Guide
Washington Bankruptcy Search at a Glance
Washington's bankruptcy cases are split among two federal courts by where the debtor lives. The court links below open each court's own site, and PACER, in the federal list further down, searches both at once.
Guide
Washington 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 Washington.
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of WashingtonCourt locations: Seattle and Tacoma
- Case information, Western District of WashingtonPublic terminals in Seattle and Tacoma and other ways to see records
- Filing without an attorney, Western District of WashingtonThe court's help page for people filing without a lawyer
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of WashingtonHearing calendars, case status by phone and unclaimed funds
- Electronic self-representation (eSR), Eastern District of WashingtonThe court's eSR page for people filing without a lawyer
- 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
Washington bankruptcy files: districts and access
Washington has two federal bankruptcy districts: the Western District (wawb.uscourts.gov), covering the area west of the Cascade Mountains, and the Eastern District (waeb.uscourts.gov). A name search without a county starts at the PACER Case Locator, which covers both. Dockets and documents are 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. Washington seals the financial source documents in a divorce under General Rule 22 while leaving the Financial Declaration public; the bankruptcy schedules list each deposit account by institution and the employer by name. The Washington asset search page compares the two.
Guide
Related Washington pages
A bankruptcy search often leads on to state court cases, judgments and liens, and criminal or vital records. These are our related Washington pages.
- Washington Court RecordsState and county court case research and docket searches
- Washington Criminal RecordsBackground checks, criminal history, and arrest records
- Washington Vital RecordsBirth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates
- Washington Inmate SearchState DOC and county jail inmate lookup
- Washington DMV & Driving RecordsDriver license, vehicle history, and DMV services
- Washington 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 Washington, all 50 states and U.S. counties, and the federal FOIA guide.
- State Records HubAll 50 U.S. states and federal record entry points
- Washington Public Records DirectoryComplete index of public-record resources for Washington
- 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
Washington 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.