Roanoke Bankruptcy Records Search
Roanoke bankruptcy records are filed and held at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia, Roanoke Division.
Roanoke Overview
Roanoke Bankruptcy Court
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia operates the Roanoke Division at 210 Church Avenue, Room 200, in the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building. Call (540) 857-2391 to reach the clerk's office during business hours. The court takes cases from the city of Roanoke and the broader southwest Virginia region covered by the Roanoke Division. The chief judge of the Western District is Hon. Paul M. Black.
The Western District bankruptcy court handles all three main chapter types. Chapter 7 discharges qualifying debts after a short liquidation process. Chapter 13 lets filers with regular income keep assets while paying back creditors through a plan lasting three to five years. Chapter 11 is mainly used by businesses and high-debt individuals who want to reorganize rather than liquidate. Each case gets a unique number when the petition is filed, and that number tracks all filings and hearings tied to it.
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Virginia |
|---|---|
| Division | Roanoke Division |
| Address | 210 Church Avenue, Room 200, Roanoke, VA 24011 |
| Phone | (540) 857-2391 |
| Website | vawb.uscourts.gov |
| VCIS Phone | (866) 222-8029, press 864 for Western District |
The Roanoke Division shares the same building as the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building where the city's Circuit Court Clerk is also located. This makes it convenient to check both federal bankruptcy records and state-level civil court records in a single visit.
Searching Roanoke Bankruptcy Records
PACER is the main online source for Western District bankruptcy cases. You can search by debtor name, case number, or Social Security number. PACER shows dockets, documents filed, and current case status. The access fee is $0.10 per page. Any quarter where your total charges stay below $15 results in no charge at all.
For a quick, free check, use the Voice Case Information System. Call (866) 222-8029 and press 864 for the Western District. The system reads back case numbers, filing dates, trustee names, and scheduled hearing dates. It runs all day and night. You need no account or login. It is the fastest way to confirm whether a case is in the system.
Roanoke Circuit Court records are available through the Virginia Courts Case Information system. The system covers civil and criminal cases at the state level and provides free public access. You can also visit the Roanoke City Circuit Court page for local court information. The Circuit Court Clerk's office is at the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, 215 Church Ave., and can be reached at (540) 853-2541 or clerk@roanokeva.gov.
Note: The Roanoke Public Records Room is open 8am to 4pm and charges $0.50 per page for copies of city records.
The Roanoke city government website connects residents to the Clerk of Circuit Court, public records requests, and FOIA information for city departments.
The site provides direct links to the FOIA page, public records room hours, and the Sheriff's office contact for records requests.
Roanoke Circuit Court Records
Roanoke's Circuit Court is part of the 23rd Judicial Circuit and handles civil, criminal, and land record matters for the city. The clerk's office is in the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building at 215 Church Ave. You can email them at clerk@roanokeva.gov or call (540) 853-2541. Civil filings, judgment liens, and real property records from this court often appear in connection with bankruptcy cases.
The Public Records Room at city hall is open from 8am to 4pm on weekdays. Copies of records cost $0.50 per page. For FOIA requests related to law enforcement, contact Captain Tameka Paige at police.foia@roanokeva.gov or (540) 853-1665. For city-wide FOIA matters, visit roanokeva.gov/FOIA. Virginia's public records law under Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37 gives you the right to inspect and copy most government records.
Legal Aid and Resources in Roanoke
If you need legal help with a bankruptcy case and cannot afford an attorney, Virginia Legal Aid serves the Roanoke area. They assist with consumer debt, bankruptcy, and related financial matters for those who meet income guidelines. Call them directly to find out if you qualify for free services.
The Western District court posts local rules, filing guides, and forms at vawb.uscourts.gov. Pro se filers can find everything needed to file a petition on their own, though the court recommends consulting an attorney for complex cases. For older cases that predate electronic filing, check archives.gov/research/court-records to request files held by the National Archives.
Note: VCIS code 864 gives Western District case data by phone at (866) 222-8029 with no login needed, day or night.
Roanoke County Bankruptcy Records
The city of Roanoke is an independent city and is not part of Roanoke County. Both the city and the county file bankruptcy cases through the same Western District, Roanoke Division court. For county-level records and the Roanoke County court system, visit the Roanoke County page.
Nearby Cities
These independent cities are near Roanoke and use the same Western District bankruptcy court.