Search Garland Bankruptcy Records
Garland bankruptcy records are filed with the Northern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, Dallas Division, at the Earle Cabell Federal Building, 1100 Commerce St. in Dallas. Garland is in Dallas County, so all bankruptcy cases for Garland residents and businesses go through the Dallas Division. You can search Garland bankruptcy filings through PACER online, by calling the clerk at (214) 753-2200, or by visiting the courthouse. This guide covers how to look up records, how filing works, and what local resources are available.
Garland Overview
Garland Federal Bankruptcy Court
Garland is served by the Northern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, Dallas Division. All bankruptcy cases for individuals and businesses in Garland go through this Dallas-based federal court, since Garland is within Dallas County. The courthouse is located in downtown Dallas at the Earle Cabell Federal Building. Phone: (214) 753-2200.
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Texas |
|---|---|
| Division | Dallas Division |
| Address | Earle Cabell Federal Building 1100 Commerce St., Rm. 1254 Dallas, TX 75242-1496 |
| Phone | (214) 753-2200 |
| Website | txnb.uscourts.gov |
The Northern District handles a large part of North Texas, with the Dallas Division being one of the most active. Along with Dallas proper, the Dallas Division covers cities like Garland, Irving, Grand Prairie, Mesquite, and Carrollton, all of which are in Dallas County. The U.S. Trustee Region 6 office is also in the Earle Cabell building at 1100 Commerce Street, Room 976, phone (214) 767-8967. Trustees assigned through Region 6 handle Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases filed by Garland filers.
The clerk's office in Dallas handles in-person filings during normal federal business hours. Call (214) 753-2200 before visiting to confirm current hours. Attorneys file through the electronic case management system. Pro se filers can bring their papers to the clerk's counter for manual submission.
How to Look Up Garland Bankruptcy Records
PACER is the standard way to search Garland bankruptcy records. PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) gives online access to case dockets, filings, and documents from all federal bankruptcy courts including the Northern District of Texas. PACER registration is free. Searches cost $0.10 per page, but accounts under $30 per quarter pay nothing.
Log into PACER, choose the Northern District of Texas, and search by debtor name, case number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. A case record lets you see the full docket, open each filed document, check the creditor list, find out who the trustee is, and confirm whether a discharge has been entered. If you are not sure which federal district holds a case, the PACER Case Locator can search across all districts at once.
You can also call (214) 753-2200 for basic case information by phone. This works well for quick checks on case status, hearing dates, or filing confirmation without logging into PACER. Ask the clerk's office whether a voice information line is available for after-hours queries.
In person, go to the Earle Cabell Federal Building at 1100 Commerce St. in Dallas. Public terminals there give you free access to case records. Staff can help you find a filing and make document copies for a per-page fee. The City of Garland website has municipal records that sometimes come up in bankruptcy cases involving local property or city-related debts.
The City of Garland official website provides access to municipal records, property data, and city services that may be relevant when researching a Garland bankruptcy case.
Garland city records, including property information and tax data, often come up in bankruptcy cases that involve real estate or debts related to city assessments or services.
Filing Bankruptcy in Garland
Garland residents and businesses file bankruptcy under federal law in the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. The three most common types are Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11. Chapter 7 is a liquidation case where a trustee examines your assets, handles any non-exempt property, and discharges remaining eligible unsecured debts. Chapter 13 lets you hold onto your assets while paying back debts over three to five years under a court-approved plan. Chapter 11 is mainly used by businesses that need to restructure debt and keep operating.
To file, you submit a voluntary petition with full schedules of your assets, liabilities, income, and monthly expenses. Under 11 U.S.C. § 521, all required schedules and statements must be included. You also need to complete a credit counseling course from a court-approved provider within 180 days before your petition date. After filing, a debtor education course is required before the court can enter a discharge.
Filing fees are standard across the federal system. Chapter 7 is $338. Chapter 13 is $313. Chapter 11 is $1,738. If you cannot afford the fee, ask the court to waive it or allow installment payments. The court takes cashier's checks and money orders payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court."
The Northern District has local rules that go beyond the standard federal rules. The Northern District court website has local rules, required forms, and filing instructions. Read the local rules carefully before submitting your petition to avoid delays.
Note: Garland bankruptcy cases are federal matters handled by the Northern District court in Dallas, not by any Garland city court or Dallas County state court.
Garland Bankruptcy Resources
The Dallas Bar Association has a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a bankruptcy attorney familiar with the Northern District. The State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com also lets you search for licensed bankruptcy attorneys by location, including the Dallas area.
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas covers Dallas County and provides free civil legal services to qualifying low-income residents. Contact them to find out if you are eligible for help with a bankruptcy question. Even if they cannot take your case directly, they can provide guidance and referrals.
The Dallas County Clerk maintains property records, deeds, and official records for Garland and the rest of Dallas County. These records come up regularly in bankruptcy cases involving real estate or liens. The county clerk can confirm ownership, check for recorded liens, and provide copies of property documents.
Under 11 U.S.C. § 107, bankruptcy records are public. Anyone can access them through PACER or in person at the courthouse. Full Social Security numbers and some personal identifiers are protected, but the rest of the case file is available to the public.
Garland Is in Dallas County
Garland is located in Dallas County. Bankruptcy filings go through the Northern District federal court in Dallas, but county-level property records, deeds, and local court filings are held by Dallas County. The Dallas County page covers county-level records and the broader court structure in more detail.
Nearby Cities
Other Texas cities also served by federal bankruptcy courts: