What are Ohio Bankruptcy Records?

Bankruptcy records in Ohio State are legal documents containing the court filings of individuals and corporations seeking relief from their inability to pay debts incurred. The federal judicial system has a general code adopted in Ohio state in handling bankruptcy proceedings. Title 11 of the U.S Code governs all U.S judicial proceedings on bankruptcy, including Ohio courts. There are two U.S bankruptcy courts in Ohio:

Northern District of Ohio: This court serves 40 counties in the northern area of Ohio. The court has offices in Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Toledo, and Youngstown. Interested persons may find the locations and contact details of these offices on the court directory webpage.

Southern District of Ohio: The southern district bankruptcy court has offices in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton. The court directory webpage contains details of addresses and contact details of all courthouses.

The courthouse, where a case hearing occurred generates and manages the information on bankruptcy records. The courthouses provide electronic access platforms through which the general public may obtain court records. Some third-party OhioCourtRecords.Us also provide easy access to bankruptcy records as well as other Ohio civil court records.

What do Ohio Bankruptcy Records Contain?

Bankruptcy records in Ohio contain personal, financial, and other information about bankruptcy case filing by individuals or corporations. This information includes, but aren't limited to:

• Case name and number
• Copy of petition filed
• Date of case filing
• Names of all the parties involved
• Case status
• Docket number
• Gross income of the business or individual
• Source of gross income
• List of assets of the party filing for bankruptcy
• List of creditors owed and their contact details

Are Bankruptcy Records Public Information?

Under the Ohio Open Records Law, interested members of the public may obtain government records, including bankruptcy records, for copying and inspecting. Bankruptcy records in Ohio are fully accessible to in-person and mail-in requesters. However, there may be a redaction of some sensitive and personal information on records such as part of the social security number of persons involved, financial account numbers, and the changing of minor children's names as initials.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. Operating independently of any federal, state or local agency, these websites often make searching simpler, as such platforms are not limited by geographic location. Third-party sites may also feature search engines that may help simplify the search process for specific or multiple records. To begin using a third-party or government website, interested parties may be required to provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

How to Get Ohio Bankruptcy Records

Interested persons may get bankruptcy records through various methods online or at the location of the courthouse, the case filing occurred. The Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) provides interested persons with access to bankruptcy court records online. Users of the PACER system may create an account on the platform to gain access. However, requesters are generally expected to cover the cost of procuring these records. Under the fee schedule, PACER record copies cost $0.10 per page and $3 per document (30 pages). Users may search case records of a particular bankruptcy court or a national index of federal bankruptcy court cases. The Northern and Southern District Courts maintain case filing records online and it is an alternative to the PACER system. Interested users are also required to create accounts to access these platforms. Charges for documents may apply.

Bankruptcy court records may also be accessed via the Multi-court Voice Case Information System (McVCIS). The McVIS facilitates the retrieval of case information over the phone without charge by calling the number - (866) 222-8029. On the call, users may say the state for the case record they want and they may also need to pick their desired district court. Users may search records by case name, case number, or social security number.

The National Archives and Records Administration provides access to closed bankruptcy cases in Ohio. The archived cases search webpage provides information on procedures and requirements to request Northern District Court bankruptcy records. Southern District Court bankruptcy records may be requested from NARA via U.S mail, telephone, or fax. Interested persons may obtain these records via the procedures outlined by the Federal Records Center. Interested persons may also visit the courthouses and use the public terminal with electronic access to selected case information and retrieve bankruptcy records.

Physical copies of the records may be requested from the clerk's office at the courthouse where the case filing occurred. Requestors may provide some information including case number and docket number to facilitate the retrieval of records. Charges may apply for obtaining copies of records.

How do I Find Out if My Bankruptcy Case is Closed in Ohio?

The status of cases filed at the bankruptcy courts in Ohio may be known via the Debtor Electronic Bankruptcy Noticing (DeBN) program. This platform enabled debtors to receive notices of their case status via email. The Bankruptcy Noticing Center (BNC) generates these notices. Debtors may complete and file the DeBN application form, for the Northern District Court and Southern District Court, with the clerk's office of the courthouse the case filing occurred. Upon receipt, the clerk's office processes the request and activates the notice system. Users of the DeBN program typically receive court notices and orders at the end of each day. An order to discharging a debtor signifies the closing of a bankruptcy case and such notice is also received by DeBN users. Interested persons may also check a case status by retrieving records via the PACER system or by visiting the courthouse the case filing occurred and using the public access electronic terminal to view details of the selected case.

Can a Bankruptcy be Expunged in Ohio?

Information in bankruptcy court records may be expunged in Ohio state. Although there are no explicit laws that provide a way to expunge records, it is possible to file for the redaction of information on case transcripts. The redacted information is not available to the public on online platforms such as PACER and may not appear on physical copies of case records. Interested persons may file a redaction request with the court the case filing occurred. Requestors are also required to file a petition containing a statement of items they want to be redacted to the court. Some judges may also expunge bankruptcy records for individuals and businesses that filed for bankruptcy due to falling victim to identity theft.