What are Arizona Bankruptcy Records?

In Arizona, the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Arizona, hears all bankruptcy cases occurring within the state and maintains case records resulting from these court proceedings. Bankruptcy cases in Arizona are filed in the federal courts, not the state courts, as bankruptcies are federal matters and handled as directed under USC Title 11. The records of these proceedings typically contain information about the parties involved in a case, as well as other case and financial information. Although bankruptcy records are accessible through the federal court or remotely via the federally-operated site, PACER, third-party sites such as CourtRecords.Us may also provide access to some public records.

What do Arizona Bankruptcy Records Contain?

Arizona bankruptcy records include court dockets, transcripts, claims registers, court proceedings, and case documents and contain the following information:

• Name of the debtor
• Name/phone number of the debtor’s attorney
• Financial information of the debtor
• Assets, if available
• Creditor information (names, addresses, and amount in debt)
• Trustee information
• Case number
• Case status
• Filing date
• Type of petition and chapter
• Presiding judge’s information
• Final disposition

Are Bankruptcy Records Public Information?

Per 11 USC 107(a), bankruptcy records are available for public viewing or copying unless access to a record, or record information, is prevented by federal law or court order. Under 11 USC §107 and 11 USC §112, the following information may not be disseminated to the public:

• Any information relating to minor children
• Company trade secrets, commercial information, and confidential research/development
• Information that may endanger a person’s physical safety or result in damage to a person’s property
• Information whose release may result in identity theft
• Defamatory or scandalous information
• Identification documents described under 18 U.S.C § 1028(d)

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. Operating independently of any federal, state or local agency, these websites often make searching simpler, as such platforms are not limited by geographic location. Third-party sites may also feature search engines that may help simplify the search process for specific or multiple records. To begin using a third-party or government website, interested parties may be required to provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

How to Get Arizona Bankruptcy Records

Arizona bankruptcy records and case information may be obtained through the following methods:

• The United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Arizona: To view or copy case information/records, interested parties may visit public access computers located in the Records Section of the clerk’s office. According to the Fee Schedule, there is no cost to view these records, but there is a 10 cents/page charge for printouts and 50 cents/page for copies. Below are the court’s addresses:

Phoenix
US Courthouse and Federal Building
230 North 1st Avenue, Suite 101
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: (602) 682–4000/(800) 556–9230
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday

Tucson
James A. Walsh Federal Courthouse
38 South Scott Avenue, Suite 100
Tucson, AZ 85701
Phone: (520) 202–7500/ (800) 556–9230
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday

Yuma
John M. Roll U.S. Courthouse
98 West 1st Street, 2nd Floor
Yuma, AZ 85364
Phone: (928) 261–4500 or (800) 556–9230
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday

Flagstaff
US Magistrate Courtroom
AWD Building
123 North San Francisco Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone: (602) 682–4000/(800)–556–9230

BullheadCity
Mohave County Superior Court
2225 Trane Road, Courtroom R
Bullhead City, AZ 86442
Phone: (602) 682–4000/(800) 556–9230

Members of the public may also obtain certified copies of bankruptcy records by mailing a written request together with the fees and contact/case information outlined below:

• Fees for certified record requests: $31/document (search fee) plus 50 cents/page (photocopy fee) or a 10 cents/page printing fee for records maintained in electronic form, and $11 for certification
• Requester’s contact information: name, address, and daytime phone number. Requesters may include a self-addressed, stamped envelope to receive the copies by mail
• Case information: title of requested documents/records, case name, case number, and filing date

It is also possible to receive copies in person rather than by mail. One of the benefits of such  requests is the exclusion of the $31 search fee. Permitted payment methods include bank cashier’s check or money order to be paid to the “Clerk, United States Bankruptcy Court.”

• The Voice Case Information System (VCIS): VCIS provides case information to members of the public. The information required to obtain case information includes a case number, complete name, or Tax ID/ITIN/SSN (social security number). To use this free service, individuals may dial (866) 222–8029, and when cued to name the court, press #90 or say Arizona. Afterward, persons may search as follows:
• With a case number, by pressing 2
• With a person’s name, by pressing 3, or
• With a social security number, by pressing 4.

To find instructions on using the service, requesters may press 1. Obtainable information from VCIS includes:

• Debtor’s name
• Debtor’s attorney’s name
• Trustee
• Case number
• Case status
• Filing date
• Chapter
• Judge
• Date of discharge
• Closing date
• Whether it was a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy case

Additionally, interested parties may find more information concerning bankruptcy cases by contacting the clerk’s office during business hours at:

• The Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER): Bankruptcy case records are accessible through the PACER website. To search and view case/docket information on this site, registration is typically required. Individuals may register online through the PACER website or call the PACER Service Center at (800) 676–6856. Registered parties may access Arizona bankruptcy records via the PACER Login. Copy or printing fees may be obtained within the Electronic Public Access Fee Schedule. 
• The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Federal Records Center (FRC): This request method generally  applies to records that have been transferred to the Federal Records Center. Requests for copies (case files, docket sheets, certified copies) may be made to the FRC by submitting the Archives Request Form. Submission instructions, addresses, and copy fees are available on this form. The location number of a record may be obtained by viewing the court docket through the public access terminals located in the clerk’s office or by contacting the clerk’s office on (602) 682–4000. This information is also obtainable via PACER.

To inspect an archived record, requests may be made to the FRC with the Archive Retrieval Form. It should be noted that the FRC does not provide on-site record inspections. Instead, the FRC delivers the requested record to the Clerk’s Office, where requesters may then review the records. It costs $64 to retrieve a box from the FRC and $39 per additional box.

How do I Find Out if My Bankruptcy Case is Closed in Arizona?

There are two ways to find out if a bankruptcy case has been closed in Arizona. The first is to use the 24/7 Voice Case Information System (VCIS) to obtain the closing date or status of a case, as described above, or call the Clerk’s Office at (602) 682–4000 or (800) 556–9230 for the information.

Can a Bankruptcy be Expunged in Arizona?

No, bankruptcy records are not expungeable in Arizona. There are no provisions for the expungement of these records in any situation under federal law or the Local Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure for the District of Arizona.