Bankruptcy is a serious issue that definitely doesn’t slip under the radar without a trace. If you know where to look, you can find information about bankruptcy cases.
In fact, with the right tools, you can run searches without even leaving your couch and find the records you need in a matter of minutes. At the end of the day, it all comes down to knowing where to look.
The good news is that we’re here to help. Whether you want to view details about your bankruptcy or you’re running a background check on someone, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn more about how to find bankruptcies on public records.
What Is Bankruptcy?
First and foremost, it’s important to know what bankruptcy is. Bankruptcy, simply put, is a process that allows businesses or individuals who are facing massive amounts of debt to get a fresh start.
Typically, someone files for bankruptcy when they can’t repay their debt, and this also applies to businesses. The goal is to give someone a fresh start, but depending on the type of bankruptcy, the individual or entity may still have to make payments on that debt.
When it comes to how bankruptcy is handled, it’s something that’s done at the federal level, so not a state issue. For this reason, records are held and made available at the federal level. This means that you’ll have to use federal resources instead of state resources to find them or opt for third-party tools.
What Are the Types of Bankruptcy?
There isn’t just one type of bankruptcy, so it’s important to understand each type to know what you’re searching for. Learn more about each type below.
- Chapter 7: Allows individuals or businesses that are in debt to liquidate assets and pay creditors as much as possible.
- Chapter 9: Allows cities, towns, and villages to reorganize and repay their debts.
- Chapter 11: Allows businesses to reorganize debt but continue their operations.
- Chapter 12: Allows family farmers and fisherman to recognize their debt and repay it over time.
- Chapter 13: Allows individuals to reorganize their income and pay debt over time through some type of repayment plan.
- Chapter 15: For international companies that need to recognize their debts or liquid assets to repay them.
Each type of bankruptcy is unique, but you can find information about each type once you know where to look.
Is Bankruptcy Public Record?
Yes, bankruptcy is public record. It happens at the federal level and federal court cases are open to the public once they come to an end. For this reason, you can visit courthouses where the case was held or leverage online tools to find information about bankruptcies.
It’s important to note that not all information is available to the public. For example, bankruptcy can result in a settlement, and the outcome of a settlement isn’t always a public record. Also, bankruptcy cases can be sealed and you can’t always view sealed cases.
Does Bankruptcy Show Up on a Background Check?
Yes, bankruptcy will show up on a background check. That said, it’s not always something that employers can use against applicants. This is due to look-back periods that are outlined in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). For example, if someone filed for bankruptcy more than seven years ago, there’s a chance that it won’t show up on a background check.
The average time for this period is between seven and ten years, so make sure you check with your state laws and the company you’re interviewing with to be sure. It’s also important to note that bankruptcy won’t always impact someone’s ability to be hired.
Typically, bankruptcy showing up on a background check has the biggest impact on people applying for a rental or a job in finance.
How to Find Bankruptcies on Public Records
It’s never been easier to find information about bankruptcies and you don’t even have to leave your couch with some of the tools we cover. Learn how to find bankruptcies on public records below.
1. PublicRecord.com
The best way to find bankruptcies on public records online is to use PublicRecord.com. Our platform makes the process a breeze by allowing you to view all available public records by entering someone’s name, address, or phone number. All you need to do is enter the information, and our public records search tool will do the rest.
What makes our tool special is the fact that it will comb through millions of records in a matter of minutes to present you with a comprehensive full report. Within this report you can find information about someone’s bankruptcy including when it happened, the exact amounts, and the outcome of any associated court cases.
You can find a lot more than information about bankruptcy because within the full report, you’ll find all available public records, including:
- Address
- Phone number
- Email address
- Social media accounts
- Relatives
- Criminal records
- Sex offender status
- Some civil court records
- Marriage records
- Divorce records
- Death records
- Dating profiles
While this may seem like a lot of information already, we’re only scratching the surface of what you’ll find within a full report.
2. Find Electronic Case Files Online With PACER
The Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) tool is another great way to find information about court cases online, which includes bankruptcy cases. To use the tool, you’ll need to create an account and then run a search based on the specific court where the case was held. So, you’ll need to know what court that is or use another tool to locate it.
Thankfully, PublicRecord will help you find the specific court you can run a deeper search with PACER if you want to. However, you should find just about everything you need within our comprehensive full report.
Once you have an account with PACER and know the court where the case was held, you can view information about bankruptcies.
3. Visit the Local Courthouse Where the Bankruptcy Case Was Held
If you’re feeling ambitious, you can visit the courthouse where the case was held to find records of a bankruptcy case. You’ll need to track that specific court down, but once you do, you can walk in, fill out a few forms, and request information about the case.
That said, you’ll need to make sure you know the person’s name and some other details to help the clerk find the case.
If you plan on going to a courthouse to view this information, at least make sure you’re prepared. Use our public records search tool to find out where the court case was held, along with general details about the case to help the clerk find it for you. Then, feel free to make the trip and view information about the case.
4. National Archives
Want to find really old bankruptcy cases? If so, you may want to head over to the National Archives. There’s a simple search tool available that will help you locate old and closed bankruptcy cases.
The tool is a bit sluggish compared to publicrecords.com, but for some of the oldest cases in the United States, it’s one of your best bets. All you need is some information about them and some details about the case to begin your search. Then, the tool will pull the documents for you.
While the National Archives is a great resource, it’s a niche tool that’s only useful for old documents. In other words, you won’t be finding recent cases in there, so you should start with a tool like our public records search tool of PACER instead.
5. Google
When in doubt, Google it out. If you want to take a shot in the dark you might as well run a quick Google search. If you’re looking for a high-profile bankruptcy, a simple Google search may be all you need to find what you’re looking for.
This tends to work best for celebrity cases, CEOs, and businesses that go bankrupt. Depending on the case, you may not find the specific details but more of a summary, so you may want to dig deeper with a tool like PACER or PublicRecord.
Aside from running a general search, Google can help you with an advanced search. This allows you to enter more keywords to refine your search, so you can include more details about the case to find the bankruptcy records. Like a general Google search, this method isn’t always reliable, but it’s a good launching point for your quest for public records.
Get Information About How to Find Bankruptcies on Public Records Today!
Bankruptcy is a public record, so if you know where to look, you should have no problem finding information about specific cases. We always recommend starting with PublicRecord because our public records search tool will comb through millions of records for you in a matter of minutes.
If you need to dig deeper, feel free to use the PACER tool or another government search tool. If everything else fails, don’t panic because you can always visit the courthouse where the bankruptcy was held to learn more.
