Erath County Bankruptcy Records

Erath County bankruptcy records are filed through the Northern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, Fort Worth Division. The county seat is Stephenville, and cases from Erath County are processed at the Eldon B. Mahon U.S. Courthouse in Fort Worth at 501 W. 10th Street. You can search for Erath County bankruptcy filings online through PACER or contact the Fort Worth Division clerk. All Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 filings are public records accessible to anyone under federal law.

Erath County Federal Bankruptcy Court

Erath County is covered by the Northern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, Fort Worth Division. The Fort Worth Division courthouse is at the Eldon B. Mahon U.S. Courthouse, 501 W. 10th St., Fort Worth, TX 76102. The Fort Worth Division handles cases for Erath County and other counties in the North Texas region. All filings, dockets, and case documents for Erath County are maintained through this division.

The Fort Worth Division is one of the larger divisions in the Northern District. Cases are assigned to bankruptcy judges who sit in Fort Worth. Hearings are held at the courthouse, and all electronic case records are accessible through the Northern District's PACER portal. The court website at txnb.uscourts.gov has forms, local rules, and contact information.

U.S. Trustee Region 6 is based in Dallas and covers Erath County cases. The regional trustee office monitors case administration, reviews trustee activity, and makes sure debtors comply with their obligations under the Bankruptcy Code. You can reach the regional office through justice.gov/ust.

Looking Up Erath County Bankruptcy Filings

The primary tool for searching Erath County bankruptcy records is PACER. You sign up for a free account and search the Northern District of Texas by debtor name, case number, or date range. PACER gives you access to docket sheets, filed schedules, creditor lists, motions, and court orders. Viewing documents costs a small fee, but basic case lookups are usually free or minimal cost.

The Northern District's Voice Case Information System at 866-222-8029 is another option. This phone line lets you get basic case data without logging into PACER. You can confirm case status, get the case number, and find out the chapter type and filing date. This is useful for a quick check before pulling up the full docket.

Erath County bankruptcy filings are public records under 11 U.S.C. § 107. The court can seal specific documents in limited circumstances, but the overwhelming majority of filed materials are public. All documents must comply with the privacy redaction rules in Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9037, which requires partial masking of Social Security numbers, birth dates, and financial account numbers.

For older cases predating electronic filing, contact the Fort Worth Division clerk or the National Archives. Paper records from older cases may take additional time to retrieve.

The Erath County Government website provides access to county offices and records maintained by the County Clerk at the Stephenville courthouse, including property deeds and official filings.

The Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division, processes all Erath County bankruptcy cases. County deed and property records held at the Stephenville courthouse may also be needed when a trustee is reviewing a debtor's real estate holdings.

Filing for Bankruptcy in Erath County

Erath County residents and businesses file for bankruptcy at the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division. Local rules and required forms are on the Northern District forms page. Attorneys file electronically through CM/ECF. Pro se filers can submit paper petitions at the Fort Worth clerk's office at 501 W. 10th Street during business hours.

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 apply when you file your petition. The court reviews the application and decides whether to approve the waiver.

Credit counseling from an approved provider is required within 180 days before filing. After your case is filed, a debtor education course must be completed before the court will grant a discharge. Approved providers are listed through the U.S. Trustee at justice.gov/ust.

Note: The Northern District requires a properly formatted creditor matrix and all required schedules filed at the same time as the petition, whether filing pro se or through an attorney.

Erath County Bankruptcy Resources

The Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division, is the source for all Erath County bankruptcy case records. Local county records can also be useful when verifying property ownership or reviewing financial history related to a case.

The Erath County Clerk at the Stephenville courthouse keeps deed records, property filings, and official county documents. These records may be reviewed by trustees during a bankruptcy case when real estate assets need to be identified. Contact details for the county can be found through local government resources in Stephenville, Texas.

Helpful resources for Erath County bankruptcy research:

• Northern District Bankruptcy Court - Fort Worth Division case filings
• PACER - online search for federal court records
• Northern District Local Rules and Forms
• U.S. Trustee Region 6 - Dallas regional trustee office
• National Archives - older pre-electronic court records

Nearby Counties

Erath County is in North Texas, west of Fort Worth. Surrounding counties that also fall under the Northern District include the following.