New Castle Bankruptcy Records

New Castle bankruptcy records are held by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in nearby Wilmington. The city of New Castle sits about five miles south of Wilmington on the Delaware River. That makes it one of the closest Delaware cities to the federal courthouse. All cases from the city are filed at 824 N. Market Street. To search New Castle bankruptcy records, you can use PACER, CM/ECF, or visit the courthouse in person. This page covers search steps, legal aid, and local office info.

About New Castle Bankruptcy Records

New Castle is a historic city on the Delaware River. It shares its name with the county but is its own city. The city sits just southwest of Wilmington, so the federal courthouse is a short drive away. That makes New Castle one of the easier spots in the state for court access.

The city government site at newcastlecity.delaware.gov has local service info. While it does not hold bankruptcy records, it does link to county and state resources.

All bankruptcy cases from New Castle go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The court sits at 824 N. Market Street, 3rd Floor, Wilmington. Phone is 302-252-2900. Hours run 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday. See the court's homepage for more.

Search New Castle Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the main online tool. Sign up for free at pacer.uscourts.gov. Search by party name, case number, or SSN. Fees are $0.10 per page with a $3.00 cap per doc.

If you don't know where a case was filed, try the PACER Case Locator. The Delaware Bankruptcy Court case info page covers CM/ECF, VCIS, and PACER in plain English.

For in-person search, drive to Wilmington. Public access terminals are on the 3rd floor. The clerk can print copies for a fee. A certified copy costs more than a plain copy. Bring a valid photo ID to enter the federal building.

New Castle Legal Aid

New Castle residents share the same legal aid as Wilmington and the rest of the county. Delaware Volunteer Legal Services helps low-income folks at 302-575-0660. Their work includes bankruptcy, public benefits, and housing matters.

Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. also serves the county. For a list of local programs, see dcadv.org. If you have income, the Delaware State Bar Association has a Lawyer Referral Service.

Many private firms take New Castle cases. Some serve the whole state from Wilmington offices. Call for a free consult. Most consumer bankruptcy lawyers handle both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings.

State Offices for New Castle Filers

The Delaware Division of Revenue's New Castle County office is at the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington. The phone is 302-577-8200. Hours run 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

If you owe state taxes, this is the office that can pull your tax account data. A bankruptcy stops state tax collection on pre-filing debt. Some tax debts can't be wiped out. See the Division of Revenue bankruptcy page for more.

The New Castle County Courthouse at 500 N. King Street, Wilmington, holds state court records. These include civil judgments, state tax liens, and criminal cases. All of these may show up on your bankruptcy schedules when you file.

Court Fees for New Castle Bankruptcy Records

All fees are set by the federal court. Key fees from the fee schedule:

• Adversary Complaint: $350
• Motion to Terminate Automatic Stay: $199
• Motion to Redact: $28
• Appeal: $298
• Archive Search: $34 per case
• PACER Viewing: $0.10 per page

Debtors pay with cash, money order, or cashier's check. Personal checks and credit cards do not work for debtors. All other filers can use those plus debit and credit cards. The case filing fee for Chapter 11 is $1,167 plus a $571 admin fee.

Judges Who Hear New Castle Bankruptcy Records

Eight judges sit on the Delaware Bankruptcy Court bench. Chief Judge Karen B. Owens, Judge John T. Dorsey, Judge Craig T. Goldblatt, Judge Thomas M. Horan, Judge Brendan L. Shannon, Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein, Judge J. Kate Stickles, and Judge Mary F. Walrath.

Each judge has their own chambers rules. See the judge information page for hearing dates, opinions, and chambers contact info. Individual Chapter 7 cases are sent at random to Judge Shannon or Judge Silverstein.

Forms and Local Rules

Every Delaware bankruptcy case uses the same forms. Official Bankruptcy Forms are set by the U.S. Courts. Local Forms are set by the Board of Judges for the District of Delaware. See the forms overview page for the full list.

The Local Rules took effect February 1, 2025. They govern every case. Check the rule tied to your filing before you submit it. You can find the rules at deb.uscourts.gov/local-rules.

Common Chapters in New Castle

Chapter 7 is the top chapter for consumer cases. A trustee sells non-exempt assets to pay back creditors. Most cases close in four to six months.

Chapter 13 is for wage earners who want to keep their home or car. You pay back some debts over three to five years. Chapter 11 is used by firms and by some people with high debts. New Castle residents file all chapters at the same Wilmington courthouse.

New Castle is in New Castle County

The city of New Castle is in New Castle County. See the county page for more on state courts and local offices across the county.

Other New Castle County Cities

Pick a nearby city for local tips.

What New Castle Bankruptcy Records Show

Delaware bankruptcy records are public under 11 U.S.C. § 107. You can view most filings, but some data is redacted by rule. Full SSNs, bank account numbers, and the names of minors are cut out for privacy reasons.

A typical case record shows the debtor name, the case number, the filing date, and the chapter filed. It also lists creditors and what each is owed. The name of the judge on the case, the trustee, and the debtor's lawyer are all on the docket. Most court orders, motions, and plans are open too. You can read them online through PACER or in person at the courthouse.

Some parts of a case can get sealed by the court. Trade secrets, personal data, and some child-related files may be sealed. A party can ask the judge to seal more, but that is not common. If you need a certified copy of any filing, the clerk's office can make one for a small fee.

For a plain English guide to what a case holds, see the Delaware court records page. It explains what bankruptcy records show and how they differ from state court records.