Carrollton Bankruptcy Records
Carrollton bankruptcy records are filed with the Northern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court through the Dallas Division, which handles all cases for Dallas County residents and businesses. You can search Carrollton bankruptcy filings online through PACER, get free basic case information by phone, or visit the Dallas courthouse in person at 1100 Commerce Street. This page explains how to find and access Carrollton bankruptcy records, what filing involves, and what local resources are available.
Carrollton Overview
Carrollton Federal Bankruptcy Court
Carrollton is located in Dallas County and is served by the Northern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, Dallas Division. The Dallas Division courthouse is the Earle Cabell Federal Building at 1100 Commerce St., Room 1254, Dallas, TX 75242-1496. All bankruptcy cases for Carrollton residents and businesses are filed through this division. The phone number is (214) 753-2200.
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Texas |
|---|---|
| Division | Dallas Division |
| Address | 1100 Commerce St., Rm. 1254 Dallas, TX 75242-1496 |
| Phone | (214) 753-2200 |
| Website | txnb.uscourts.gov |
The Northern District of Texas handles a high volume of both consumer and business bankruptcy filings from across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Dallas Division is the primary location for all Carrollton cases. The court's website at txnb.uscourts.gov has forms, local rules, fee schedules, and filing instructions. Attorneys file electronically through CM/ECF. Pro se filers submit documents at the clerk's office in person.
The U.S. Trustee Region 6 office in Dallas oversees bankruptcy case administration for Carrollton filings. The office is at 1100 Commerce Street, Room 976, Dallas, TX 75242, phone (214) 767-8967. The U.S. Trustee Program monitors cases, appoints trustees, and handles compliance for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas from the Dallas office.
Search Carrollton Bankruptcy Cases
The main tool for looking up Carrollton bankruptcy records is PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). PACER is a federal system that covers all U.S. bankruptcy courts, including the Northern District of Texas. Creating an account is free. You can search by party name, case number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. Each page you view costs $0.10, but if you spend under $30 in a calendar quarter, nothing is charged.
Log in to PACER and select the Northern District of Texas. Search within the Dallas Division to find Carrollton cases. You can view full dockets, all filed documents, creditor lists, and case status information including discharge or dismissal. The PACER Case Locator is useful if you are not sure which district has the case you want. It searches every federal bankruptcy court at once.
A free phone option is available. Call (214) 753-2200 and follow the Voice Case Information System prompts. The system is available 24 hours a day and gives you basic case data like chapter type, filing date, case status, and hearing dates. No PACER account is needed for the phone system.
You can also visit the Dallas courthouse in person. Public access terminals are available in the building at no charge. Staff can assist with case lookups and provide document copies for a per-page fee. Confirm current business hours before making the trip from Carrollton.
Note: Carrollton bankruptcy cases are federal matters in the Northern District of Texas; Dallas County state courts do not handle bankruptcy filings.
Filing Bankruptcy in Carrollton
Carrollton residents and businesses file bankruptcy under federal law in the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. The three most common chapters are Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11. Chapter 7 is a liquidation case. The court appoints a trustee who reviews non-exempt assets, sells them if applicable, pays creditors, and discharges remaining eligible debts. Chapter 13 is a repayment plan that lets you keep your assets while paying off debts over three to five years under a court-approved schedule. Chapter 11 is mostly used by businesses that want to continue operating while reorganizing what they owe.
A credit counseling course from an approved provider must be completed within 180 days before you file. Under 11 U.S.C. § 521, your petition must include complete schedules covering all assets, debts, income, and expenses. After filing, a debtor education course is required before the discharge is issued. Both courses must come from court-approved providers.
Filing fees are the same at every federal court. Chapter 7 costs $338. Chapter 13 costs $313. Chapter 11 costs $1,738. If you cannot afford the fee, you can ask the court for a waiver or to pay in installments. The court takes cashier's checks and money orders made out to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court."
Local rules for the Northern District add requirements beyond the standard federal rules. Both sets must be followed for every Carrollton filing. Current local rules and all required forms are at txnb.uscourts.gov. Read these before you file to avoid having your case rejected or dismissed early on.
Carrollton Bankruptcy Resources
The Dallas County Clerk maintains property records, deed filings, and official documents for all of Dallas County, including Carrollton, at dallascounty.org. These records often come up in bankruptcy cases that involve real estate. The clerk's online portal lets you search by owner name or address and can confirm ownership and recorded liens on any Dallas County property.
Lone Star Legal Aid provides free civil legal help to qualifying low-income residents in the Dallas area. You can reach them at (800) 733-8394. They can advise on whether your situation qualifies for free help and can refer you to other resources in the Carrollton area if needed. The Dallas Bar Association lawyer referral service can also connect you with a bankruptcy attorney who practices in the Northern District.
Many bankruptcy attorneys in the Dallas area offer a free or low-cost first meeting. Filing without a lawyer is allowed but carries real risks if you have significant assets, complex debts, or creditors who are actively trying to collect. The clerk's office can tell you what forms are needed but cannot give legal advice.
Under 11 U.S.C. § 107, bankruptcy case records are public. You can access them through PACER or at the Dallas courthouse. Full Social Security numbers and minor children's names are kept out of public filings, but the rest of each case file is open to anyone.
Carrollton Is in Dallas County
Carrollton is a city in Dallas County. Bankruptcy filings go through the federal court system, but county-level records for property, deeds, and local court matters are maintained by Dallas County. The Dallas County page has more on local court structure and county-level records.
Nearby Cities
Other Texas cities in or near the Northern District, Dallas Division:
- Dallas - Northern District, Dallas Division
- Grand Prairie - Northern District, Dallas Division
- Denton - Eastern District, Sherman Division
- Fort Worth - Northern District, Fort Worth Division