Where Can I Get a Copy of My Bankruptcy Discharge Papers? - GeorgetteMillerLaw.com

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Since 1997, the St. Louis attorneys at The Law Office of Tracy A. Brown, P.C., have helped thousands in Saint Louis stop creditors from harassing, garnishing, and threatening clients through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings that alleviate excessive debt. Contact us today to free your future from your past.

How To File Bankruptcy for Free: A 10-Step Guide

Filing for bankruptcy takes some preparation. Hiring a good bankruptcy attorney is one way to file. But if you can't afford the attorney fees to hire one and you need a fresh start, Upsolve may be able to help. If you're eligible, our free web app will walk you through the process and help you prepare your forms for filing with the court.

The first place to check when you need a copy of your bankruptcy discharge papers is with the Clerk of the Court where your case was filed. Some courts will allow you to search the record online for free, while others charge a fee for searches. If you need copies of the document, there will be a fee as well. Copies of the document are often a charge per page. If it has been many years, the case may have been archived, so additional fees may apply.

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After you file bankruptcy and after you receive discharge, you may need copies of your paperwork. Lenders, such as mortgage companies, want to review your bankruptcy petition, schedules, and related documents before they issue you new credit. You may also need copies of your discharge to show creditors who want proof of your filing.

Dealing with Your Car Loan

To begin, you must register with the PACER Service Center. The registration is free and can be submitted electronically. However, PACER does charge a fee depending on how much you use the service. For example, while it charges a 10-cent fee for each page you search for, if you spend less than $15 in a three month period, the service is free to use. Thus, if you are just looking up your discharge order and not hundreds of other documents, the service will likely be free to use. When you access PACER, you must enter your case number into the search function to find all documents related to your bankruptcy case.

Even the judge issuing a final decree in the case won't necessarily spell the end. Sometimes it's necessary to reopen the case. Most often this happens when the trustee, one of the creditors, or the debtor becomes aware of an asset that should have been included when the case was active. Your duty to cooperate with the trustee will continue if the case is reopened, but the court will not have the power to revoke your discharge more than a year after the case was closed.

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You'll find a complete overview of the bankruptcy process in What You Need to Know to File for Bankruptcy in 2021.

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To redeem the vehicle you have to file a motion with the court and, once granted, buy the car from the bank for its current value. This gets you out of having to pay the amount left on the loan, but payment has to be made in one lump sum.

If you hire a lawyer, they will complete the forms for you based on the information you submit to their office. If you can't afford to hire a lawyer but don't feel comfortable completing the forms on your own, see if you're eligible to use Upsolve's free online bankruptcy service or schedule an appointment with a legal aid provider in your area.

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If you are concerned about the document retrieval fees that your attorney may charge for this service, ask first! There's a good chance that he or she will provide this service at no charge. However, to avoid any unwelcome surprises, it is a good idea to find out in advance what fees will be charged. If it is more than you are willing to pay, explore your other options (see below) for getting a copy of the bankruptcy discharge.

The trustee may need your help in gathering the property. You have a duty that continues throughout the case to cooperate with the trustee and the court, or you risk the court revoking your discharge. Failing to cooperate means that you'll likely experience the worst possible outcome: to lose your nonexempt property and lose almost any benefit that you would gain from the bankruptcy discharge.