Terry County Bankruptcy Records
Terry County bankruptcy records are filed through the Northern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, Lubbock Division. The county seat is Brownfield, and the Lubbock Division courthouse is located just a short distance away in Lubbock at the George Mahon Federal Building. If you need to search for a bankruptcy case tied to Terry County, PACER is the system to use. It covers all federal bankruptcy filings including Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 cases, all of which are public records available to anyone under federal law.
Terry County Overview
Terry County Federal Bankruptcy Court
Terry County is served by the Northern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, Lubbock Division. The Lubbock Division is located at the George Mahon Federal Building, 1205 Texas Ave., Rm 306, Lubbock, TX 79401. Unlike some other Northern District divisions that hold hearings in separate cities, the Lubbock Division handles both filing and hearings at the same location in Lubbock.
The Lubbock Division covers Terry County along with several other South Plains and West Texas counties. If you live or do business in Terry County, your bankruptcy case will be assigned to a Lubbock judge. Hearings, the 341 meeting of creditors, and any other court appearances will all take place in Lubbock. This makes Terry County one of the more convenient filing situations for rural West Texas residents compared to some other divisions that require longer travel.
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Texas |
|---|---|
| Division | Lubbock Division |
| Address | George Mahon Federal Building, 1205 Texas Ave., Rm 306, Lubbock, TX 79401 |
| Website | txnb.uscourts.gov |
The U.S. Trustee for Terry County cases is Region 6, with the Dallas office at 1100 Commerce Street, Room 976, Dallas, TX 75242, phone (214) 767-8967. The U.S. Trustee oversees trustees, monitors case administration, and maintains the approved provider lists for credit counseling and debtor education.
Access Terry County Bankruptcy Records
The main way to search Terry County bankruptcy records is through PACER. You sign up for a free account and search the Northern District of Texas database. Basic case info is often free. Full documents such as petitions and schedules cost a small per-page fee to download. You can search by name, case number, attorney, or filing date range to find what you need.
PACER holds electronic records back to the early 1990s for the Northern District. If you are looking for a case filed before electronic records were common, the Lubbock clerk's office can direct you to the right archive. Some older paper records may be held by the National Archives at the Fort Worth facility, which handles federal court records from Texas.
Bankruptcy filings are public under 11 U.S.C. § 107. That statute means most filed documents are open to anyone who wants to look at them. A court can seal specific items in unusual circumstances, but standard consumer and business bankruptcy files are fully public. The Terry County Government website provides county-level services, but bankruptcy cases are federal records not kept by the county clerk.
The Terry County Government website offers access to local county services, including the County Clerk office in Brownfield where property and deed records are maintained.
Property records from the Terry County Clerk are useful in bankruptcy cases where a debtor owns farmland or other real property in the South Plains area, since trustees need to document and value all assets in the estate.
Filing Bankruptcy in Terry County
To file bankruptcy in Terry County, you submit your petition to the Northern District of Texas, Lubbock Division. The clerk's office is in Lubbock at the George Mahon Federal Building. Attorneys file through CM/ECF. Pro se filers can file paper documents in person or by mail. You must use the official federal bankruptcy forms and follow the Northern District local rules, which are posted on the Northern District forms page.
Filing fees are standard. Chapter 7 is $338. Chapter 13 is $313. Chapter 11 is $1,738. You can request a fee waiver if your income falls below 150% of the poverty guideline. Submit the waiver form with your petition. The court reviews it and issues a decision. Approval is not automatic. Even if approved, the waiver only covers the filing fee itself.
Before you file, you must complete a credit counseling course from an approved provider. The course has to happen within 180 days before your filing date. After your case is filed, you need to complete a debtor education course before you can get a discharge. Approved providers for both are listed at justice.gov/ust. Most courses can be done online or over the phone.
Pro se filers in the Northern District must submit a Pro Se Questionnaire and a verified creditor matrix. The creditor matrix is a list of all creditors and their addresses. It must include a Verification of Matrix signed by the debtor. Missing either of these items can cause delays or outright dismissal of the case. Review the local rules carefully before submitting anything.
Terry County Bankruptcy Resources
The Terry County Government in Brownfield maintains county property records through the County Clerk. These records can come up in bankruptcy proceedings when the trustee needs to verify ownership of land or other real estate. The county website also links to other local government offices and services.
For legal help, Texas Legal Services Center provides statewide assistance for low-income individuals dealing with civil legal matters including bankruptcy. West Texas Rural Legal Aid is another option for residents in the South Plains region. Getting free or low-cost legal advice before you file can help you avoid common mistakes and pick the right chapter for your situation.
Key resources for Terry County bankruptcy matters:
- Northern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court - Lubbock Division case records
- PACER - online access to federal bankruptcy records
- U.S. Trustee Region 6, Dallas - case oversight and approved counselors
- Terry County Government - county clerk, property records
- Northern District Forms and Local Rules
Other Counties in the Lubbock Division
The Lubbock Division of the Northern District covers Terry County along with other South Plains counties. Cases from this region are all filed and heard in Lubbock at the same federal courthouse.