Find St. Lucie Bankruptcy Records

St. Lucie County bankruptcy records are managed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, West Palm Beach Division. Fort Pierce is the county seat. With a growing population of over 330,000 residents, St. Lucie County has seen a steady number of bankruptcy filings in recent years. You can search these records through PACER online, use the free VCIS phone line, or visit the West Palm Beach courthouse in person. The St. Lucie County Clerk of Court keeps local civil records that sometimes connect to bankruptcy cases, including judgment liens, foreclosure actions, and debt collection suits.

St. Lucie County Clerk of Court

Sandra S. Parks serves as the St. Lucie County Clerk of Court. The mailing address is P.O. Box 700, Fort Pierce, FL 34954. Bankruptcy petitions are federal filings and are not processed by this office. But the clerk handles civil court records, recorded documents, and judgment liens for St. Lucie County. If a creditor filed a lawsuit locally or recorded a lien before a bankruptcy case, those records are here.

Call (772) 462-6900 to reach the clerk. Hours are Monday through Friday during normal business hours. The St. Lucie County Clerk website has online tools for searching court cases, official records, and recorded documents. You can look up civil cases, check for liens against property, and find court schedules. These records can provide useful context alongside the federal bankruptcy file. For example, if a St. Lucie County homeowner faced foreclosure and then filed bankruptcy, both the local foreclosure case and the federal bankruptcy case tell parts of the same story.

Below is the Southern District of Florida Bankruptcy Court credit reporting information page. Visit the court at flsb.uscourts.gov.

The court website explains how bankruptcy filings affect credit reports and how long they stay on your record.

St. Lucie Bankruptcy Court Info

Bankruptcy cases from St. Lucie County go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, West Palm Beach Division. The courthouse is at 1515 North Flagler Drive, Suite 801, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Call (561) 514-4100 for court information. Visit the Southern District court website for forms, local rules, and filing guides.

The drive from Fort Pierce to West Palm Beach is about an hour. Port St. Lucie residents face a similar commute. Some hearings can be arranged by phone or video, which helps reduce travel. Under 11 U.S.C. Section 109, you file where you reside. St. Lucie County falls in the Southern District, West Palm Beach Division. All cases from the county go there.

Each case gets a trustee. For Chapter 7, the trustee checks whether you have nonexempt property that could be sold. For Chapter 13, the trustee handles your monthly payments and distributes funds to creditors on a set schedule. St. Lucie County cases are assigned to the same pool of trustees and judges as other counties in the West Palm Beach Division.

Search St. Lucie Bankruptcy Records

Three methods for searching St. Lucie County bankruptcy records. PACER online. VCIS by phone. Or in person at the West Palm Beach courthouse.

PACER is the federal court's online records system. Register for a free account, then search the Southern District of Florida. Find St. Lucie County cases by debtor name, case number, or partial Social Security number. Documents cost $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 per document. Under $30 in a quarter means no charges. Under 11 U.S.C. Section 107, bankruptcy records are public. Anyone can look them up on PACER.

The Voice Case Information System is free to use. Call 1-866-222-8029 anytime, including nights and weekends. VCIS gives you the case number, filing date, chapter type, and current status. No signup is required. It is the quickest way to confirm whether a St. Lucie County bankruptcy case exists.

At the West Palm Beach courthouse, public access terminals let you search and view case files at no cost during business hours. The clerk's office can help you get copies of specific filings. Bring a valid photo ID. The trip from Fort Pierce or Port St. Lucie takes roughly an hour, so most people use PACER or VCIS for routine lookups and save the courthouse visit for when they need to handle something in person.

Bankruptcy Filing in St. Lucie County

St. Lucie County residents file bankruptcy with the West Palm Beach Division. Chapter 7 wipes out most unsecured debts. The fee is $338. Chapter 13 lets you repay debts over three to five years. That costs $313 to file. If the full fee is too much at once, the court offers installment plans.

You need credit counseling before you can file. The U.S. Department of Justice publishes a list of approved agencies for the Southern District of Florida. Get the certificate, then collect your financial documents. You need two years of tax returns, recent pay stubs, bank statements, and a full list of all debts and assets. File everything with the West Palm Beach Division.

The automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. Section 362 starts as soon as you file. All collection actions against you stop. Creditors cannot call, sue, garnish your wages, or move forward with a foreclosure. The court sets a meeting of creditors 30 to 45 days after your filing. You must attend. All official forms are on the U.S. Courts website.

St. Lucie County Legal Resources

Bankruptcy can be tough to navigate alone. Florida Legal Services provides free help to low-income people throughout the state. They serve St. Lucie County residents and can assist with bankruptcy evaluations, document preparation, and understanding your rights.

The Florida Bar has a lawyer referral service. Pay a small fee and meet with a bankruptcy attorney who handles cases in the Southern District. Many attorneys on the Treasure Coast offer free first consultations. If you choose to file pro se, the Southern District court website has self-help guides. The materials cover every form and every deadline in the process.

Under 11 U.S.C. Section 727, a Chapter 7 discharge frees you from personal liability on most debts. Some debts are not dischargeable. Student loans, child support, alimony, and recent taxes survive bankruptcy under 11 U.S.C. Section 523. An attorney can help you sort out which of your debts fall into each category.

The Nineteenth Judicial Circuit handles state court matters for St. Lucie County. If you have related local cases like a foreclosure or garnishment, those proceed through the state court even while a bankruptcy is pending in federal court. The automatic stay may affect them, but a lawyer can explain exactly how.

Cities in St. Lucie County

St. Lucie County has a few cities. Fort Pierce is the county seat. Port St. Lucie is the largest city by far. All bankruptcy filings from St. Lucie County go through the West Palm Beach Division.

Other communities in St. Lucie County include Fort Pierce and St. Lucie Village. All residents use the same West Palm Beach Division court for bankruptcy filings.

Nearby Counties

St. Lucie County borders these counties on the Treasure Coast. Your county of residence determines which court division handles your bankruptcy case.