Duval County Bankruptcy Records Search
Duval County bankruptcy records are filed and managed through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division. As the most populous county in this division with nearly one million residents, Duval County generates a large number of bankruptcy filings each year. Jacksonville is both the county seat and the location of the federal courthouse where all bankruptcy cases are processed. You can search these records using PACER online, call the VCIS phone line for free, or visit the courthouse in person. The Duval County Clerk of Court also keeps local civil records that often tie into bankruptcy proceedings.
Duval County Quick Facts
Duval County Clerk of Court
Jody Phillips serves as the Duval County Clerk of Court. The main office is at 501 W. Adams St. in Jacksonville. While bankruptcy is a federal proceeding, the local clerk's office handles civil records that frequently come up during bankruptcy cases. Judgment liens, foreclosure filings, debt collection lawsuits, and property records all go through this office. For anyone researching a Duval County debtor's full financial picture, the clerk's records add an important layer of detail beyond what federal case files show.
Contact the Duval County Clerk at (904) 255-2000 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. The office can help you search local civil court records and direct you to the right resources for federal bankruptcy filings. The Duval County Clerk website provides online tools to search court cases, recorded documents, and official records. These are state court records and do not include federal bankruptcy case files. However, they reveal foreclosure proceedings, garnishments, creditor suits, and judgment liens filed in Duval County that may be part of a larger bankruptcy situation.
Below is the Duval County Clerk of Court website, which you can visit at duvalclerk.com.
The site gives you access to court case searches, official records lookups, and contact details for all Duval County court departments.
| Clerk | Jody Phillips |
|---|---|
| Address | 501 W. Adams St., Jacksonville, FL 32202 |
| Phone | (904) 255-2000 |
| Website | duvalclerk.com |
Duval County Bankruptcy Court
All Duval County bankruptcy cases go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division. The courthouse is right in Jacksonville at 300 North Hogan Street, Suite 3-150, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Call (904) 301-6490 for information about court operations and case schedules. The Middle District of Florida bankruptcy court website has all the local rules, filing guides, forms, and hearing calendars you need.
Being in the same city as the courthouse gives Duval County residents an advantage. There is no long drive for hearings or in-person filings. The federal court operates on its own track, separate from the state court system. The Duval County Clerk does not take bankruptcy petitions. Everything goes through the federal system. Each case gets a trustee who reviews the debtor's assets and liabilities. Under 11 U.S.C. Section 109, filers must live in the district or own property there. Duval County is squarely in the Middle District, Jacksonville Division.
The Jacksonville Division also handles bankruptcy cases from several surrounding counties, making it one of the busier divisions in the Middle District.
Search Duval County Bankruptcy Cases
Three ways to search for Duval County bankruptcy records are available to the public. PACER is the most thorough online option. VCIS gives you free phone access. And the Jacksonville courthouse has terminals you can walk in and use.
PACER covers all federal courts, including the Middle District of Florida. Set up a free account to search Duval County bankruptcy records by debtor name, case number, or Social Security number. Document access runs $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 per document. If you stay under $30 in a quarter, you owe nothing. Duval County has a large case volume, so PACER is the most efficient way to search. Under 11 U.S.C. Section 107, bankruptcy case records are public. Anyone can look them up.
The Voice Case Information System, or VCIS, costs nothing to use. Call 1-866-222-8029 any time, day or night. The automated system confirms whether a case exists and gives you the case number, filing date, chapter type, and current status. You don't need an account. VCIS is great for a quick check on a Duval County case when you don't need full document access.
Since the courthouse is in Jacksonville, Duval County residents can easily visit 300 North Hogan Street for in-person record searches. Free public terminals let you look up and view bankruptcy case files. Bring a photo ID. Court staff are available to help with specific document requests and copies.
Bankruptcy Filing in Duval County
Duval County residents who need bankruptcy relief usually pick between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Chapter 7 wipes out most unsecured debts, though you may lose some non-exempt property. Chapter 13 puts a payment plan in place for three to five years so you can catch up on debts while keeping your assets. The filing fee is $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13. Installment payments are available if the full fee is a hardship.
Before filing, you must complete credit counseling from an approved provider. The U.S. Department of Justice lists approved agencies for the Middle District of Florida. This is required by law. You will also need to gather tax returns from the past two years, recent pay stubs, bank statements, and full lists of debts and assets. All paperwork gets filed with the Jacksonville Division court, which is conveniently located right in Duval County.
Filing triggers the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. Section 362. Collection calls stop. Lawsuits get paused. Wage garnishments end. Foreclosure proceedings halt. The court schedules a meeting of creditors roughly 30 to 45 days after the filing date. All official forms are on the U.S. Courts website.
Duval County Legal Resources
Jacksonville has more legal resources than most areas in the region. Florida Legal Services provides free legal help to low-income residents across the state, including Duval County. They assist with bankruptcy evaluations and paperwork.
The Florida Bar has a lawyer referral service for Duval County. A small fee gets you a consultation with a local bankruptcy attorney. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is another strong resource. They handle civil matters for qualifying clients, including debt problems and foreclosure defense. For those who want to file pro se, the Middle District court website has guides and sample forms. Under 11 U.S.C. Section 727, a discharge releases the debtor from personal liability on most debts. With so many resources in Duval County, finding help should not be hard.
The Jacksonville Bar Association also runs programs that connect residents with attorneys who handle bankruptcy cases in the Middle District.
Not every debt goes away in bankruptcy. Child support, alimony, student loans, and certain taxes survive under 11 U.S.C. Section 523. Talk to a lawyer about what can and cannot be discharged in your case.
Cities in Duval County
Duval County and Jacksonville share a consolidated city-county government, making Jacksonville the dominant municipality. Jacksonville is by far the largest city and the only one that meets the population threshold for a dedicated page. All bankruptcy filings from Duval County go through the Jacksonville Division of the Middle District court.
Other communities in Duval County include Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, and Baldwin. Residents from any of these areas file bankruptcy at the same Jacksonville courthouse.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Duval County. Verify your county of residence before filing. The county where you live determines your federal court division for bankruptcy cases.