Marion County Bankruptcy Records
Marion County bankruptcy records are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Indianapolis serves as the county seat and hosts the main federal court office at 46 E Ohio Street. Marion County has a consolidated city-county government called Unigov, making Indianapolis and Marion County one entity for most functions. Over 977,000 people live here, and case filings run high compared to other Indiana counties. You can search bankruptcy records for Marion County through PACER online or by visiting the Indianapolis courthouse during business hours.
Marion County Quick Facts
Marion County Federal Bankruptcy Court
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana has its main office in Indianapolis. This is the court that handles all Marion County bankruptcy filings. The Indianapolis office sits at 46 E Ohio St, Room 116. It has four authorized judgeships and a staff of about 37 people. The phone number is (317) 229-3800. Hours run Monday through Friday, typically 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Marion County produces a large share of the Southern District's bankruptcy caseload. As the most populated county in Indiana, the volume of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings is higher here than anywhere else in the state. The Indianapolis office is where all petitions for Marion County are filed and processed. Walk-in service is available for people who want to check case records at the public terminals. Staff at the clerk window can also help you look up a case or request copies of documents from a Marion County bankruptcy file.
The Southern District court website has filing guides, local rules, and forms that apply to Marion County cases.
You can check the court calendar and local rules on this site before you visit the Indianapolis office for Marion County filings.
| Office | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Indiana |
|---|---|
| Address | 46 E Ohio St, Room 116, Indianapolis, IN 46204 |
| Phone | (317) 229-3800 |
| County Clerk | 200 E Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204 | (317) 327-4023 |
Searching Marion County Bankruptcy Records
The fastest way to search Marion County bankruptcy records is through PACER. This federal system holds all case files from both Indiana districts. You can search by debtor name or case number. It costs $0.10 per page to view documents. There is a $3.00 cap per document, and quarterly fees under $30 get waived. Registration is free and takes just a few minutes. Once you have an account, you can pull up any Marion County bankruptcy filing from 2005 forward at any hour.
The PACER system is the main tool for finding Marion County bankruptcy records online.
Both the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana feed into PACER, so you can search all federal bankruptcy records from one place.
You can also call the McVCIS line at (866) 222-8029 for free. The automated phone system gives basic info like the debtor name, case number, filing date, chapter type, and status. No account is needed. This is a good way to confirm whether someone in Marion County has a bankruptcy case on file without going online.
In-person searches are another option. The Indianapolis courthouse has public computer terminals where you can look up Marion County bankruptcy records at no charge. Bring a photo ID. Staff can help you navigate the system and find the right case. This is the best choice if you need to review a large file or want to talk to someone about getting certified copies.
Types of Bankruptcy Cases in Marion County
Chapter 7 cases make up a large portion of Marion County bankruptcy filings. This type involves liquidation, where a trustee may sell non-exempt property to pay creditors. The filing fee is $338. Under 11 U.S.C. § 109, filers must pass a means test that compares their income to the Indiana state median. Marion County has a wide income range, so both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are common here.
Chapter 13 cases let people with regular income set up a repayment plan lasting three to five years. The fee to file is $313. Many Marion County residents choose this path when they want to keep their home or vehicle. The plan payments go to a trustee, who distributes funds to creditors. Chapter 11 is mainly for businesses. It costs $1,738. Given the size of the Indianapolis metro, Marion County sees more Chapter 11 filings than most other counties in Indiana. Chapter 12 serves family farmers and fishermen for a $278 filing fee, though these are less common in an urban county like Marion.
Each case type creates a set of public records. The petition, schedules of debts and assets, the trustee report, and the final discharge order all become part of the Marion County bankruptcy file. Under 11 U.S.C. § 523, some debts like child support, certain tax obligations, and student loans survive a discharge and are not wiped out.
Are Marion County Bankruptcy Records Public
They are. Federal law makes bankruptcy records open to anyone. Under 11 U.S.C. § 107, all papers filed in a case are public unless a judge orders them sealed. You do not need to be part of the case. You do not need to explain why you want to see the file. This applies to every Marion County bankruptcy case in the Southern District.
There are a few limits. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and names of minor children are redacted from public filings. Under Section 107(b), a court can restrict access to trade secrets or sensitive business data if a party asks for it. Sealed records in Marion County are not common but they do happen in some business cases. Indiana's state public records law, IC 5-14-3, governs local and state court records but does not cover federal bankruptcy files.
The Indiana Judicial Branch public records page explains state court access rules.
Bankruptcy cases follow federal access rules, not Indiana state rules, but the state page is useful for related court matters in Marion County.
Getting Marion County Bankruptcy Copies
You can get copies of Marion County bankruptcy records several ways. PACER lets you view and print documents at $0.10 per page. A certified copy from the clerk office costs $11 per document plus $0.50 for each extra page. An exemplified copy is $22 per document plus $0.50 per page. Audio files from hearings cost $2.40 per recording.
For cases filed before 2005, contact the Indianapolis clerk office directly. Some older Marion County records have been sent to the National Archives facility in Chicago. The Indiana State Library in Indianapolis can also help with historical research and finding archived case files. Their reference staff is familiar with federal records and can point you to the right place.
State court fees in Indiana follow IC 33-37, but those rules only apply to state filings. Federal bankruptcy record fees are set by the Judicial Conference. The Indiana Courts Directory can help you find contact details for any court office in the state, including the federal bankruptcy court in Indianapolis that serves Marion County.
Marion County State Court Records
The Marion County Clerk of Courts is at 200 E Washington St in Indianapolis. You can reach them at (317) 327-4023. This office handles state-level matters like civil cases, criminal filings, family law, and property records. The clerk does not keep bankruptcy files. However, state court records sometimes overlap with bankruptcy cases. A creditor might have filed a civil judgment in Marion County before the debtor went into bankruptcy. Under 11 U.S.C. § 362, the automatic stay from a bankruptcy filing halts those state court actions.
You can search Marion County state court cases online through mycase.in.gov.
This portal covers civil, criminal, and family cases in Marion County but does not include federal bankruptcy records.
Note: Marion County has a unified government with Indianapolis, so some services that are separate in other counties are combined here under the city-county structure.
Cities in Marion County
Marion County includes Indianapolis and several other communities. All bankruptcy cases from this county go through the Southern District federal court in Indianapolis. The two qualifying cities with pages on this site are listed below.
Other places in Marion County include Speedway, Beech Grove, and Southport. These smaller cities all file bankruptcy cases at the same federal court in Indianapolis.
Nearby Counties
These counties surround Marion County in central Indiana. All of them fall under the Southern District for bankruptcy filings. If you are not sure which county handles your case, check the address on file.