Search Tazewell County Bankruptcy Records

Tazewell County bankruptcy records are filed with the Western District of Virginia Bankruptcy Court and are accessible through PACER and the free VCIS phone line. This guide covers the federal court that handles Tazewell cases, how to search records, what you'll pay to file, and where to find legal help in the area.

Tazewell County Bankruptcy Court

Tazewell County is served by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia, Roanoke Division. All bankruptcy cases from Tazewell County are filed and heard in Roanoke. The Roanoke Division handles Chapter 7 liquidation cases, Chapter 13 wage earner plans, and Chapter 11 business reorganizations. Once filed, each case has a public docket that you can search through PACER.

The Roanoke Division office address is 210 Church Avenue SW, Room 200, Roanoke, VA 24011. The phone number is (540) 857-2391. The court's website at vawb.uscourts.gov has local rules, filing instructions, and the complete fee schedule. Tazewell residents who need to attend hearings or a 341 meeting will travel to Roanoke. It is roughly a 60-mile drive from the county seat.

The Western District covers a large portion of southwestern and western Virginia. It handles a significant number of bankruptcy cases from rural communities in the region, including coal country counties like Tazewell. If you are searching for a case filed by someone in Tazewell County, the Western District's Roanoke Division is where those records live.

Tazewell County Circuit Court Clerk

The Tazewell County Circuit Court Clerk's Office is at 101 E Main St., Tazewell, VA 24651, and the phone number is (276) 988-1222. The clerk's office handles state-level records including land records, court filings, marriage licenses, and probate documents. These are separate from the federal bankruptcy court system. The circuit court clerk does not hold or have access to federal bankruptcy filings.

One thing worth noting about Tazewell County's clerk's office: the county repealed its $2.00 law library fee in November 2025. That makes access to legal reference materials at the courthouse free. For people doing their own research on debt, bankruptcy, or related legal questions, the law library is a resource worth using. Staff at the clerk's office can't give legal advice, but they can direct you to the right materials.

You can look up state court cases through the Virginia Judiciary's free public search tool at eapps.courts.state.va.us. This shows circuit, general district, and juvenile court cases for Tazewell County, but does not include federal bankruptcy cases. For those, use PACER or the VCIS line.

Searching Tazewell Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the primary search tool for federal bankruptcy records. Register at pacer.uscourts.gov. Once you have an account, you can search the Western District of Virginia by debtor name, case number, attorney name, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. The system shows docket entries, case status, and lets you download individual filed documents. The cost is $0.10 per page, with a $3.00 cap per document. If your charges stay under $15 in a calendar quarter, you pay nothing at all.

The free alternative is VCIS. Call 1-866-222-8029 and press 864 for the Western District. The automated phone system runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can check whether someone has a bankruptcy case, find out the filing date and chapter type, check for a discharge, and get hearing dates. You just need a debtor name or case number to use it. No registration and no cost.

For older closed cases no longer in PACER, the National Archives may have the paper records. The National Archives website explains how to request those files. The Philadelphia Federal Records Center handles court records from Virginia. Requests take two to four weeks on average.

Bankruptcy Filing Fees for Tazewell County

Federal bankruptcy filing fees are the same across Virginia and are set by Congress. In the Western District, Chapter 7 costs $338 to file, Chapter 13 costs $313, and Chapter 11 costs $1,738. The fee is paid to the federal court clerk at the time you file. Payment methods vary by court, but most accept certified checks, money orders, and electronic payments through CM/ECF for attorneys.

Low-income Chapter 7 filers can apply for a full fee waiver. The court looks at your household income relative to the federal poverty guidelines. If you're under the threshold, you fill out the Application to Have the Chapter 7 Filing Fee Waived as part of your filing packet. The judge decides whether to grant the waiver. If you don't qualify for a full waiver, you may be able to pay in installments over a period of up to 120 days.

Chapter 13 filings don't qualify for a fee waiver, but the $313 fee can sometimes be paid in installments. The forms for the Western District are available at vawb.uscourts.gov. Review the local rules before filing, as the Western District has specific procedural requirements that differ from other districts.

Note: Attorney fees are separate from filing fees and vary widely depending on the complexity of your case.

What Tazewell Bankruptcy Records Show

Bankruptcy case files in the Western District contain detailed financial information. The petition itself identifies the debtor, the chapter type, and the case number. The schedules are often the most detailed part. Schedule A/B lists real and personal property. Schedule C lists exemptions the debtor is claiming. Schedule D, E, and F list secured, priority, and unsecured creditors. The statement of financial affairs covers recent financial transactions, lawsuits, and transfers of property.

In Chapter 13 cases, the repayment plan is a key document. It sets out how much the debtor will pay each month and how creditors will be paid over the plan period, typically three to five years. Any amendments to the plan or objections from creditors are also in the file. Once the plan is completed, the court enters a discharge order closing the case. All of these documents are available through PACER.

Most bankruptcy records are public. The main exception is that Social Security numbers are redacted to show only the last four digits. The court can also seal records in unusual situations, but consumer cases are almost always fully public.

Legal Help in Tazewell County

Virginia Legal Aid offers free legal services to qualifying residents. Their website at valegalaid.org has information on how to apply and what types of cases they handle. Bankruptcy matters for low-income residents of Tazewell County may qualify for their assistance. They also have offices that serve southwestern Virginia, which is closer than Richmond for most Tazewell residents.

If you're looking for a private attorney, the Virginia State Bar's referral service can connect you with lawyers who handle bankruptcy in the Roanoke and southwestern Virginia area. Many bankruptcy attorneys in this region charge flat fees for Chapter 7 cases. Get quotes from a couple of attorneys before committing. Most offer a free first meeting where they review your situation and tell you whether bankruptcy is the right option.

The Western District court also provides some self-help information on its website for people who choose to file without an attorney. Filing pro se is possible, but it requires careful attention to deadlines and forms. The Tazewell law library at the courthouse, now free to use after the repeal of the library fee, is another resource for researching your options before you decide.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Tazewell in southwestern Virginia. Most fall under the Western District of Virginia for bankruptcy filings.