Guide
Massachusetts Bankruptcy Search at a Glance
Every Massachusetts bankruptcy case is filed in one federal court, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts. The court links below open its own site, and PACER, in the federal list further down, searches its docket.
Guide
Massachusetts Bankruptcy Court Resources
Use the resources below to identify the correct federal bankruptcy court, check electronic filing or docket access, and locate related bankruptcy guidance for Massachusetts.
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of MassachusettsHearing calendars, unclaimed funds and local rules
- Case information, District of MassachusettsCase files, McVCIS by phone, archived files and document copies
- U.S. Trustee, District of MassachusettsHow the Justice Department's U.S. Trustee oversees cases here
- FAQs for creditors, District of MassachusettsAnswers for creditors on claims, the stay and discharge
- U.S. Courts, Bankruptcy BasicsOfficial overview of bankruptcy chapters, eligibility, and court process
Under Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 9037, filed papers may show only the last four digits of a Social Security number, the year of birth and a minor's initials. To tell apart two debtors with the same name, compare the home address and those four digits on the petition, Official Form 101.
Guide
Massachusetts bankruptcy files: districts and access
Massachusetts is a single federal bankruptcy district. The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts, at mab.uscourts.gov, lists its divisional locations on its court locations page, and every Massachusetts filing is on its docket. The file is public under 11 U.S.C. 107 at $0.10 per page on PACER, $3 at most per document, free in a quarter at $30 or less, and free to view at the courthouse. Where the Probate and Family Court impounds the divorce Financial Statement under Supplemental Rule 401(d), the bankruptcy schedules that list each deposit account by institution and the employer by name are open to anyone. The Massachusetts asset search page compares the two.
Guide
Related Massachusetts pages
A bankruptcy search often leads on to state court cases, judgments and liens, and criminal or vital records. These are our related Massachusetts pages.
- Massachusetts Court RecordsState and county court case research and docket searches
- Massachusetts Criminal RecordsBackground checks, criminal history, and arrest records
- Massachusetts Vital RecordsBirth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates
- Massachusetts Inmate SearchState DOC and county jail inmate lookup
- Massachusetts DMV & Driving RecordsDriver license, vehicle history, and DMV services
- Massachusetts Judgments & LiensCourt judgments, liens and UCC filings, and how to search them
By state
Bankruptcy search in other states
Each state's page names its federal bankruptcy districts and links each court's own site.
Guide
Public records directories
Our directories for Massachusetts, all 50 states and U.S. counties, and the federal FOIA guide.
- State Records HubAll 50 U.S. states and federal record entry points
- Massachusetts Public Records DirectoryComplete index of public-record resources for Massachusetts
- U.S. County Records DirectoryBrowse public records by county nationwide
- FOIA Request GuideHow to file federal Freedom of Information Act requests
Guide
Federal & National Authoritative Sources
Straight answers
Massachusetts Bankruptcy Search, questions
Are bankruptcy records public?
Yes. All documents filed in a bankruptcy case are public records under 11 U.S.C. § 107, subject only to narrow sealing for trade secrets and certain personal identifiers.
Do states have their own bankruptcy courts?
No. Bankruptcy is exclusively federal under Article I of the U.S. Constitution and Title 11 of the U.S. Code. Each U.S. judicial district has a bankruptcy court.
How long does a bankruptcy stay on a credit report?
Chapter 7 discharges remain on a consumer credit report for 10 years from the filing date. Chapter 13 remains 7 years from filing. This is controlled by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681c).
Is there a fee to use PACER?
Registration is free. Per-page viewing is $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 per document. Users who accrue less than $30 per quarter pay nothing.