You must be able to describe each document you are requesting (e.g., case number, style, and document number) and know the total number of pages. Sometimes, a file must be retrieved from the Federal Record Center in order to learn this information. If so, you must know how many boxes must be retrieved and pay the cost of retrieval before ordering copies. If you do not know the detailed information described above, contact the clerk's office by phone at one of the following numbers:
Beaumont (409) 654-7060
Plano (972) 509-1240
Tyler (903) 590-3200
The fees for certification, and exemplification are per certification and in addition to the cost for copies. If multiple documents are needed, you may choose to have them certified individually or bound together under a single certification. (The clerk is unable to provide a certification of a non-documentary record, such as a disk, DVD, or thumb drive, attached as an exhibit to a documentary record that is not stored in ECF or paper.)
Name Searches
A Certificate of Name Search may be provided for a search of this court's bankruptcy or adversary records dating back to 1/1/1970. Specifying a type of record (i.e., bankruptcy or adversary) or a shortened length of search (e.g., a 10 year search, a 15 year search, etc.) will reduce the time it takes to complete your search. For a bankruptcy search, you may wish to provide the last four digits of the social security number for comparison purposes, in case we find a case for another person who has the same name.
Documents filed on and after 1/1/2001 are stored electronically on the court's computer system (ECF).
To obtain copies of these documents, you have the following options:
1. Make a request by phone
Call the clerk’s office to request copies of documents. The clerk’s office will provide you with the information needed to pay the fee for your requested items. Each request must contain the debtor's name and case number, and the number of pages being requested. Requests are ordinarily completed within two business days after payment is received. To make a payment once you have received the total cost from the clerk’s office click here
You may contact the clerk’s office at one of the following locations
Beaumont (409) 654-7060
Plano (972) 509-1240
Tyler (903) 590-3200
If you do not know the case number, be prepared to state the debtor's full name and the last 4 digits of the social security number.
2. Internet (PACER)
Contact the PACER Service Center at www.pacer.gov for registration information about obtaining a PACER account. A PACER fee of $0.10 per page applies, not to exceed $3 per document; however, accounts that do not accrue charges of more than $30 in a quarterly billing cycle will not be charged a fee. Please note that documents are not available in PACER for cases that were filed before January 1, 2001, and have been closed for more than one year. For copies of documents in cases filed before January 1, 2001, you must use one of the other three options.
3. Visit the Clerk’s office
If you come to the Bankruptcy Court in person for your copies, the copy fee is $0.10 per page when using the computer in the court’s lobby. Other fees may apply, such as a $31.00 search fee if a clerk has to spend substantial time locating the document. A copy fee of $0.50 per page applies if a clerk provides paper copies. An $11.00 certification fee applies for each document that needs a certification.
The Court accepts exact change, check, credit cards or money order. The Clerk’s office cannot make change for the payment of filing or miscellaneous fees. Debtors are required to pay with exact change or money order only. Checks, credit and debit cards can only be used by non-debtor customers.
4. Mail a request to the Clerk’s office
If you mail a copy request to the Bankruptcy Court, the copy fee is $0.50 per page. A $31.00 search fee may also apply if a clerk has to spend substantial time locating the document. An $11.00 certification fee applies for each document that needs a certification.
Each written request should:
- state debtor(s) name and case number
- state documents to be copied
- state your name (if you are not the debtor) and daytime phone number
- provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope
The check or money order should be made payable to “Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court.” You may mail your copy request to the Bankruptcy Court at one of the following locations:
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
300 Willow Street, Ste 100
Suite 100
Beaumont, Texas 77701
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
660 North Central Expressway
Suite 300
Plano, Texas 75074
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
110 North College Ave.
9th Floor
Tyler, Texas 75702
Documents filed prior to 1/1/2001
If the documents you are looking for were filed more than 20 years ago, they may no longer be available. Otherwise, documents filed prior to 1/1/2001 are stored at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Seattle, Washington. Call the Clerk’s office to check on the location of the file. If the case was sent to the National Archives (“archived”), you have the following options:
1. Review the archived file at the Bankruptcy Court
The Clerk’s office will request the file from NARA and contact you when the file arrives. A retrieval fee applies ($64.00 for first box containing requested record; $39.00 for each additional box), payable with exact change, check or money order, to the Bankruptcy Court. There is no search fee to review the retrieved file; however, other fees (such as a copy fee or a certification fee) might apply.
2. Phone NARA
Begin by requesting that the Clerk’s office provide you with the box, location and accession/transfer numbers for the file, along with the phone number for NARA. Phone NARA with your copy request and charge it to a credit card or debit card. NARA’s fees will apply.
3. Mail or fax NARA
Begin by requesting that the Clerk’s office provide you with a form with the box, location and accession/transfer numbers filled in on it. Complete the form with your name, address and payment information. Mail or fax your copy request to NARA. NARA’s fees will apply.
4. NARA’s website
Begin by requesting that the Clerk’s office provide you with the box, location and accession/transfer numbers for the file. Make your copy request to NARA by clicking here. NARA’s fees will apply.
Further Information
If you need further information about obtaining copies, please contact the Bankruptcy Court at any of the following locations:
Beaumont (409) 654-7060
Plano (972) 509-1240
Tyler (903) 590-3200
Notice to consumers presenting checks: When you provide a check as payment, you authorize the court either to use information from your check to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your account or to process the payment as a check transaction. A Privacy Act Statement required by 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(3) stating our authority for soliciting and collecting the information from your check, and explaining the purposes and routine uses which will be made of your check information, is available from https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/otcnet/, or call toll free at 1−866−945−7920 to obtain a copy by mail. Furnishing the check information is voluntary, but a decision not to do so may require you to make payment by some other method.