Austin Bankruptcy Records
Austin bankruptcy records are filed with the Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, Austin Division. The Austin Division serves Travis County and surrounding counties. You can search Austin bankruptcy filings through PACER online, call the court for assistance at 512-916-5237, or visit the clerk's office in person. This page covers how to find Austin bankruptcy case records, what the Western District requires when filing, and where to find legal help and resources in Austin.
Austin Overview
Austin Federal Bankruptcy Court
Austin is served by the Austin Division of the Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Court. The Western District covers a large part of Texas and has its headquarters in San Antonio, but the Austin Division handles cases for Travis County and several surrounding counties. The Austin Division is an active and growing court as Austin continues to expand.
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Texas |
|---|---|
| Division | Austin Division |
| Phone | 512-916-5237 |
| Website | txwb.uscourts.gov |
The U.S. Trustee field office for Austin is at 903 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 230, Austin, TX 78701. Phone: (512) 916-5328. The U.S. Trustee Program oversees the Austin and Waco Divisions of the Western District from this location. The trustee office appoints Chapter 7 trustees, monitors Chapter 13 plans, and ensures all filings comply with the Bankruptcy Code.
Note that cash is not accepted for filing fee payments at the Austin office. The court accepts cashier's checks and money orders made payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." The San Antonio office is the only Western District location that accepts cash.
How to Search Austin Bankruptcy Records
PACER is the main tool for searching Austin bankruptcy records online. Register at pacer.uscourts.gov for free, then log in and select the Western District of Texas. Search by party name, case number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. The system shows the full docket, filed documents, case status, and creditor lists. You pay $0.10 per page, but users spending less than $30 per quarter are not charged.
The Western District court also provides a free phone option. Call the court at 512-916-5237 during business hours for assistance with case lookups. Basic case information is also available through the statewide VCIS system. This is especially useful if you want to quickly check whether a case has been filed without setting up a PACER account.
You can visit the clerk's office in person. Public terminals at the Austin courthouse allow free case searches. Staff can help find specific records and provide copies for a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more. For property records tied to Austin bankruptcy cases, the Travis County Clerk maintains real estate records online.
The City of Austin maintains municipal records at its official website. City property data, permits, and city court records may come up when researching a bankruptcy case involving local real estate or business activity in Austin.
The City of Austin official website provides access to municipal records, property data, and city services that can be useful when researching an Austin bankruptcy case.
Austin is the capital of Texas and the county seat of Travis County. The Western District Austin Division handles all local bankruptcy filings for the area.
Filing Bankruptcy in Austin
Austin residents and businesses file bankruptcy cases in the Western District of Texas. The most common types are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 for individuals, and Chapter 11 for businesses. Chapter 7 discharges most unsecured debts after the trustee reviews assets. Chapter 13 creates a repayment plan over three to five years that lets you keep property. Chapter 11 allows businesses to restructure debts while continuing operations.
Before filing, you must complete a credit counseling course from an approved provider within 180 days, as required by 11 U.S.C. § 109(h). After filing, a debtor education course is needed before the court issues a discharge. Both courses can be completed online through approved providers listed on the court website.
Your petition must include complete schedules of assets, liabilities, income, and expenses, along with a statement of financial affairs. Under 11 U.S.C. § 521, all information must be accurate and complete. Omitting assets or debts can result in the court denying your discharge or in other legal consequences. Local rules for the Western District are available at txwb.uscourts.gov.
Texas bankruptcy exemptions can protect certain property during a bankruptcy case. The Texas homestead exemption is one of the most generous in the country, with no dollar limit on the value of a primary residence that meets the acreage rules. Other exempt property includes personal property up to set limits, retirement accounts, and certain insurance proceeds. You can choose between Texas state exemptions and the federal exemption list when filing.
Austin Bankruptcy Resources
The Travis County Clerk maintains property and deed records for Austin and Travis County. You can search those records at traviscountytx.gov/countyclerk. Real estate listed in a bankruptcy case can be cross-checked with county records to confirm ownership and any existing liens or judgments recorded against the property.
Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas offers free legal help to income-qualifying residents in Austin. They handle civil legal matters including some consumer and debt cases. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid also serves the Austin area. For self-help resources, TexasLawHelp has step-by-step guides for bankruptcy filers who do not have an attorney.
Under 11 U.S.C. § 107, Austin bankruptcy records are public. Full Social Security numbers and names of minor children are protected, but the case file is otherwise open. Anyone can search Austin filings on PACER or at the courthouse.
Note: Cash is not accepted at the Austin Division office for filing fee payments. Bring a cashier's check or money order made out to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court."
Austin Is in Travis County
Austin is the county seat of Travis County. Federal bankruptcy filings for Austin go through the Western District court. County-level property records, deed records, and local court records are maintained by Travis County. The Travis County page has more detail on county records and court resources.
Nearby Cities
Other major Texas cities with federal bankruptcy courts:
- San Antonio - Western District, San Antonio Division
- Houston - Southern District, Houston Division
- Dallas - Northern District, Dallas Division
- El Paso - Western District, El Paso Division