Find Bankruptcy Records in Jones County
Jones County bankruptcy records are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, Abilene Division. The county seat is Anson, and all residents and businesses in Jones County fall under this federal court's jurisdiction. Cases are typically filed in Lubbock with hearings held in Abilene. You can search Jones County bankruptcy filings through PACER, the federal courts' online public access system. This page covers how to find records, what they contain, and what the filing process looks like in Jones County.
Jones County Overview
Federal Court for Jones County
Jones County bankruptcy cases are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, Abilene Division. Cases in this division are filed in Lubbock at the George Mahon Federal Building, 1205 Texas Ave., Rm 306, Lubbock, TX 79401. Hearings take place in Abilene. The Abilene Division covers Jones County along with Taylor, Callahan, Eastland, Palo Pinto, Stephens, Shackelford, and several other West Texas counties.
The clerk's main phone number for the Northern District is (214) 753-2000. All case filings, docket entries, and court documents are accessible through the federal electronic filing system. Once a case is filed, it becomes a matter of public record under federal law. The court's website at txnb.uscourts.gov has forms, local rules, and contact information for each division.
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Texas |
|---|---|
| Division | Abilene Division |
| Filing Location | George Mahon Federal Building 1205 Texas Ave., Rm 306 Lubbock, TX 79401 |
| Phone | (214) 753-2000 |
| Website | txnb.uscourts.gov |
Jones County Bankruptcy Records Lookup
To search Jones County bankruptcy filings, go to PACER. This is the federal court's public access system. You can search by debtor name, case number, or Tax ID. A PACER account is free to open. Document downloads cost about 10 cents per page. For basic case information like the debtor's name, filing date, and chapter type, the search itself is free.
Under 11 U.S.C. ยง 107, most bankruptcy papers are public records. The petition, creditor matrix, schedules of assets and liabilities, statement of financial affairs, and discharge order are all typically open to the public. Some documents, such as those with Social Security numbers, have redaction requirements to protect personal information.
Jones County property and tax records are kept by the Jones County Government offices in Anson. These county records are separate from federal bankruptcy filings but creditors and trustees often use them to check real property ownership. The county clerk handles deeds, liens, and related documents.
The Jones County government website lists contact information and office hours for county departments. For older bankruptcy cases not available in PACER, you may need to contact the clerk's office in Lubbock to request physical copies of archived records.
The Jones County Government website provides access to county-level public records that can be useful when researching a bankruptcy case. The county's official site covers clerk services, property records, and local court information.
Jones County offices in Anson serve residents across the county. The county clerk maintains local records that often intersect with federal bankruptcy proceedings.
How to File Bankruptcy in Jones County
Filing for bankruptcy in Jones County means going through federal court. You file your petition with the Northern District of Texas, Abilene Division. The filing fee is $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13. You can pay in installments with court approval, or apply for a fee waiver if your income is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
Before you file, you must complete a credit counseling course from a provider approved by the U.S. Trustee's office. This requirement comes from the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act. After filing, you need to finish a debtor education course before your discharge is granted. Both courses are available online and typically cost less than $50 each. The Northern District forms page has the list of approved providers and all required forms.
Chapter 7 is fast and clears most unsecured debt. Chapter 13 takes longer but lets you keep property and catch up on secured debt like a home or car. Which path works for you depends on your income, assets, and what you owe. The U.S. Trustee's office under Region 6 oversees cases filed in Jones County and monitors trustee conduct throughout the process.
Jones County Government and Records
The Jones County Clerk's office is in Anson. They maintain property deeds, court records, and official documents at the county courthouse. These records are public and can be searched in person. If you are looking into a bankruptcy case, county records can help you verify property ownership or check for liens that may affect an estate.
The county also maintains tax appraisal data through its appraisal district. Real property values, ownership history, and exemption status are all tracked at the county level. None of this information replaces what you find in PACER, but it gives a fuller picture of what a debtor owns or owes in Jones County. Visit co.jones.tx.us for current contact details and office hours.
Nearby Counties in the Abilene Division
These counties border or are near Jones County and are also part of the Northern District of Texas court system.