Bankruptcy, Federal Court System

South Carolina Bankruptcy Search

South Carolina is one federal bankruptcy district, the District of South Carolina. Bankruptcy cases are filed only in federal court, never in a state court.

Guide

South Carolina Bankruptcy Search at a Glance

Every South Carolina bankruptcy case is filed in one federal court, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina. The court links below open its own site, and PACER, in the federal list further down, searches its docket.

Guide

South Carolina 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 South Carolina.

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

South Carolina bankruptcy files: districts and access

South Carolina is a single federal bankruptcy district. The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina, at scb.uscourts.gov, has every South Carolina filing 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. South Carolina is one of the states where both sworn records are open: the Family Court Financial Declaration is in the divorce file unless sealed, and the bankruptcy schedules list each deposit account by institution and the employer by name. The South Carolina asset search page compares the two.

Straight answers

South Carolina 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.