New York City Bankruptcy Records
New York City bankruptcy records are spread across two federal court districts that cover all five boroughs. Manhattan and the Bronx fall under the Southern District, while Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island belong to the Eastern District. Searching for these records means knowing which district handled the case. PACER is the main tool for online access, and each district has a courthouse with public terminals for in-person searches. This page covers where to find New York City bankruptcy filings and how to get copies of case documents.
New York City Bankruptcy Records Overview
New York City Bankruptcy Court Districts
New York City splits between two federal bankruptcy court districts. Each borough is a separate county under New York law, and the county determines which court handles the case. Manhattan is New York County. Brooklyn is Kings County. Queens is Queens County. The Bronx is Bronx County. Staten Island is Richmond County. These five counties fall into two districts, and each one has its own clerk's office and filing rules.
The Southern District of New York covers Manhattan and the Bronx. Its main courthouse sits at One Bowling Green in lower Manhattan. The phone number is 212-668-2870. This court also has offices in White Plains and Poughkeepsie, but New York City cases go through Manhattan. The Southern District is one of the busiest bankruptcy courts in the country. It handles high-profile Chapter 11 cases along with thousands of individual Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings each year. Public access terminals at One Bowling Green let you look up case data at no cost during business hours from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Eastern District of New York handles Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. Its main office is at 271 Cadman Plaza East in Brooklyn, with a phone number of 347-394-1700. A second office at 290 Federal Plaza in Central Islip mostly serves Long Island cases. Brooklyn residents, Queens residents, and Staten Island residents all file at Cadman Plaza East. The Eastern District also has public terminals for free case lookups.
Note: Your borough determines which district handles your bankruptcy case, so check the county pages for specific filing details.
County Clerk Offices for NYC Bankruptcy Records
While bankruptcy is a federal matter, New York City's county clerks maintain state court records that often relate to bankruptcy cases. Judgments, liens, and foreclosure actions filed in Supreme Court can show up in a debtor's bankruptcy file. Each borough has its own county clerk.
The New York County Clerk in Manhattan is at 60 Centre Street. The phone number for the Judgment and Lien Section is 646-386-5940. Records from 1955 to 1984 are on microfiche. Newer records from 2015 forward are digitized. The Manhattan office is part of the 1st Judicial District and handles Supreme Court records, judgment dockets, and business certificates. For property records in New York City, the ACRIS system provides free online access across all five boroughs.
The Kings County Clerk in Brooklyn is at 360 Adams Street, Room 189. Phone is 347-404-9772. Copy fees run $0.65 per page, and certified copies cost $8.00 each. Brooklyn is part of the 2nd Judicial District. The Queens County Clerk is at 88-11 Sutphin Blvd in Jamaica. Phone is 718-298-0600. Hours are 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Queens sits in the 11th Judicial District.
The Bronx County Clerk at 851 Grand Concourse has a phone number of 718-618-3300. It is part of the 12th Judicial District. The Richmond County Clerk on Staten Island is at 130 Stuyvesant Place, 2nd Floor. Phone is 718-675-7700. Staten Island falls in the 13th Judicial District. All five county clerk offices maintain Supreme Court records, judgment dockets, and land records that can be relevant in bankruptcy cases.
How to Search NYC Bankruptcy Records
PACER is the primary way to search New York City bankruptcy records online. You can search by party name, case number, Social Security number, or tax ID. Registration is free. The fee is $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 per document. If your quarterly charges stay under $30, they get waived entirely. Case searches themselves cost nothing. You only pay when you open a document or docket report.
For a broader search when you are not sure which district handled a case, use the PACER Case Locator. It searches across all federal courts nationwide. This tool helps when a debtor may have moved between boroughs or filed in a different state. Once you find the case, go to that court's PACER site for full documents.
Call the Voice Case Information System at 866-222-8029 for free case status checks. It runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can look up filing dates, case chapters, discharge dates, trustee names, and attorney names. VCIS does not give you copies of documents, but it is a fast way to check basic case info.
The Southern District of New York Bankruptcy Court handles Manhattan and Bronx bankruptcy filings from its courthouse at One Bowling Green.
Public terminals at this courthouse let you search New York City bankruptcy records for free during weekday business hours.
Bankruptcy Records by Borough
Each New York City borough routes bankruptcy cases to a specific court. Manhattan (New York County) and the Bronx go to the Southern District at One Bowling Green. Brooklyn (Kings County), Queens, and Staten Island (Richmond County) go to the Eastern District at 271 Cadman Plaza East in Brooklyn. The Eastern District also has an office in Central Islip, but most New York City cases from the eastern boroughs stay at the Brooklyn courthouse.
Filing fees for bankruptcy in New York City match the federal schedule. Chapter 7 costs $338 to file. Chapter 13 costs $313. Chapter 11 costs $1,738 for most cases. These fees apply at both the Southern and Eastern District courts. Individuals who cannot afford the filing fee can apply for a fee waiver or pay in installments. The court has forms for both options.
Before filing, individuals must complete credit counseling from an approved agency. After filing, a debtor education course is needed before getting a discharge. The U.S. Trustee Program lists approved providers for the New York region on its website.
Getting Copies of NYC Bankruptcy Filings
PACER is the fastest route. Log in, find the case, and download what you need. You can print documents right away. For older cases filed before June 16, 2003 that have been closed more than two years, the files may have been sent to the National Archives. Getting copies from NARA costs $90 for an entire case file, $35 for preselected documents, and $35 for a docket sheet. Certification adds $15. You need tracking info from the bankruptcy court first.
In person, you can visit either courthouse. The Southern District at One Bowling Green and the Eastern District at Cadman Plaza East both have clerk's offices open on weekdays. Copies from the electronic case file system run $0.50 per page. Staff can search by debtor name or case number. Public access terminals at both locations show docket sheets and case details at no charge.
New York City State Court Records and Bankruptcy
State court records in New York City often tie into bankruptcy cases. Judgments from Supreme Court, tax liens, and foreclosure actions can all appear in a debtor's bankruptcy schedules. The eCourts portal lets you search for civil case information across New York state courts. NYSCEF at nycourts.gov/efile allows guest searches of Supreme Court documents without an account.
Each borough's county clerk maintains judgment dockets and lien filings. The ACRIS system handles property records for all five boroughs. These records help paint a full picture of a debtor's financial situation. Lawyers, creditors, and trustees regularly pull state court records as part of the bankruptcy process in New York City.
The Eastern District of New York Bankruptcy Court serves Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island from its courthouse at Cadman Plaza East.
Cases from these three boroughs are processed at the Brooklyn office, with public access terminals available for free lookups.
New York City County Pages
Each borough of New York City is a separate county. Visit the county pages below for more details on filing locations, clerk offices, and local resources for bankruptcy records.
Nearby Cities
Residents of neighboring cities may also need to search bankruptcy records. These cities have their own pages on this site with local court details and filing resources.