix office before coming to Yuma. They pay ahead online or by mail. Then they file documents in person at the Yuma office. This takes planning but works for many local residents.

Search Yuma Bankruptcy Records Online

PACER provides 24-hour access to Yuma County bankruptcy records. It works from any computer or phone with internet. Register for free at pacer.uscourts.gov. After login, access the Arizona court at ecf.azb.uscourts.gov.

Search by debtor name, case number, or Social Security number. Results show all matching Arizona cases. Check the debtor address to confirm Yuma County. Each case record displays filing date, chapter type, assigned judge, trustee, and current status. Click docket entries to view documents. PDFs download instantly.

PACER fees are $0.10 per page with a $3.00 cap per document. Quarterly charges under $30 are waived automatically. Light users pay nothing. Heavy users still benefit from the document cap.

The Voice Case Information System at 866-222-8029 provides free case details by phone 24 hours a day. It gives case numbers, filing dates, and status for any Arizona bankruptcy case.

Free Legal Help for Yuma Bankruptcy

Community Legal Services provides free help to Yuma County residents with debt and bankruptcy issues. Their Kingman office serves the region including La Paz and Yuma counties. Call 928-681-1177 for local help or 800-852-9075 toll-free. CLS works with people who have limited income and cannot afford attorneys.

The Bankruptcy Help Line at 866-553-0893 offers general guidance in English and Spanish. This federal hotline helps people understand their options before deciding to file. Spanish-language court forms and instructions are available through the court website.

The bankruptcy court Self-Help Center in Phoenix provides detailed assistance. Call 602-682-4007 for information. Volunteer lawyers answer questions and review forms on scheduled days. Yuma residents can visit when they travel to Phoenix for payments or other matters.

The Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) tool helps people prepare Chapter 7 forms online. The court website guides you step by step. This is useful for Yuma County residents who want to file without an attorney.

Yuma County Bankruptcy Case Contents

Every Yuma County bankruptcy file contains standard federal court documents. The petition starts the case and shows the debtor name, address, and chapter. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are most common locally. Chapter 7 liquidates assets to pay debts. Chapter 13 sets up a payment plan over three to five years.

Schedules list all assets and debts in detail. Real property appears on Schedule A. Personal property on Schedule B. Exemptions on Schedule C. Secured debts like mortgages on Schedule D. Priority debts like taxes on Schedule E. Unsecured debts like credit cards on Schedule F. Income and expenses on Schedules I and J.

The statement of financial affairs gives more background. It covers income for the past two years, recent property transfers, lawsuits, and garnishments. Creditors file proofs of claim to state what the debtor owes. The trustee files reports on asset review.

Court orders appear throughout the case. The discharge order releases the debtor from personal liability when the case ends successfully. Some cases end in dismissal if requirements are not met.

Yuma County Bankruptcy Record Fees

PACER fees apply when you search Yuma County bankruptcy records online. The rate is $0.10 per page. Each document caps at $3.00 regardless of length. Quarterly charges under $30 are waived. Basic searches are usually free.

Paper copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $12.00 each. Mail requests carry a $34.00 search fee per name or case. Pay by cashier's check or money order to U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Send to the Phoenix office since Yuma does not accept payments. Pay.gov works for online payments.

Filing fees for starting a bankruptcy case are separate. Chapter 7 costs $338 to file. Chapter 13 costs $313. Chapter 11 runs $1,738. People with very low income may qualify for fee waivers or payment plans.

Note: Remember that Yuma cannot process payments. Plan ahead using Phoenix, Tucson, or Pay.gov.

How to Get Yuma Bankruptcy Records

You can access Yuma County bankruptcy records five ways. Online through PACER is most common. It works any time. In person at the Yuma courthouse provides free public terminal access and staff assistance. Phone the Voice Case Information System at 866-222-8029 for basic details 24 hours a day.

Mail requests go to the Phoenix office at 230 N 1st Ave, Suite 101, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Include the case name, case number, documents wanted, your contact information, and payment. Allow two to three weeks. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return mail.

Email is not accepted for document copy requests. Technical questions about the CM/ECF filing system go to azbml_all_dqa@azb.uscourts.gov. PACER help is at pacer@psc.uscourts.gov.

Bankruptcy Records for Yuma County Bankruptcy Records by City

All cities in Yuma County use the federal bankruptcy court. There is no local city-level system. Yuma city residents file at the local Yuma office. San Luis residents file there too. Smaller communities like Somerton and Wellton use the same federal court.

Find bankruptcy record guides for major Yuma County cities:

The local federal office makes Yuma County one of the most convenient places in rural Arizona to access bankruptcy services. Only Maricopa and Pima counties also have local federal court offices.

Nearby County Bankruptcy Records

Yuma County sits in the far southwestern corner of Arizona. La Paz County lies to the north. Maricopa County is to the east. La Paz residents often use the Yuma office since it is the nearest federal court location.

Browse bankruptcy records for counties near Yuma:

All Arizona counties use the same federal bankruptcy court system. PACER lets you search records for any county through a single database. The physical court office you visit depends on where you live.