Colonial Heights Bankruptcy Records
Colonial Heights bankruptcy records are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division.
Colonial Heights Overview
Colonial Heights Bankruptcy Court
Bankruptcy filings for Colonial Heights go to the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division. The court's main line is (804) 916-2400. The Eastern District court website at vaeb.uscourts.gov covers all Eastern District locations, including the Richmond Division. Forms and local rules are available at vaeb.uscourts.gov/bankruptcy-forms.
PACER is the primary tool for searching Colonial Heights bankruptcy cases. Search by debtor name, case number, or attorney name. The fee is $0.10 per page, and any quarter with less than $15 in charges is free. The Voice Case Information System at (866) 222-8029 (press 863 for Eastern District) gives free automated case status updates without a PACER account.
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia |
|---|---|
| Division | Richmond Division |
| Phone | (804) 916-2400 |
| Website | vaeb.uscourts.gov |
| VCIS | (866) 222-8029, press 863 |
The Colonial Heights city government website provides access to city departments including the Circuit Court, City Clerk, and FOIA contacts.
The city site is where you find current court contacts, record request procedures, and department listings for Colonial Heights.
Colonial Heights Circuit Court Records
The Colonial Heights Circuit Court at 401 Temple Ave. handles civil filings, land records, and related matters for the city. The Clerk's office number is (804) 520-9365. The Clerk holds more than 800 statutory responsibilities under Virginia law, which gives you a sense of just how much passes through that office. For routine records requests, call ahead or visit during business hours. Details on the court are also available at colonialheightsva.gov.
Colonial Heights was incorporated from Chesterfield County in 1961. This matters for records research. Any court records, land records, or other official documents tied to addresses now inside the city but from before 1961 will be held by Chesterfield County, not by Colonial Heights. If you are researching an older property or a long-running civil case, check Chesterfield County's records as well as the city's. The Virginia Courts Case Information system can help you find which court handled a specific case.
City records from 1961 onward are maintained by the Colonial Heights Circuit Court Clerk. Land records for the city can be researched through the clerk's office. Civil case information is available through the statewide Virginia Courts portal. For certified copies, visit the clerk's office at 401 Temple Ave. with a photo ID and a check or money order for any fees.
FOIA and Public Records
Virginia FOIA under Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37 applies to public records held by Colonial Heights city agencies. Submit FOIA requests through the City Attorney's office at colonialheightsva.gov. The city also maintains City Clerk records at colonialheightsva.gov.
Federal bankruptcy court records are available through PACER and are not subject to Virginia FOIA. Both systems give public access to case files, but they operate under different rules. PACER is the faster and more complete option for bankruptcy cases specifically.
Note: Pre-1961 records for Colonial Heights addresses are held by Chesterfield County, not by the city's own court system.
Legal Resources in Colonial Heights
Virginia Legal Aid serves the Colonial Heights area and offers free help with bankruptcy and debt issues for people who qualify based on income. Contact them directly to ask about services for Colonial Heights residents.
The Eastern District court at vaeb.uscourts.gov has petition forms, schedule templates, and local rule documents for people who want to file on their own. For historical federal records from before electronic filing, visit archives.gov/research/court-records.
Bankruptcy Filing Fees for Colonial Heights
Bankruptcy filing fees are set by federal law. Colonial Heights residents filing in the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, pay the same fees as all other Eastern District filers. Current fee amounts are listed below.
| Chapter 7 | $338 |
|---|---|
| Chapter 13 | $313 |
| Chapter 11 | $1,738 |
| Chapter 12 | $278 |
If you cannot pay the full fee at once, you may request to pay in installments. Chapter 7 filers with income below 150% of the federal poverty level can apply for a complete fee waiver. Both requests are made on official forms available at vaeb.uscourts.gov/bankruptcy-forms. The judge decides on fee waiver requests.
Before filing, individuals must complete a credit counseling course from an approved provider. The course must be done within 180 days before filing your petition. After filing, a debtor education course is required before your discharge is granted. Both are available online for most filers. The Eastern District court's website has a list of approved providers for the Richmond area. Courses usually cost $15 to $50 per session.
Colonial Heights sits directly adjacent to the City of Petersburg and Chesterfield County. Residents in this area may also want to review Richmond and Hopewell bankruptcy court resources, as they are in the same Richmond Division and share the same filing procedures.
Chesterfield County Records
Colonial Heights was incorporated from Chesterfield County in 1961. Records predating the city's incorporation are held by Chesterfield County. For pre-1961 research and county-level records from the broader region, see the Chesterfield County page.
Nearby Cities
These Eastern District cities are near Colonial Heights and file bankruptcy cases through the same federal court system.