Pecos County Bankruptcy Records

Pecos County bankruptcy records are filed with the Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, Midland-Odessa Division. Fort Stockton is the county seat, but bankruptcy cases for Pecos County residents and businesses go through the federal court, not the county. You can look up filings online through PACER or contact the Western District clerk. Records are public under federal law and include Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 cases.

Pecos County Federal Bankruptcy Court

Pecos County is served by the Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, Midland-Odessa Division. This division handles bankruptcy cases for a wide stretch of West Texas, including Pecos County along with Andrews, Brewster, Crane, Culberson, Ector, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Martin, Midland, Presidio, Reeves, Upton, Ward, and Winkler counties.

The Western District covers the largest geographic area of any Texas federal bankruptcy district. For Pecos County filers, the Midland-Odessa Division is the correct court. All petitions, schedules, and supporting documents go there. The court processes Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 cases. Once your case is filed, the docket is accessible through PACER. Anyone can look up Pecos County bankruptcy cases through that federal system.

The U.S. Trustee for Pecos County cases is with the San Antonio field office, which covers the Western District region. The trustee monitors case administration, reviews filings for accuracy, and oversees the 341 meetings of creditors. Contact information for the San Antonio field office is available through the regional trustee site at justice.gov/ust.

How to Access Pecos County Bankruptcy Records

The main way to search Pecos County bankruptcy records is through PACER. You create a free account, then log in and select the Western District of Texas. From there you can search for cases by debtor name, case number, or filing date. Viewing full documents costs a small per-page fee. Basic case data like the chapter type, debtor name, and filing date is often available at no cost.

The full case record in PACER includes the bankruptcy petition, all schedules, the creditor matrix, trustee reports, and any court orders. If you are looking for an older case that predate electronic filing, you may need to reach out to the clerk's office or submit a records request to the National Archives. The National Archives holds physical records from earlier cases.

Pecos County bankruptcy records are open to the public under 11 U.S.C. § 107. That statute establishes the default rule of public access for bankruptcy case papers. Courts can seal documents when there is a legal justification, but most files are open. Personal identifiers must be redacted in filed documents under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9037.

The Pecos County Government site at co.pecos.tx.us provides access to local property records and county services from the Fort Stockton courthouse. Property records are separate from bankruptcy filings but may be relevant to asset searches during a case.

The Pecos County Government website at co.pecos.tx.us provides local property records from the Fort Stockton courthouse that may be relevant to bankruptcy asset matters.

Property and deed records at the Pecos County courthouse are maintained separately from federal bankruptcy filings but can be used to verify real estate assets in a Western District case.

Filing in Pecos County

To file bankruptcy in Pecos County, you submit your petition to the Western District of Texas, Midland-Odessa Division. The court's local rules and all required forms are available at txwb.uscourts.gov/forms. The Western District has specific local rules you must follow alongside the standard federal forms. These rules cover document formatting, required attachments, and other procedural requirements.

Attorneys use the court's CM/ECF system for electronic filing. If you are filing without an attorney, you can submit paper forms. The clerk's office can help you identify which forms to use and confirm your filing was received. They cannot provide legal advice or help you decide between chapters.

Filing fees apply in Pecos County. Chapter 7 costs $338. Chapter 13 costs $313. Chapter 11 costs $1,738. If you meet the income threshold, you can apply for a fee waiver. Individuals must show income below 150% of the federal poverty line. You submit the waiver application with your petition.

Before filing, you must complete credit counseling from a U.S. Trustee-approved provider. The course must be finished within 180 days before your filing date. After filing, a separate debtor education course is required before the court can grant a discharge. A current list of approved providers is at justice.gov/ust.

Pecos County Bankruptcy Resources

Pecos County residents navigating bankruptcy can access federal resources through the Western District court and local property records through the county clerk in Fort Stockton. Each serves a different purpose in the bankruptcy process.

The Federal Judicial Center maintains filing data for all federal bankruptcy courts, including the Western District of Texas. That data can show case volume trends and outcomes for the Midland-Odessa Division.

Key resources for Pecos County:

• Western District Bankruptcy Court - filing and docket access
• PACER - search federal bankruptcy records online
• U.S. Trustee San Antonio Field Office - trustee oversight
• Pecos County Government - property records and county services
• Western District Local Rules and Forms

Note: The Midland-Odessa Division of the Western District covers a large group of West Texas counties, so Pecos County cases are filed at the same division as many of its neighbors.

Nearby Counties

These West Texas counties are also part of the Western District's Midland-Odessa Division and file bankruptcy cases through the same federal court.