Richmond Bankruptcy Records
Richmond bankruptcy records are filed and kept at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division.
Richmond Overview
Richmond Bankruptcy Court
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia serves Richmond through the Richmond Division. You can reach the court directly at (804) 916-2400. The Richmond Division handles Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 petitions for city residents and local businesses. The court is one of several divisional offices under the broader Eastern District, which also includes the Alexandria, Newport News, and Norfolk divisions.
Richmond's role as the state capital means it draws a high volume of business bankruptcy filings in addition to consumer cases. Chapter 7 cases discharge most unsecured debts through an asset liquidation process. Chapter 13 cases let filers keep their property while paying creditors under a court-approved plan that runs three to five years. Chapter 11 reorganizations are less common but do appear in the Richmond court, mostly from businesses trying to restructure debt while staying open.
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia |
|---|---|
| Division | Richmond Division |
| Phone | (804) 916-2400 |
| Website | vaeb.uscourts.gov |
| Forms | vaeb.uscourts.gov/bankruptcy-forms |
| VCIS Phone | (866) 222-8029, press 863 for Eastern District |
The Richmond Division also covers Petersburg, Colonial Heights, and Hopewell. If you are researching a case filed by someone from any of those cities, you will find it in the same Richmond Division records.
How to Search Richmond Bankruptcy Records
PACER is the primary tool for finding Richmond bankruptcy cases. It gives you access to full dockets, filed documents, and case status for all federal court cases. The fee is $0.10 per page, but if your total stays under $15 in a calendar quarter, those charges are waived. You need to register for a free PACER account before you can search.
A faster, free option is the Voice Case Information System (VCIS). Call (866) 222-8029 and press 863 for the Eastern District. The system gives you basic case details like filing date, case number, trustee assignment, and next hearing date. It runs 24 hours a day and does not need an account. This works well if you just need to confirm whether a case exists or check a status update.
The Virginia Courts Case Information system is another free resource. It covers the Richmond Circuit Court and lets you search civil and criminal case data at the state level. This is useful when you need related civil filings, judgments, or lien records that tie into a bankruptcy case. You can also call the Richmond Circuit Court Clerk at (804) 646-7955 to ask about local records.
Note: The Richmond Circuit Court Clerk's office charges $0.50 per page for copies and an additional $2.00 for certified documents.
The Richmond city government website provides links to the Circuit Court Clerk, FOIA resources, and public record portals for the city.
The city site connects residents to the Clerk of Circuit Court and other offices that handle records requests and court-related services.
Richmond Circuit Court Records
Richmond's 13th Judicial Circuit Court holds records that are often connected to bankruptcy and financial matters. The Clerk's office is at 400 N. 9th St. and can be reached at (804) 646-7955. Records here include civil case filings, judgments, liens, and property instruments. These documents frequently appear as exhibits or supporting materials in bankruptcy cases.
You can search circuit court records at the Richmond Circuit Court records page. The office keeps case data going back many years, and staff can help you find older files that are not in the online system. FOIA requests to the Circuit Court can be directed to Edward Jewett or Cecelia Hargrove at the clerk's office. Virginia law under Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37 gives the public the right to inspect and copy public records held by state agencies and courts.
For city agency records beyond the courts, you can submit a FOIA request by email to foiaofficer@rva.gov or call 311 or (804) 646-7000. The DECPR office handles 911 records separately at DECPR.foia@rva.gov, but those records are available only to Virginia residents.
The Richmond Circuit Court records portal lets you access case files, civil filings, and other documents held by the city's 13th Judicial Circuit.
The records page covers a wide range of court documents and links directly to the tools you need for case lookups and copy requests.
Public Records Access in Richmond
Richmond maintains a dedicated FOIA portal at rva.gov/FOIA. You can use it to submit records requests to most city departments. The general FOIA email is foiaofficer@rva.gov. Agencies typically respond within five working days, though some requests may take longer if the volume or complexity is high.
Federal bankruptcy records are governed by different rules than state records. Most documents in an active or closed bankruptcy case are public unless the court has issued a sealing order. You can view them through PACER at $0.10 per page. The court can also provide certified copies for official purposes, though the fee is higher. Contact the Eastern District clerk's office at (804) 916-2400 for details on ordering certified court documents.
The National Archives holds older federal court records that predate electronic filing. For cases from decades past, check archives.gov/research/court-records to learn how to request those files. Processing times for archival requests vary, so plan ahead if you need them.
Legal Aid in Richmond
If you need help with a bankruptcy case and cannot pay for a lawyer, Virginia Legal Aid serves Richmond and the surrounding region. The organization handles consumer bankruptcy, debt relief, and related matters for people who meet income requirements. Contact them directly to check if you qualify.
Pro se filers can find local rules, fee schedules, and petition forms at vaeb.uscourts.gov. The Eastern District court posts step-by-step filing guides for people who choose to file without a lawyer. All required forms are also available at vaeb.uscourts.gov/bankruptcy-forms at no charge.
Note: VCIS phone access at (866) 222-8029, code 863, gives free 24-hour case status information without a PACER account.
Nearby County Bankruptcy Records
Richmond is an independent city and does not belong to a county. Henrico County surrounds the city to the north and east and maintains its own Circuit Court and bankruptcy-related filings. For county-level records research, the Henrico County page covers that court system.
Nearby Cities
These independent cities are near Richmond and also file bankruptcy cases in the Eastern District of Virginia.