Surry County Bankruptcy Records

Surry County bankruptcy records are filed with the Eastern District of Virginia Bankruptcy Court and are available to the public. Residents of Surry County file bankruptcy cases through the Newport News Division of the federal court. You can search records through PACER, use the free VCIS phone line for basic case lookups, or contact the Newport News court directly. This guide covers the federal court serving Surry County, the local Circuit Court Clerk's office, filing fees, and legal resources available to residents.

Surry County Bankruptcy Court

Surry County falls under the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division. This is where all bankruptcy cases from Surry County are filed and heard. The Newport News Division serves Surry County and a number of other counties in the southeastern Virginia region. The court address is 2400 West Avenue, Newport News, VA 23607. The phone number is (757) 222-7500.

Bankruptcy is a federal matter. Cases from Surry County go to the federal court in Newport News, not the county courthouse. The Eastern District handles Chapter 7 liquidation, Chapter 13 repayment plans, and Chapter 11 reorganizations. Every case filed gets a case number and a public docket. Those records are available through PACER and the VCIS phone line.

Surry County sits on the south bank of the James River, across from James City County. The Newport News Division serves counties on both sides of the lower James River region. The court's website at vaeb.uscourts.gov has local rules, forms, and contact information for the Newport News Division.

Surry County Circuit Court Clerk

The Surry County Circuit Court Clerk's office is at P.O. Box 65, Surry, VA 23883. The phone number is (757) 294-3161. The clerk is one of five constitutional officers elected by Surry County citizens to an eight-year term. Under the Code of Virginia, the clerk carries more than 800 statutory duties. These include maintaining land records, issuing marriage licenses and fictitious name certificates, handling probate matters, preparing criminal orders, coordinating jury duty, and processing concealed weapons applications.

Land records in Surry County go back to the county's founding in 1652. The clerk's office offers a secure remote access site at surryvacocc.org where subscribers can view land records, financing statements, judgment records, and will information. Free index searching is available without a subscription. The site added indexing data back to Deed Book 30 in November 2023, covering records as far back as October 1903.

State court cases can be searched free at eapps.courts.state.va.us. Choose Surry County Circuit from the drop-down to search civil and criminal cases. Federal bankruptcy records are not in that system. For those, use PACER or the VCIS phone line.

Note: Federal bankruptcy cases from Surry County are filed at the Newport News Division. The county circuit court handles state matters only.

Searching Surry County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the primary system for accessing federal bankruptcy records. Register at pacer.uscourts.gov. After you register, you can search any case filed in the Eastern District of Virginia. PACER charges $0.10 per page. Fees are waived for any quarter where your total charges stay under $15. Most occasional users pay nothing.

With PACER, you can search by debtor name, case number, or attorney. Results show the full case docket with every document filed, in date order. You can open individual filings such as the petition, schedules of assets and debts, any motions filed by creditors or the trustee, and the final discharge order. Records cover many years and all chapter types filed in the Eastern District.

The VCIS phone line is free. Call 1-866-222-8029 and press 863 for the Eastern District. The automated system provides basic case status, upcoming hearing dates, and discharge information. Enter a case number or debtor name on your phone keypad. No account is required. The line runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For state court records in Surry County, FOIA requests can be submitted online at surrycountyva.gov. The county FOIA officer is Ms. Lola Perkins, County Attorney, reachable at foia@surrycountyva.gov. Virginia FOIA requires a response within 5 working days.

Surry County Bankruptcy Filing Fees

Filing fees in the Eastern District of Virginia are set by federal statute and are the same across all counties. Chapter 7 costs $338. Chapter 13 costs $313. Chapter 11 carries a $1,738 filing fee. These fees are paid to the federal court at time of filing. No county-level fees apply on top of those amounts.

Required forms are at vaeb.uscourts.gov/bankruptcy-forms. The court uses national bankruptcy forms and any additional local forms required by the Eastern District. If you plan to file on your own, read the local rules before submitting your documents. Missing a required form or filing in the wrong format can delay your case.

Chapter 7 filers who meet the income threshold can apply for a filing fee waiver. The court compares your household income to federal poverty guidelines. If you qualify, you submit the waiver form with your petition. It's included in the standard filing packet. You don't need to call ahead or request special forms.

Legal Aid and Resources in Surry County

Virginia Legal Aid offers free legal help to people who meet income guidelines. Visit valegalaid.org to check eligibility and apply. Bankruptcy matters for low-income Surry County residents may qualify for assistance. Legal aid offices serving southeastern Virginia can help residents understand their options and assist with paperwork.

For private attorneys, the Newport News and Hampton Roads area has bankruptcy lawyers who practice in the Eastern District's Newport News Division. That's where Surry County cases are filed and heard. Most bankruptcy attorneys offer a free first consultation. For simple Chapter 7 cases with limited assets, some people file without an attorney. Chapter 13 repayment plans and contested cases generally require legal help.

The Eastern District's self-help materials for pro se filers are on the court website at vaeb.uscourts.gov. Under Virginia Code § 2.2-3700, the Virginia FOIA statute, state-held records at the Surry County Circuit Court are presumed public. Federal bankruptcy records are governed by federal law. PACER is the designated access system for those files.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Surry County in southeastern Virginia. Bankruptcy cases from these counties go through the Eastern District of Virginia.