Fort Worth Bankruptcy Records Lookup
Fort Worth bankruptcy records are filed with the Northern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, Fort Worth Division, at the Eldon B. Mahon U.S. Courthouse at 501 W. 10th Street. The court serves Tarrant County and handles Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 cases. You can search Fort Worth bankruptcy filings through PACER, use the free VCIS phone service, or go to the courthouse in person. This page explains how to access those records, what is involved in filing, and where to find help in the Fort Worth area.
Fort Worth Overview
Fort Worth Federal Bankruptcy Court
Fort Worth is served by its own division of the Northern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court. The Fort Worth Division office is in the Eldon B. Mahon U.S. Courthouse. This is a separate location from the Dallas Division, so Fort Worth residents and businesses file locally rather than traveling to Dallas. The court handles cases for Tarrant County and serves one of the largest metro areas in North Texas.
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Texas |
|---|---|
| Division | Fort Worth Division |
| Address | Eldon B. Mahon U.S. Courthouse 501 W. 10th Street Fort Worth, TX 76102 |
| Phone | (817) 850-6601 |
| VCIS | 866-222-8029 |
| Website | txnb.uscourts.gov |
Fort Worth cases fall under the U.S. Trustee Region 6, based in Dallas at 1100 Commerce Street, Room 976, phone (214) 767-8967. The U.S. Trustee Program appoints and supervises bankruptcy trustees who handle Chapter 7 liquidation cases and monitor Chapter 13 plans for Fort Worth residents. The trustee office also reviews filings for compliance with the Bankruptcy Code.
How to Search Fort Worth Bankruptcy Records
The main way to search Fort Worth bankruptcy records is through PACER. After setting up a free account, log in and choose the Northern District of Texas. Search by party name, case number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. You will see the full docket, all filed documents, creditor lists, and case status. Fees are $0.10 per page, but users who rack up less than $30 in a quarter are not charged.
The Voice Case Information System (VCIS) at 866-222-8029 gives you free case data 24 hours a day. Call the number, enter a case number or name, and the system reads back basic information including filing date, case chapter, and hearing dates. No account needed. This is the quickest way to confirm whether a case exists.
You can also search in person at the Fort Worth courthouse. Public terminals in the clerk's office lobby let you look up cases by name or case number at no charge. Staff are available during regular business hours to assist with searches and copy requests. Bring a photo ID if you need certified copies.
Property records for Fort Worth are held by the Tarrant County Clerk. If a Fort Worth bankruptcy case involves real estate, a lien search through the county clerk can show what is recorded against the property.
The City of Fort Worth official website provides access to municipal records, permits, and city services that may be relevant to a Fort Worth bankruptcy case involving local property or business assets.
Fort Worth is the county seat of Tarrant County and the fifth-largest city in Texas, with the Northern District Fort Worth Division handling all local bankruptcy filings.
Filing Bankruptcy in Fort Worth
Fort Worth residents file bankruptcy in the Northern District of Texas under federal bankruptcy law. Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 are the most commonly used chapters. Chapter 7 liquidates non-exempt assets to pay creditors and then discharges remaining eligible debts. Chapter 13 lets you keep assets by repaying debts through a three-to-five year plan. Chapter 11 is available to businesses and to individuals with very high debt amounts who do not qualify for Chapter 13.
Before you file, you must complete a credit counseling course from an approved provider as required by 11 U.S.C. § 109(h). The course must be done within 180 days of your filing date. After filing, you must finish a financial management course before the court will discharge your debts.
The petition must include full schedules of assets and liabilities, a statement of financial affairs, and proof of income. Chapter 7 filers may also need to pass the means test, which compares your income to the state median to determine eligibility. The Northern District's local rules and current forms are available at txnb.uscourts.gov.
Note: Fort Worth and Arlington both file in the Fort Worth Division of the Northern District, not the Dallas Division, even though both cities are in the DFW metro area.
Fort Worth Bankruptcy Resources
The Tarrant County Clerk maintains property records, deed records, and official filings for Fort Worth and Tarrant County. Real estate assets listed in a Fort Worth bankruptcy filing can be cross-referenced with county records to check ownership, existing liens, and recorded judgments.
Legal aid organizations in Fort Worth include Lone Star Legal Aid, which serves residents who qualify based on income. The Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas also serves the Fort Worth area and handles civil legal matters including some debt and housing cases. Both can be reached through their websites or by phone.
Under 11 U.S.C. § 107, bankruptcy case records are public. Anyone can access Fort Worth filings through PACER or at the courthouse. Personal data such as full Social Security numbers and minor children's names are sealed, but the general case record is open to the public.
The Tarrant County Clerk maintains official property and deed records for Fort Worth and the surrounding county, which are often relevant when researching assets in a Fort Worth bankruptcy case.
Lien searches and property lookups through the Tarrant County Clerk can confirm what assets or encumbrances are tied to real estate listed in a Fort Worth bankruptcy filing.
Fort Worth Is in Tarrant County
Fort Worth is the county seat of Tarrant County. All Fort Worth bankruptcy cases go through the federal Northern District court. County-level records such as property deeds and recorded liens are kept by Tarrant County. Visit the Tarrant County page for more on local records and court resources.
Nearby Cities
Other cities in the Fort Worth area and across Texas: