Washington County Bankruptcy Records Search

Washington County bankruptcy records are filed at the federal courthouse in Albany. The Northern District of New York handles all bankruptcy cases from this county along the Vermont border. You can search for Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 filings through the PACER system or visit the bankruptcy court in person. The Washington County Clerk in Fort Edward maintains state court records, land records, and judgment data that often connect to bankruptcy filings. Several search tools exist for finding the records you need, and the county clerk's office takes written requests as well.

Where Washington County Bankruptcy Cases Are Filed

All bankruptcy cases from Washington County go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of New York. The Albany courthouse is at the James T. Foley U.S. Courthouse, 445 Broadway, Suite 330, Albany, NY 12207. The main number is 518-257-1661, and the help desk is at 518-257-1616. Washington County cases are assigned to the Albany office.

Attorneys must file through CM/ECF electronically. Pro se debtors can bring paper petitions to the clerk's office in Albany during business hours. The court handles Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, and Chapter 15 cases. Meeting of creditors for Washington County debtors are held in Albany, which is about a 45-minute drive from Fort Edward. Public access terminals at the Albany courthouse let you look up case data for free.

The Northern District has two other offices in Syracuse and Utica. Any of those three locations can access Washington County bankruptcy records if you need them.

How to Search Washington County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the main tool for looking up bankruptcy records in Washington County. Searches cost nothing. You pay $0.10 per page only when you open a docket report or download a filed document, and the cap is $3.00 per document. Quarterly charges under $30 get waived. Sign up for a free account on the PACER website.

Search by debtor name, case number, Social Security number, or tax ID. The system shows docket sheets, case status, and all filed documents. Written opinions from judges are free to view and download. Use the PACER Case Locator if you need to search across all federal courts in the country at once.

For a quick check over the phone, call VCIS at 866-222-8029. This free service runs 24 hours. It gives you the filing date, case chapter, discharge date, trustee, and attorney name. No documents, but it can confirm a case exists.

The Washington County Clerk's Office website at the Municipal Center in Fort Edward provides information about records and services.

Written requests for records are accepted by mail or in person at the Municipal Center, 383 Broadway, Fort Edward.

Washington County Clerk Records

The Washington County Clerk's Office is at 383 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY 12828, inside the Washington County Municipal Center. The phone number is 518-746-2170. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk handles Supreme and County Court records, land records, DMV services, and passport applications.

While bankruptcy is federal, the county clerk keeps state court records that can tie into a bankruptcy case. Judgments, liens, and foreclosure actions filed in Washington County Supreme Court may show up in a debtor's bankruptcy filing. Land records include deeds, mortgages, and related documents. Written requests are accepted if you cannot visit in person. Online access to court records is available through the NYS Unified Court System.

The office is part of the 4th Judicial District. Copy fees and certification fees apply for documents obtained from the clerk. Court records date back to the formation of the county. Washington County is a largely rural area, and the clerk's office in Fort Edward is the single point for most county-level record needs.

Washington County Bankruptcy Filing Fees

Filing fees for bankruptcy cases in Washington County follow the standard federal schedule. Chapter 7 costs $338. Chapter 13 is $313. Chapter 11 runs $1,738 for most filers. These fees are due at filing, though low-income debtors can request a waiver or pay in installments.

PACER charges $0.10 per page to view Washington County bankruptcy documents, capped at $3.00 each. At the courthouse, copies from the electronic case file system run $0.50 per page. Audio recordings cost $2.40. Older cases at the National Archives cost $90 for the full file, $35 for selected documents, and $35 for a docket sheet. Certification adds $15 to any NARA request. State court records from the Washington County Clerk have their own copy fees.

Bankruptcy Exemptions in Washington County

Under 11 U.S.C. Section 522(b), debtors in Washington County choose between state and federal exemptions. You cannot use both. To claim New York state exemptions, you must have lived here for at least 730 days before filing. Washington County is in the lower tier for the homestead exemption. Filers can protect up to $102,400 in home equity under Section 282 of the Debtor and Creditor Law.

A motor vehicle is protected up to $5,500 above liens. Personal property like clothing, furniture, and electronics falls under aggregate limits. Retirement accounts get shielded up to $1,711,975 per person. Social Security, unemployment, and workers' compensation are fully exempt from creditors. These amounts update every three years, so check the current figures before filing.

Washington County State Court Records

State court records often play a role in bankruptcy cases. A judgment from Washington County Supreme Court can become a lien on real property. When that person files for bankruptcy, the lien may need to be addressed in the federal case. The eCourts system lets you search for civil cases across New York state courts. NYSCEF provides access to electronically filed Supreme Court documents.

Washington County is part of the 4th Judicial District, which also includes Saratoga, Warren, and several other upstate counties. Land records and judgment data are on file at the clerk's office in Fort Edward. These records can help you check on a debtor's property holdings or outstanding debts at the time of a bankruptcy filing. The Surrogate's Court handles probate and estate matters, and those records are available through the WebSurrogate portal at websurrogates.nycourts.gov.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Washington County or share the same bankruptcy district and judicial district.

Cities in Washington County

Washington County is a rural area with no cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. The main communities include Fort Edward (the county seat), Granville, Greenwich, and Hudson Falls.