Pike County Bankruptcy Records

Pike County bankruptcy records are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana. The county seat is Petersburg, a small town in the southwestern part of the state. You can search for Pike County bankruptcy filings online through PACER or by calling the free McVCIS phone line. The local clerk in Petersburg handles state court matters but not federal bankruptcy cases. This guide explains how to access Pike County bankruptcy records, what court has your case, and the tools that make searching easy.

Pike County Clerk Office Details

The Pike County Clerk of Courts is at 801 Main St in Petersburg. Call (812) 354-6025 for questions. Staff at this office handle state-level court records. They process filings for civil, criminal, and family cases in Pike County. The clerk does not store bankruptcy files. Those go to the federal court system.

If you visit the Pike County courthouse in person, the clerk can help you with state court records and direct you toward the right federal office for bankruptcy matters. Petersburg is a small town, and the courthouse is easy to find on Main Street. Hours follow the normal state schedule. Staff are helpful with general questions, but for anything related to a federal bankruptcy case from Pike County, they will point you to the Southern District office in Evansville.

Note: Pike County state court records are separate from federal bankruptcy files and are kept in different systems.

Federal Bankruptcy Court for Pike County

Pike County is in the Southern District of Indiana for all bankruptcy matters. The nearest staffed office is in Evansville at 101 NW Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Room 352. Phone number is (812) 434-6470. The main office in Indianapolis at 46 E Ohio St handles cases from across the district as well. Pike County residents file their bankruptcy petitions through one of these offices.

The Southern District court website posts local rules, court forms, and filing guides that apply to Pike County cases.

Download forms and check court calendars on this site before filing or visiting in person.

Public terminals are open at the Evansville office. Walk in with a valid ID and search Pike County bankruptcy records at no charge. Staff can help you find what you need and print documents for a fee. Under 11 U.S.C. § 109, anyone who resides in Pike County or has property there can file in this district.

Searching Pike County Bankruptcy Filings Online

PACER is the primary tool for finding Pike County bankruptcy records on the internet. This federal database stores all case files from both Indiana districts. Search by name or case number. Registration is free. It costs $0.10 per page to view documents, with a $3.00 cap per document. Quarterly fees under $30 are waived entirely.

The free McVCIS phone line at (866) 222-8029 is another way to look up Pike County bankruptcy cases. It gives basic data like the debtor name, case number, filing date, and status. No account is required. The system runs around the clock and covers all cases in both Indiana districts.

The mycase.in.gov portal handles Indiana state court records. You can search Pike County civil, criminal, and family cases here. This system does not include bankruptcy records. But a state court case may relate to a bankruptcy filing if a creditor sued before the debtor filed. Checking both systems gives you a fuller picture of someone's legal history in Pike County.

Types of Bankruptcy Cases in Pike County

Most Pike County bankruptcy filings are Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Chapter 7 is liquidation. The fee is $338. A trustee may sell non-exempt assets to pay creditors. You must pass a means test under 11 U.S.C. § 109 to qualify. Chapter 13 lets you keep your property and pay debts back over three to five years. The filing fee is $313. Both chapters create public records that you can search through PACER.

Chapter 12 serves family farmers and fishermen. The fee is $278. Pike County has an agricultural presence, so Chapter 12 cases appear in the records now and then. Chapter 11 handles business reorganization at a $1,738 filing fee. Under 11 U.S.C. § 523, some debts survive any type of bankruptcy discharge. Child support, certain taxes, and student loans typically stay in place even after a Pike County bankruptcy case closes.

Public Access to Pike County Records

All bankruptcy records are public. Section 107 of Title 11 says anyone can view papers filed in a bankruptcy case. You do not need to be part of the case. This applies to every Pike County filing in the Southern District. Social Security numbers, bank accounts, and info on minors are redacted. A judge can seal documents under 11 U.S.C. § 107(b) for good cause, but that is uncommon in Pike County.

The Indiana Judicial Branch public records page covers state court access rules. Bankruptcy cases follow federal law instead.

State and federal court records use different access rules and different systems.

Getting copies is straightforward. PACER charges $0.10 per page. Certified copies cost $11 plus $0.50 per page. Exemplified copies are $22 plus $0.50 per page. Audio files of hearings cost $2.40 each. For Pike County bankruptcy records from before 2005, contact the clerk office. Some older files have been shipped to the National Archives in Chicago. The Indiana State Library can also help track down archived case records.

Cities in Pike County

Pike County is rural with no large cities. Petersburg is the county seat and biggest town. Winslow and Spurgeon are smaller communities. None of these meet the threshold for a separate city page. All bankruptcy filings from Pike County go to the Southern District of Indiana through the Evansville office.

Nearby Counties

These counties are next to Pike County in southwestern Indiana. Each one falls under the Southern District for bankruptcy purposes. Make sure you know which county the debtor lives in before searching.