Henrico County Bankruptcy Records

Henrico County bankruptcy records are filed with the Eastern District of Virginia Bankruptcy Court and are searchable through PACER and related federal tools. If you need to look up a case, check a debtor's name, or review filed documents, this page covers the main access points. Henrico County is served by the Richmond Division, and the county's Circuit Court Clerk also maintains state-level records including land records and civil filings that can be relevant to bankruptcy research.

Bankruptcy Court for Henrico County

Henrico County is served by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division. The court phone is (804) 916-2400. All bankruptcy filings from Henrico County residents go through this federal court. Cases cover Chapter 7 liquidation, Chapter 13 repayment plans, and Chapter 11 reorganizations. Each case gets a docket number, and all filed documents become part of the public record accessible through PACER.

The Richmond Division handles a significant case volume given Henrico's size and proximity to the Richmond metro area. Hearings, motions, and 341 creditor meetings are all scheduled through the court. Trustees are assigned to cases and file their own reports, all of which appear on the public docket. The court's website at vaeb.uscourts.gov has current local rules, forms, and filing instructions.

Henrico Circuit Court Clerk

The Henrico County Circuit Court Clerk is the Honorable Heidi S. Barshinger. The office is at 4309 E. Parham Rd., Henrico, VA, and the main phone is (804) 501-4202. The Record Room can be reached at (804) 501-4249. This office handles state-level court records including land records, civil suits, probate filings, and marriage licenses. It does not process federal bankruptcy filings, but the records here often connect directly to a debtor's property and financial history in Henrico County.

Henrico County offers Secure Remote Access (SRA) for land records, allowing subscribers to search and view recorded instruments from off-site. The county also accepts e-recordings through Simplifile and CSC, which speeds up document filing for real estate transactions. There is a $5.00 per instrument fee for paper filings. Copies at the clerk's office cost $0.50 per page. These services are particularly useful for title companies, attorneys, and others researching property records linked to bankruptcy cases.

A free property notification service is also available through the Henrico Clerk's office. Property owners can sign up to receive an alert when any document is recorded against their property. This is useful for spotting liens, judgments, or other encumbrances that might be connected to ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. The Virginia Judicial System case search at eapps.courts.state.va.us provides free access to state case records for Henrico County.

Searching Henrico Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the main tool for federal bankruptcy record searches. Register at pacer.uscourts.gov and search by debtor name, case number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. The cost is $0.10 per page for documents you access. Accounts that accumulate less than $15 in a quarter are not billed, so most occasional users search for free. The system provides full docket access for Henrico County cases in the Richmond Division, including all filed documents and court orders.

The free VCIS phone line is a quick way to check basic case information without logging into PACER. Call 1-866-222-8029 and press 863 for the Eastern District. The automated system runs around the clock and lets you search by name or case number to check status, discharge date, and hearing schedules. No account or registration is needed. This is a good first step before pulling full documents.

State civil records for Henrico County are available through the Virginia Courts Case Information system at eapps.courts.state.va.us. Under Virginia Code § 2.2-3700, the Virginia Freedom of Information Act applies to records held by state agencies including the circuit court clerk. Requests must be answered within five working days. For county records held by other offices, use the Henrico County government website at henrico.gov to find the right department.

Henrico County Court Records Online

The Virginia Judicial System's circuit court page for Henrico County gives public access to state-level case information for civil and criminal matters filed in Henrico.

This portal covers state court records only. Federal bankruptcy filings for Henrico County cases are not included here and must be searched through PACER or the Eastern District's VCIS phone line.

For bankruptcy cases that were filed before electronic records existed, the National Archives holds paper records from older closed cases. Requests take longer to process but can be important for historical research, tracing judgments, or researching debts from many years ago. The Archives maintain records from federal courts across the country and are searchable by case type and location.

Henrico County Records and Services

The Henrico County government website provides access to public services, department contacts, and information about the circuit court clerk's office and land records.

The county website includes information on e-recording through Simplifile and CSC, the SRA subscription for land records, and the free property notification service available through the clerk's office.

E-recording at the Henrico Circuit Court Clerk lets attorneys and title companies submit recorded instruments electronically through approved vendors. This speeds up the recording process and gives faster confirmation of filing. For bankruptcy-related real estate research, the e-recording system means that recent transactions and lien releases show up quickly in the public record. The $5.00 per instrument fee applies to paper filings only and not to e-recorded documents, which follow their own fee structure.

Bankruptcy Filing Fees in Henrico County

Federal bankruptcy filing fees in the Eastern District of Virginia apply uniformly to all counties including Henrico. Chapter 7 costs $338 to file. Chapter 13 costs $313. Chapter 11 is $1,738. These are federal court fees and do not go to the Henrico Circuit Court Clerk or any county agency. The fee is the same across all divisions of the Eastern District.

Official forms for the Eastern District are at vaeb.uscourts.gov/bankruptcy-forms. The packet includes national bankruptcy forms and local forms required by the Eastern District of Virginia. Pro se filers should review everything carefully before submitting. The court's local rules set specific requirements for document format, required attachments, and deadlines that differ from general federal rules.

Fee waivers for Chapter 7 are available to qualifying filers. The court checks household income against federal poverty guidelines at the time of filing. Eligible filers can submit a waiver application with their petition. The form is included in the standard filing packet and can also be downloaded from the Eastern District's website.

Legal Aid in Henrico County

Virginia Legal Aid helps qualifying residents with bankruptcy and other civil legal matters. Their website at valegalaid.org explains the application process and income guidelines. Henrico County residents with limited income may qualify for free legal help with Chapter 7 filings or bankruptcy-related debt issues. The organization serves a broad geographic area and has staff familiar with Eastern District procedures.

Private bankruptcy attorneys in the Richmond area handle Henrico County cases regularly. Because Henrico cases go to the Richmond Division, attorneys who practice in Richmond know the trustees, judges, and local procedures well. Most offer a free initial consultation and many charge a flat fee for standard Chapter 7 cases. The Virginia State Bar's referral service can connect you with licensed attorneys who practice in Henrico County.

The Eastern District's self-help resources at vaeb.uscourts.gov give pro se filers a starting point for understanding the process. Filing without an attorney carries risk, especially in cases with significant assets, business interests, or creditor disputes. For simple liquidation cases, self-filing is more common and the court's forms make the process somewhat accessible.

Nearby Counties

These counties are in the Richmond metro area near Henrico. All file bankruptcy cases with the Eastern District of Virginia.