Cattaraugus County Bankruptcy Records Search

Cattaraugus County bankruptcy records are filed through the Western District of New York at the Buffalo federal courthouse. This rural county in the southwest corner of the state has its cases handled about 70 miles north. You can search for Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and other bankruptcy filings through PACER or visit the courthouse in person. The Cattaraugus County Clerk in Little Valley keeps related state court records that sometimes play a role in the bankruptcy process. This page covers where to go and how to get the records.

Where to File Cattaraugus County Bankruptcy Cases

Cattaraugus County bankruptcy filings go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York. The Buffalo office is at 2 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202. Phone is 716-362-3200. The Rochester office at 100 State Street also serves the district. Public hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, at both locations.

The Western District covers 17 counties across western New York including Cattaraugus. Meeting of creditors for cases from this county are typically held in Buffalo. Attorneys file electronically through CM/ECF. Pro se debtors can bring paper petitions to either office during business hours. Public terminals at both courthouses let you look up Cattaraugus County bankruptcy records at no cost.

How to Find Cattaraugus County Bankruptcy Records

Use PACER to search for Cattaraugus County bankruptcy records online. Registration is free. Document access costs $0.10 per page with a $3.00 per document cap. Searches cost nothing. If you use less than $30 worth of documents in a quarter, those charges get waived. Search by name, case number, Social Security number, or tax ID.

The PACER Case Locator searches nationwide across all federal courts. VCIS at 866-222-8029 gives free automated case information around the clock. You get the filing date, case chapter, discharge status, and trustee name over the phone.

Case information in the Western District dates back to January 1, 1986. Written opinions from bankruptcy judges are free to view and download on PACER.

The Cattaraugus County Clerk's Office maintains land records, court records, and judgment filings that may connect to bankruptcy cases in the county.

Online records are available through the Cott Systems portal, with free index searches and fees for viewing document images.

Cattaraugus County Clerk and Related Records

The Cattaraugus County Clerk's Office is at 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755. The phone is 716-938-9111. Darrell Klute is the County Clerk. Hours run Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The office maintains land records, court records, judgments, federal and state tax liens, business certificates, notary registrations, passport applications, pistol permits, and historical census records from 1850 to 1925.

General photocopies cost $0.25 per page. Deed copies are $5.00 per page. Filing fees start at $40 plus $5 per page, with a $10 residential property notification fee. Online records are available through the Cott Systems portal with free index information. Viewing the actual documents costs extra. FOIL requests can go through the county website, but keep in mind that county clerk records are not accessible through FOIL and must be requested directly.

The clerk's office is part of the 8th Judicial District. State court judgments filed here can become liens on property, and those liens often need to be addressed when someone files for bankruptcy in Cattaraugus County.

Cattaraugus County Bankruptcy Costs and Fees

Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy costs $338. Chapter 13 is $313. These fees go to the court when you file. Low-income debtors can ask for a waiver or pay in installments. Getting copies of Cattaraugus County bankruptcy records through PACER costs $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00. Courthouse copies run $0.50 per page. The Buffalo office takes exact change, money orders, or certified checks. Rochester only accepts money orders or certified checks.

Cases sent to the National Archives cost more to retrieve. A full case file is $90. Preselected documents are $35. Add $15 for certification.

Cattaraugus County Bankruptcy Exemptions

Debtors in Cattaraugus County pick between federal and state exemptions per 11 U.S.C. Section 522(b). The New York homestead exemption for this county is up to $102,400 under Section 282 of the Debtor and Creditor Law. A motor vehicle is exempt up to $5,500 above liens. Retirement accounts get protection up to $1,711,975. Social Security, unemployment, and workers' compensation benefits are fully exempt.

To use state exemptions, the debtor must have lived in New York for at least 730 days before the filing date. These amounts update every three years.

Cattaraugus County State Court Records

Cattaraugus County Court is part of the 8th Judicial District. The court handles felony criminal cases and civil cases over $25,000. Court records are maintained by the County Clerk's office. The eCourts system provides online case tracking. NYSCEF handles electronic filing for Supreme Court cases. Judgments and liens from these state courts can impact a bankruptcy filing.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Cattaraugus County in western New York. All are in the Western District.

Cities in Cattaraugus County

Cattaraugus County has no cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. The county seat is Little Valley. Other communities include Olean, Salamanca, and Ellicottville.