Search New Jersey Bankruptcy Records
New Jersey bankruptcy records are federal court documents filed at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. The court keeps records for all bankruptcy cases filed in the state, including Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, and Chapter 13 filings. You can search New Jersey bankruptcy records online through PACER, by phone through the free Voice Case Information System, or in person at one of three clerk's offices in Newark, Trenton, and Camden. These bankruptcy records include petitions, schedules, docket sheets, and discharge orders for both personal and business cases across New Jersey.
New Jersey Bankruptcy Records Quick Facts
How to Search New Jersey Bankruptcy Records
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey offers several ways to look up bankruptcy records. PACER is the main tool. It gives you access to case files, docket sheets, and filed documents from any computer. You need a free account to start. Once logged in, you can search by name or case number. Each page costs $0.10 to view, with a $3.00 cap per document. Users who spend $30 or less in a quarter pay nothing.
The Voice Case Information System is a free phone service for basic bankruptcy record lookups in New Jersey. Call 1-866-222-8029 any time. The system runs around the clock. It gives you the debtor name, case number, judge, filing date, chapter type, asset status, attorney of record, trustee, and case status. This is a good first step when you need quick facts about a New Jersey bankruptcy case but do not want to pay for PACER access.
Public terminals at all three clerk's offices let you view New Jersey bankruptcy records at no cost. You can see docket sheets and case documents on screen. Printing costs $0.10 per page. The court's case information page explains each method in full detail. Each office keeps the same records, so you can visit any location that is most convenient for your search.
Note: Bankruptcy records filed before December 1, 2003, in cases closed for more than one year have limited public access through PACER under the Judicial Conference Privacy Policy.
New Jersey Bankruptcy Court Locations
The District of New Jersey has three courthouse locations. Each one serves a set of counties. All three handle bankruptcy filings, record requests, and public access. The court is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Drop boxes accept filings after hours at all locations.
The Newark Clerk's Office is at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building, 50 Walnut Street, Room 4015, Newark, NJ 07102. Call (973) 645-4764. This office handles bankruptcy records for Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties. Drop box hours run from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM on weekdays. Judges Vincent F. Papalia, John K. Sherwood, Stacey L. Meisel, and Mark E. Hall sit at the Newark courthouse.
The Trenton Clerk's Office is at the Clarkson S. Fisher U.S. Courthouse, 402 East State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608. Call (609) 858-9333. It serves Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Somerset counties for bankruptcy records. Chief Judge Christine M. Gravelle and Judge Michael B. Kaplan hear cases at Trenton. The drop box is open from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
The Camden Clerk's Office is at the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, 401 Market Street, Camden, NJ 08101. Call (856) 361-2300. This office covers Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties. Judges Andrew B. Altenburg and Jerrold N. Poslusny Jr. preside at Camden. Drop box hours are 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
PACER Access for New Jersey Bankruptcy Records
PACER stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. It is the federal system for searching bankruptcy records in New Jersey and across the country. The system is run by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts from San Antonio, Texas.
To use PACER, register at pacer.uscourts.gov. Registration is free. You pay only when you view or print documents. The fee is $0.10 per page. Audio files of court hearings cost $2.40 each. There is a $3.00 cap per document, so long filings do not get too costly. If your total charges in a quarter stay at $30 or less, the fees are waived entirely. Court opinions are always free. Parties to a case can view their own bankruptcy records at no charge.
The PACER information page on the New Jersey bankruptcy court site has direct links to the login portal and help resources. For technical help, call the PACER Service Center at 1-800-676-6856.
Getting Copies of Bankruptcy Records in New Jersey
You can request copies of New Jersey bankruptcy records by email, in person, or through PACER. For email requests, send a completed request form to copywork@njb.uscourts.gov. The clerk calculates the total fee and contacts you. Document copies cost $0.50 per page. The court accepts corporate checks, attorney trust account checks, certified checks, money orders, and online payments. It does not accept cash or personal checks.
Certified copies and exemplification certificates follow the same email process. You do not need to provide copies of the documents yourself. The clerk prepares them from official court records. Payment goes through the Online Fee Payments portal. You can pick up certified bankruptcy records at the clerk's office or have them mailed to you.
Audio recordings of New Jersey bankruptcy court hearings are also available. Email copywork@njb.uscourts.gov with the case number, case name, and hearing date. Put "REQUEST FOR AUDIO CD" in the subject line along with the case number and judge name. The recordings come on data discs. You need the Court Recordings Audio Player from the court website to play them.
Note: General bankruptcy case files in New Jersey are kept by the court for 15 years before transfer to the National Archives.
Types of Bankruptcy Filings in New Jersey
New Jersey bankruptcy records cover several types of filings. Chapter 7 is the most common. It involves liquidation of assets to pay creditors. A trustee sells non-exempt property and distributes the proceeds. Most Chapter 7 cases in New Jersey are "no asset" cases, meaning the debtor has no property available for creditors after exemptions.
Chapter 13 allows individuals with regular income to create a repayment plan. The plan lasts three to five years. The debtor keeps their property and makes payments to a trustee who distributes funds to creditors. These bankruptcy records in New Jersey include the repayment plan, confirmation orders, and payment history.
Chapter 11 is used mainly by businesses to reorganize their debts while continuing operations. The District of New Jersey ranked fourth in the nation for business bankruptcy filings during the 12-month period ending June 2024, with 1,365 business filings. Chapter 12 serves family farmers and fishermen with a streamlined reorganization process. Each chapter creates its own set of bankruptcy records that become part of the public file in New Jersey.
New Jersey Laws Related to Bankruptcy Records
Bankruptcy is a federal process governed by Title 11 of the United States Code. The Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure set the standards for how courts manage records and case files. New Jersey Statutes Title 2A covers state-level insolvency proceedings that may overlap with federal bankruptcy cases.
Sections 2A:19-1 through 2A:19-50 of the New Jersey statutes govern assignments for the benefit of creditors. This is the state law alternative to federal bankruptcy. Under Section 2A:19-1, a debtor can assign property to a trustee who distributes it to creditors. Section 2A:19-7 requires the assignee to record and file the assignment. Section 2A:19-8 requires publication and mailing of notice to all creditors. These state records may show up in New Jersey bankruptcy case files, especially in Chapter 11 business reorganizations where state assignments sometimes come before federal filings.
The New Jersey Judiciary keeps state court records that often connect to bankruptcy cases. Civil judgments docketed in Superior Court may appear as debts in bankruptcy schedules. Foreclosure cases tracked in the state system may be paused by the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. Section 362 when a debtor files for bankruptcy. The New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, governs access to these related state records.
U.S. Trustee Program in New Jersey
The United States Trustee Program oversees bankruptcy case administration in New Jersey. The Region 3 office is at One Newark Center, Suite 2100, 1085 Raymond Boulevard, Newark, NJ 07102. The program operates under 28 U.S.C. Section 586.
The U.S. Trustee appoints and supervises Chapter 7 panel trustees in New Jersey. The office monitors Chapter 11 business reorganizations, reviews applications for professional employment, and objects to discharge when warranted. It also refers suspected criminal activity for prosecution. Before filing bankruptcy in New Jersey, debtors must complete credit counseling from an approved agency. After filing but before discharge, they must finish debtor education. Garden State Consumer Credit Counseling at 225 Willowbrook Road, Freehold, NJ 07728, phone 732-409-6281, is one approved provider.
Historical Bankruptcy Records in New Jersey
Older New Jersey bankruptcy records that have passed the 15-year court retention period transfer to the National Archives. The National Archives holds more than 2.2 billion pages of federal court materials dating back to about 1790. New Jersey bankruptcy case files go to the National Archives at Kansas City. Circuit Court records from New Jersey are stored at the National Archives in Philadelphia.
Most bankruptcy case files from 1970 to 1995 in New Jersey have been destroyed under approved records disposition authority N1-578-11-001 in accordance with 44 U.S.C. Section 3303. For information about surviving historical records, contact the National Archives at 1-866-272-6272 or the Federal Records Centers at frc@nara.gov. The Federal Judicial Center also maintains research data about the District of New Jersey, including filing statistics and court structure information.
Electronic Filing for New Jersey Bankruptcy Cases
The District of New Jersey uses CM/ECF for electronic case filing. Attorneys must file documents electronically under Local Rule 5005-1. The system does not allow pro se filers to use CM/ECF directly. Instead, Chapter 7 pro se debtors can use the electronic self-representation portal to submit petitions.
CM/ECF will not accept files larger than 10 MB. The court recommends scanning in black and white at 200 dpi on 8.5 by 11 inch paper. If a document is still too large, split it into smaller PDF files. Attorneys must embed fonts when creating PDFs so the Bankruptcy Noticing Center can process them. For help with CM/ECF, contact the Help Desk at cmecf_help_desk@njb.uscourts.gov. Camden is at 856-361-2301, Newark at 973-645-3366, and Trenton at 609-858-9401.
In 2018, the court processed over one million docket entries. Attorneys made 28% of filings. The court itself made 58%. Trustees accounted for 10%. The U.S. Trustee made about 0.27%. Almost all entries were in bankruptcy cases rather than adversary proceedings.
Browse New Jersey Bankruptcy Records by County
Each county in New Jersey falls under one of three federal bankruptcy court divisions. Pick a county below to find local resources and information for bankruptcy records in that area.
Bankruptcy Records in Major New Jersey Cities
Residents of major cities file bankruptcy at the federal court serving their county. Pick a city below to learn about bankruptcy records in that area.