Martin County Bankruptcy Records

Martin County bankruptcy records are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Shoals is the county seat, a small town in the southwest part of the state. This is one of Indiana's least populated counties, with fewer than 10,000 residents. Bankruptcy filings from Martin County go through the federal court system, not the local clerk's office. You can search case records online through PACER or contact the Evansville or Indianapolis court office for help. The county clerk at 129 Main St in Shoals can point you in the right direction for federal filings.

Martin County Clerk Office

The Martin County Clerk of Courts is at 129 Main St in Shoals. The phone number is (812) 247-3651. This office handles state court matters like civil, criminal, and family cases for Martin County. Staff also process court costs, marriage licenses, and certified copies of local records. The clerk does not hold bankruptcy case files since those are federal records, but staff can help you figure out which court handles bankruptcy filings for Martin County residents.

Bankruptcy cases from Martin County go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana. The closest office to Shoals is in Evansville at 101 NW Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Room 352. You can call (812) 434-6470 for that office. The main office in Indianapolis also handles Martin County filings. Under 11 U.S.C. § 109, any person who lives in Martin County or has property here can file bankruptcy in the Southern District.

Note: Martin County bankruptcy filings are handled only by the federal court system, not the clerk's office in Shoals.

Searching Martin County Bankruptcy Records

The best way to find bankruptcy records from Martin County is through PACER. This federal system stores case files from every bankruptcy court in the country. Search by debtor name or case number. Documents cost $0.10 per page to view, capped at $3.00 per document. Registration is free. PACER has Martin County bankruptcy records going back to 2005 and runs around the clock.

The PACER federal records system is the main search tool for Martin County bankruptcy filings.

All cases from the Southern District of Indiana, including those from Martin County, are searchable through this portal.

You can also call McVCIS at (866) 222-8029. This free phone line gives basic case data. No account is needed. It covers all Martin County bankruptcy records in the Southern District. For in-person access, visit the Evansville or Indianapolis office. Public terminals are available to search at no cost. Bring a photo ID when you go.

Types of Bankruptcy Filings in Martin County

Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are the most common types of bankruptcy cases filed by Martin County residents. Chapter 7 is a liquidation case where the court may sell non-exempt assets. The filing fee is $338. You must pass a means test under 11 U.S.C. § 109 to qualify. Chapter 13 allows people with regular income to set up a payment plan lasting three to five years. That filing fee is $313.

Martin County has a rural character with farmland making up much of the area. Chapter 12 serves family farmers and costs $278 to file. This chapter shows up in Martin County more than in urban parts of Indiana. Chapter 11 handles business cases at a $1,738 filing fee. All case types generate records that become part of the public file in the Southern District. Under 11 U.S.C. § 523, debts like child support, certain taxes, and student loans are not dischargeable and will survive even after a case closes.

Are Martin County Bankruptcy Records Public

Yes. Under 11 U.S.C. § 107, all papers filed in a bankruptcy case are open to the public. Anyone can search them. You do not have to be a creditor or give a reason for looking. This rule covers every Martin County bankruptcy filing in the Southern District.

Some data is redacted from public filings. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and names of minor children are removed. A judge can seal specific documents under Section 107(b) if trade secrets or sensitive information is at risk. That is rare in Martin County. Indiana's own public records law, IC 5-14-3, applies to state and local court records but does not cover federal bankruptcy files. You can use mycase.in.gov for state court cases in Martin County, but not for bankruptcy records.

The Indiana Judicial Branch public records page covers state court access rules that are separate from the federal rules governing Martin County bankruptcy cases.

Bankruptcy records follow federal access rules, not state rules.

Getting Martin County Bankruptcy Copies

PACER lets you view and print Martin County bankruptcy documents at $0.10 per page. Certified copies from the clerk cost $11 per document plus $0.50 per extra page. Exemplified copies are $22 plus $0.50 per page. Audio recordings of hearings cost $2.40 per file.

Older Martin County bankruptcy records filed before 2005 may not be on PACER. Contact the Evansville or Indianapolis clerk office to ask about archived files. Some cases have been sent to the National Archives in Chicago. The Indiana State Library can also help track down historical case files. Federal bankruptcy fees are set by the Judicial Conference, while state court fees follow IC 33-37. If you cannot afford fees, you can ask the court to waive them.

The Indiana Courts Directory lists contact details for every court office in the state.

Use the directory to find the right office for your Martin County records request.

Martin County Bankruptcy and the Automatic Stay

When someone in Martin County files for bankruptcy, an automatic stay goes into effect right away. Under 11 U.S.C. § 362, this stay stops most collection actions, lawsuits, foreclosures, and wage garnishments. Creditors receive notice from the court that a case has been filed. The stay is part of the case record and applies the moment the petition hits the docket.

If you are a creditor checking Martin County bankruptcy records to see whether a debtor has filed, the automatic stay information will be in the case file on PACER. The stay remains in place until the case is closed, dismissed, or the court lifts it. Martin County residents dealing with collection calls or pending lawsuits will see those actions halted once the filing goes through.

Cities in Martin County

Martin County is rural with small towns. Shoals and Loogootee are the main communities. Neither meets the population threshold for a city page on this site. All bankruptcy cases from Martin County go through the Southern District federal court. The local clerk in Shoals can help with general questions about court records in the area.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Martin County in southwest Indiana. All fall under the Southern District for bankruptcy filings.