Camden Bankruptcy Record Search
Camden County is home to one of three U.S. Bankruptcy Court locations in New Jersey. The federal courthouse at 401 Market Street in Camden serves all of southern New Jersey, making it the hub for bankruptcy filings across the region. If you need to find bankruptcy records tied to Camden County, you can search through the federal court system or visit the courthouse in person. The Camden County Clerk also keeps property and land records that frequently relate to bankruptcy cases. Between the federal court and county offices, Camden County offers several paths to locate the records you need.
Camden Bankruptcy Court Location
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Camden sits inside the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse at 401 Market Street. This is one of three court sites in New Jersey that hear bankruptcy cases. The Camden location covers seven counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem. All bankruptcy records from these counties flow through this courthouse.
Judge Andrew B. Altenburg and Judge Jerrold N. Poslusny Jr. oversee cases at the Camden court. You can reach the clerk's office at (856) 361-2300. The help desk number is 856-361-2301 for questions about filings or record access. Staff can guide you through the steps needed to pull Camden County bankruptcy records or any case from the southern district.
Under 28 U.S.C. Section 1334, federal district courts have original jurisdiction over all bankruptcy cases. The bankruptcy court in Camden operates as a unit of the district court. This means Camden County bankruptcy records are federal documents, not state records.
| Bankruptcy Court |
U.S. Post Office and Courthouse 401 Market Street Camden, NJ 08101 Phone: (856) 361-2300 Help Desk: (856) 361-2301 |
|---|---|
| Judges | Andrew B. Altenburg, Jerrold N. Poslusny Jr. |
| Counties Served | Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem |
Searching Camden County Bankruptcy Records
PACER is the primary tool for finding Camden County bankruptcy records online. This federal database stores every document filed in every bankruptcy case across the country. You can search by debtor name, case number, or filing date. Registration is free. There is a small per-page charge for viewing documents, though users who spend less than a set amount each quarter pay nothing.
The court also provides guidance on using PACER for those new to the system. The case information page explains all the ways you can access Camden County bankruptcy records. Options include online searches, phone inquiries, in-person visits, and written requests. Each method has its own benefits depending on what you need and how fast you need it.
For state court records that may relate to a bankruptcy case, the New Jersey Courts search tool covers civil matters. The Camden Superior Court handles state-level cases like foreclosures and contract disputes. These records sometimes intersect with federal bankruptcy filings.
Note: PACER accounts work for all federal courts, not just Camden, so one login gives you access to bankruptcy records nationwide.
Camden County Clerk Records
The Camden County Clerk, Pamela R. Lampitt, oversees the office at 520 Market Street in Camden. The phone number is (856) 225-5300. You can also reach the office by email at countyclerk@camdencounty.com. The Registry Division handles property filings that often connect to bankruptcy cases in Camden County.
Property records are central to many Camden County bankruptcy cases. When a debtor owns real estate, the bankruptcy trustee reviews deeds, mortgages, and liens recorded with the county clerk. The Camden County Clerk offers e-recording for land documents. An online property search tool and Customer Agent Portal make it easier to find these records without visiting the office. Under N.J.S.A. 46:26A-1, documents affecting real property must be recorded with the county clerk to provide public notice.
Liens play a key role in Camden County bankruptcy records. A creditor with a recorded lien has a secured claim in the bankruptcy case. The trustee must account for all liens when distributing assets or confirming a repayment plan. Title searches through the Camden County Clerk reveal these encumbrances.
Camden County Bankruptcy Filing Types
Most Camden County bankruptcy records are Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 cases.
Chapter 7 is a liquidation process. The debtor gives up non-exempt assets in exchange for a discharge of qualifying debts. A trustee appointed by the court reviews the debtor's property and sells anything not protected by exemptions under 11 U.S.C. Section 522. In Camden County, many Chapter 7 cases end as no-asset cases because the debtor's property falls within exempt limits. The entire process typically wraps up in three to six months.
Chapter 13 works differently. The debtor proposes a repayment plan lasting three to five years. During this time, they make monthly payments to a trustee who distributes funds to creditors. Camden County residents often use Chapter 13 to catch up on mortgage payments and avoid foreclosure. The plan must satisfy the requirements of 11 U.S.C. Section 1325, including paying priority claims in full and treating secured creditors fairly.
Chapter 11 filings also appear in Camden County records. Businesses and individuals with large debts use this chapter to reorganize while continuing operations. These cases generate extensive records because they involve detailed disclosure statements and reorganization plans.
Note: The court's FAQ page explains each chapter in plain language for people unfamiliar with the process.
What Camden Bankruptcy Records Include
A Camden County bankruptcy record contains many documents. The petition starts the case. It lists the debtor's name, address, and which chapter they filed under. Accompanying schedules detail every asset, every debt, all sources of income, and monthly expenses. The statement of financial affairs covers the debtor's financial history for the prior two years. Together, these filings create a thorough snapshot of the debtor's financial situation at the time of filing.
The docket sheet tracks every action in a Camden County bankruptcy case. It records when documents were filed, when hearings occurred, and what the court decided. Key entries include:
- Petition and schedules filing date
- Automatic stay notices sent to creditors
- Meeting of creditors (341 hearing) date and outcome
- Plan confirmation or denial in Chapter 13 cases
- Discharge order or case dismissal
- Trustee reports and final decrees
All of these documents are public records. Anyone can access them through PACER or by visiting the court clerk in Camden. Under 11 U.S.C. Section 107, bankruptcy case files are open to the public with limited exceptions for trade secrets and certain personal identifiers.
Camden County Realty Transfer Fees
Property transfers tied to Camden County bankruptcy cases may involve realty transfer fees. As of July 1, 2025, New Jersey revised the realty transfer fee structure for deeds involving properties valued over one million dollars. This change affects how fees are calculated on high-value transactions that occur during or after a bankruptcy proceeding in Camden County.
When a bankruptcy trustee sells real property in Camden County, the transfer deed gets recorded with the county clerk. The buyer and seller split the realty transfer fee under most circumstances. However, transfers ordered by a bankruptcy court may qualify for exemptions under N.J.S.A. 46:15-10. The specifics depend on the nature of the sale and the court's order. Camden County Clerk staff can explain the current fee schedule for any property transaction linked to a bankruptcy case.
Camden County Bankruptcy and State Courts
State and federal courts in Camden County often deal with the same parties. A debtor facing foreclosure in Camden County Superior Court may file for bankruptcy in the federal court down the street. When that happens, the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. Section 362 halts the state court case. This creates records in both court systems.
Under N.J.S.A. 2A:16-1, New Jersey state courts handle contract and property disputes that may become part of a bankruptcy case. The Camden County Superior Court docket can show lawsuits that led to the bankruptcy filing. Checking both state and federal records gives the most complete picture of a debtor's legal history in Camden County.
The Camden County Clerk's website provides access to local property records that often intersect with bankruptcy case filings.
Visit the clerk's site to search deeds, liens, and mortgages recorded in Camden County.
Cities in Camden County
Camden County includes several large municipalities. All bankruptcy cases from these areas are filed at the Camden courthouse. City-level records such as tax liens and code violations may also appear in bankruptcy case files.
Nearby Counties
All of these counties use the Camden bankruptcy court for federal filings. Each county clerk maintains its own property records, which may be relevant to cases heard in Camden.