El Paso County Bankruptcy Records
El Paso County bankruptcy records are filed and maintained through the Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, El Paso Division. The court is located at 525 Magoffin Ave., El Paso, TX 79901, and handles cases for El Paso County along with neighboring Hudspeth County. If you need to search for a bankruptcy case filed in El Paso County, you can look up records online through PACER or visit the El Paso Division clerk's office in person. These records are public and cover Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 filings.
El Paso County Overview
El Paso County Federal Bankruptcy Court
El Paso County is served by the Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, El Paso Division. The El Paso Division courthouse is at 525 Magoffin Ave., El Paso, TX 79901. This is one of the few divisions in the Western District that has a staffed local office. Judge H. Christopher Mott sits in El Paso as scheduled, handling cases from El Paso County and the surrounding region.
The El Paso Division serves El Paso County and Hudspeth County. If you are looking up a bankruptcy case from the El Paso area, this is the division where the records are held. The court processes all major chapter types and maintains full electronic case files accessible through PACER.
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Texas |
|---|---|
| Division | El Paso Division |
| Address | 525 Magoffin Ave., El Paso, TX 79901 |
| Website | txwb.uscourts.gov |
| Note | Cash is not accepted at the El Paso office |
El Paso County falls under U.S. Trustee Region 7. The San Antonio field office handles trustee duties for the Western District, including El Paso Division cases. The trustee monitors case administration, reviews trustee reports, and ensures debtors comply with Bankruptcy Code requirements. Region 7 contact details are at justice.gov/ust.
Searching El Paso County Bankruptcy Records
The most direct way to search El Paso County bankruptcy cases is through PACER. You create a free account and search the Western District of Texas by debtor name, case number, or date. PACER gives you full access to docket sheets, filed schedules, creditor matrices, motions, and court orders. There is a small per-page fee for viewing documents, but basic case information is usually free or very low cost.
Because the El Paso Division has a local staffed office, you can also visit in person at 525 Magoffin Ave. to access records or ask the clerk for help. The clerk's office can confirm case numbers, provide docket printouts, and direct you to the right resources. Keep in mind that cash is not accepted at the El Paso office, so bring a check, money order, or card if you need to pay any fees.
All El Paso County bankruptcy filings are public records under 11 U.S.C. § 107. Courts can seal specific documents in limited situations, but the vast majority of case files are open. Under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9037, Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and birth dates must be partially redacted in all publicly filed documents.
For very old paper cases that predate the electronic filing system, contact the El Paso clerk's office or the National Archives to request records. Pre-electronic files may require additional processing time.
The El Paso County Government website provides access to county services including property records, deed filings, and other official public records maintained by the County Clerk.
El Paso County's property records and deed filings can be relevant in bankruptcy cases where the trustee needs to identify real property assets owned by the debtor in the county.
Filing for Bankruptcy in El Paso County
To file for bankruptcy in El Paso County, you submit your petition and schedules to the Western District of Texas, El Paso Division at 525 Magoffin Ave. All filings must follow the court's local rules posted on the Western District bankruptcy forms page. Attorneys file electronically through CM/ECF. Pro se debtors can file in person at the El Paso clerk's office during business hours. Remember that cash is not accepted at this location.
Federal filing fees apply. Chapter 7 costs $338. Chapter 13 costs $313. Chapter 11 costs $1,738. Fee waivers are available for individuals whose income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty line. You submit the waiver application at the time of filing, and the court reviews and decides whether to approve it.
Credit counseling from an approved provider is required within 180 days before you file. After your case is filed, a debtor education course must be completed before the court will grant a discharge. Approved providers for the El Paso area are listed through the U.S. Trustee at justice.gov/ust.
The Western District also requires pro se filers to submit a Pro Se Questionnaire and a verified creditor matrix. These requirements are spelled out in the local rules available on the court's forms page.
El Paso County Bankruptcy Resources
El Paso County has several resources for bankruptcy-related records and services. The federal court system handles all case filings, but county-level records and other agencies can help fill in gaps when needed.
The El Paso County Clerk maintains property records, deed filings, and official county documents at the county offices. These records are useful when the bankruptcy trustee needs to verify ownership of real property. The county website at epcounty.com provides office locations and contact information.
Key resources for El Paso County bankruptcy cases:
- Western District Bankruptcy Court - El Paso Division filings and dockets
- PACER - search all federal court records online
- Western District Local Rules and Forms
- U.S. Trustee Region 7 - trustee oversight and approved counselors
- El Paso County Government - county property records
Note: Cash is not accepted at the El Paso Division clerk's office. Payment must be by check, money order, or credit card.
Counties in the El Paso Division
The El Paso Division serves El Paso County and the neighboring county listed below. Both counties file through the same Western District courthouse on Magoffin Ave.