New Braunfels Bankruptcy Records
New Braunfels bankruptcy records are filed with the Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, San Antonio Division. Comal County, where New Braunfels is located, falls under the San Antonio Division. Cases are filed and heard through the Western District headquarters at 615 E. Houston Street in San Antonio. You can search New Braunfels bankruptcy filings through PACER online or visit the San Antonio clerk's office in person. This guide covers how to search records, what the filing process looks like, and where to find local help.
New Braunfels Overview
New Braunfels Federal Bankruptcy Court
New Braunfels is served by the Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, San Antonio Division. Comal County is assigned to this division, which is also the headquarters of the Western District. The San Antonio courthouse at 615 E. Houston Street is where New Braunfels residents file their cases and attend hearings. Chief Judge Ronald B. King presides over Western District cases. The court is one of the larger federal bankruptcy courts in Texas.
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Texas |
|---|---|
| Division | San Antonio Division |
| Address | 615 E. Houston St. San Antonio, TX 78205 |
| Phone | (210) 472-6720 |
| Website | txwb.uscourts.gov |
The Clerk of Court for the Western District is Yvette M. Taylor, reachable at the main San Antonio number. The U.S. Trustee field office for this area is also in San Antonio at 615 E. Houston Street, Suite 533, phone (210) 472-4640. Assistant U.S. Trustee Nancy Ratchford oversees this office. The U.S. Trustee Program supervises trustee appointments and monitors cases in the Western District, including all New Braunfels filings.
The clerk's office handles electronic filings from attorneys and accepts documents from pro se filers in person or by mail. Call (210) 472-6720 to confirm current office hours and submission procedures before making a trip to San Antonio.
Search New Braunfels Bankruptcy Records
The main tool for searching New Braunfels bankruptcy records is PACER. PACER is the federal court's public access system and covers the Western District of Texas and all other federal bankruptcy courts. Registration is free. The fee is $0.10 per page, and accounts that owe less than $30 in a quarter are not billed. Search by name, case number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number.
Select the Western District of Texas when searching PACER for New Braunfels cases. Results show the full docket, filed documents, creditor information, case status, and discharge dates. You can download documents directly. If you are unsure which court holds a particular case, the PACER Case Locator searches across all federal courts at once.
You can also call the San Antonio clerk's office at (210) 472-6720 during business hours for basic case information. Staff can confirm whether a case was filed, its status, and the assigned judge. For a quick check without logging in, this is a reasonable option for straightforward lookups.
In-person searches are available at the San Antonio courthouse at 615 E. Houston Street. Public terminals in the lobby allow free case lookups. Staff can assist with finding a case by name or number. Bring identification and the full name or case number to make it faster.
Filing Bankruptcy in New Braunfels
New Braunfels residents and businesses file bankruptcy under federal law in the Western District of Texas. The most common types are Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11. Chapter 7 is a liquidation case where a trustee reviews your assets, pays creditors what is possible, and discharges remaining eligible debts. Chapter 13 lets you keep your property and repay debts over a three to five year plan. Chapter 11 is available for businesses and certain high-debt individuals who want to reorganize rather than liquidate.
Before filing, you must complete a credit counseling course from a U.S. Trustee-approved provider. Under 11 U.S.C. § 521, you must file complete schedules of assets, liabilities, income, and expenses with your petition. After filing, a debtor education course is required before the court will grant a discharge. Both courses must use approved providers listed on the U.S. Trustee website.
Filing fees are set by Congress. Chapter 7 is $338, Chapter 13 is $313, and Chapter 11 is $1,738. You can request a fee waiver or installment plan if paying would cause real hardship. Make checks or money orders out to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Attorneys file electronically through the court's CM/ECF system. Pro se filers submit documents in person or by mail to the San Antonio office.
The Western District court website has local rules, forms, and guides for filers. Local rules for the Western District add requirements on top of the standard federal Bankruptcy Rules. Review both before filing. Check the site for any recent updates to procedures or local forms before you submit your case.
The Comal County Clerk maintains property records, deed filings, and official public records for New Braunfels and all of Comal County, which may be relevant in bankruptcy cases involving local real estate.
Property lien searches and deed records through the Comal County Clerk can help confirm ownership and encumbrances on assets listed in a New Braunfels bankruptcy filing.
New Braunfels Bankruptcy Resources
The Comal County Clerk is the right office for property records, deed lookups, and lien searches in New Braunfels. If a bankruptcy case involves real estate in Comal County, the clerk can confirm ownership, recorded liens, and deed history. You can visit the clerk's office at the county courthouse in New Braunfels or check online through the county's property records system.
The Western District of Texas serves a large part of the state including San Antonio, Austin, Waco, El Paso, and the surrounding areas. Legal aid organizations in San Antonio may be able to help qualifying low-income residents in Comal County with bankruptcy-related questions. The San Antonio Bar Association's lawyer referral service can also connect you with a bankruptcy attorney who handles Western District cases.
Under 11 U.S.C. § 107, bankruptcy records are public. Anyone can access them through PACER or at the San Antonio courthouse. Certain personal data like full Social Security numbers is protected, but the case file and docket are open to the public.
Note: New Braunfels bankruptcy cases are federal matters filed with the Western District of Texas in San Antonio. Comal County state courts do not handle bankruptcy filings.
New Braunfels Is in Comal County
New Braunfels is the county seat of Comal County. All bankruptcy filings for New Braunfels go through the Western District of Texas in San Antonio. County-level records for property, deeds, and local court matters are maintained by Comal County. The Comal County page has more detail on local court structure and records available at the county level.
Nearby Cities
Other Texas cities served by the Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Court:
- San Antonio - Western District, San Antonio Division
- Austin - Western District, Austin Division
- Waco - Western District, Waco Division
- Georgetown - Western District, Austin Division