Bronx County Bankruptcy Records

Bronx County bankruptcy records are filed in the Eastern District of New York at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. With over 1.4 million residents, the Bronx generates a high volume of bankruptcy cases each year. You can search for Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 filings through the PACER system or visit the Brooklyn clerk's office for in-person access. The Bronx County Clerk at 851 Grand Concourse also maintains state court records that frequently connect to bankruptcy proceedings. Here is how to find the records you need.

Where Bronx County Bankruptcy Cases Are Filed

All Bronx County bankruptcy cases go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York. Cases are assigned to the Brooklyn courthouse at 271-C Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, NY 11201. The phone number is 347-394-1700. The Eastern District also has an office in Central Islip at 290 Federal Plaza, reachable at 631-712-6200, but Bronx County cases typically go through Brooklyn.

Attorneys must file through the CM/ECF electronic system. Pro se debtors can bring paper petitions to the clerk's office during business hours. Meeting of creditors (341 meetings) for Bronx County cases take place in Brooklyn. Public access terminals at both courthouse locations let you look up case information at no cost. The help desk is at 347-394-1700, press 6.

The Eastern District handles cases from Kings, Nassau, Queens, Richmond, and Suffolk counties as well. Copies at the courthouse cost $0.50 per page.

How to Search Bronx County Bankruptcy Records Online

PACER is the primary tool for searching Bronx County bankruptcy records. Registration is free. You pay $0.10 per page to view documents, with a $3.00 cap per document. Case searches cost nothing. If your quarterly usage stays under $30, the fees get waived. Search by debtor name, case number, Social Security number, or tax ID.

The system shows docket sheets, filed documents, and case status. Written opinions are free to download. The PACER Case Locator searches all federal courts at once if you are not sure which district holds the case. For quick status checks, call VCIS at 866-222-8029. The automated system runs around the clock and gives you basic case details for free.

The NYC ACRIS system provides online access to property records in Bronx County, including deeds, mortgages, and federal tax liens that may appear in bankruptcy filings.

ACRIS covers documents recorded from 1966 to the present. Basic searches are free, and document images can be viewed for a small fee.

Bronx County Clerk and State Court Records

The Bronx County Clerk's Office is at 851 Grand Concourse, Room 118, Bronx, NY 10451. The phone number is 718-618-3300. Kevin Rothermel serves as Acting County Clerk. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The clerk maintains Supreme and County Court records, judgment dockets, business filings, matrimonial judgments, and real property records for Bronx County.

State court records from the Bronx often connect to bankruptcy cases. A judgment from Bronx County Supreme Court can become a lien on real property, and that lien may need to be addressed during the bankruptcy. The Supreme Court-Civil division operates at 851 Grand Concourse. Criminal matters are at 215 East 161st Street. The Surrogate's Court at 851 Grand Concourse handles probate and estate cases.

Records access is available through NYSCEF for electronically filed cases. The eCourts system provides case tracking for civil matters. Property records for the Bronx are also on the ACRIS system run by the NYC Department of Finance.

Bronx County Bankruptcy Filing Costs

Filing fees follow the federal schedule. Chapter 7 costs $338. Chapter 13 is $313. Chapter 11 is $1,738 for most cases. Low-income filers may qualify for a waiver or installment payments. PACER document access costs $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 per document. Audio recordings are $2.40 each.

At the Brooklyn courthouse, copies run $0.50 per page for electronic case file documents. Older cases sent to the National Archives cost $90 for a full file, $35 for specific documents, and $35 for a docket sheet. Certification adds $15. Closed cases filed before June 16, 2003 may be at NARA.

Bankruptcy Exemptions for Bronx County Residents

Bronx County falls in the highest tier for the New York homestead exemption. Filers can protect up to $204,825 in equity in their primary residence under Section 282 of the Debtor and Creditor Law. This higher amount applies because the Bronx is one of the five boroughs. Debtors choose between state and federal exemptions under 11 U.S.C. Section 522(b). They cannot combine them. Living in New York for at least 730 days before filing is needed to use state exemptions.

Other protections include a motor vehicle up to $5,500 above liens. Retirement accounts are exempt up to $1,711,975. Social Security, unemployment, veterans' benefits, and workers' compensation are fully exempt. Personal property limits cover clothing, furniture, a refrigerator, TV, computer, and cell phone under aggregate caps.

Nearby Counties

Bronx County borders these areas. Some are in different bankruptcy districts.

Cities in Bronx County

Bronx County is coterminous with the Borough of the Bronx in New York City. For city-level information, see the New York City page.