New Castle County Bankruptcy Records

New Castle County bankruptcy records are held by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, which sits right here in Wilmington. The court is at 824 N. Market Street, 3rd Floor. People and firms from across the state file here, since this is the only bankruptcy court in Delaware. You can search New Castle County bankruptcy records through PACER, the CM/ECF system, or by going to the courthouse in person. This page walks you through how to find filings, what the local offices do, and where to get free help.

About New Castle County Bankruptcy Records

New Castle County is the most populous county in the state. Wilmington is the county seat. The J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building sits downtown and holds the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. That court runs every bankruptcy case filed in the state, so New Castle County bankruptcy records cover filers from Kent and Sussex too.

Many major firms pick Delaware for Chapter 11. The court has deep know-how in large corporate cases. Well-known filings have come out of here, such as FTX Trading Ltd. and Live Well Financial. Small consumer cases get filed here too. The same court hears them all. Help desk hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The county itself does not hold bankruptcy files. It is the federal court that keeps them. But the county's Recorder of Deeds, Superior Court, and Division of Revenue each hold records that tie into bankruptcy work. Property deeds, state tax liens, and civil judgments often show up in a case. You can learn more on the New Castle County government site.

The page links to all county offices. Use it to find the Recorder of Deeds, tax info, and council pages.

Where to Find New Castle County Bankruptcy Records

The bankruptcy court is at 824 N. Market Street, 3rd Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801. You must bring a photo ID. The clerk's office is on the 3rd floor, open Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The phone line is 302-252-2900.

At the court, you can use a public access terminal to look up cases. You can also ask the clerk for copies of filings. Certified copies cost a small fee. If you need older files that are out at the archives, you can ask the clerk to pull them for you. Read the closed case retrieval steps before you mail in a request.

For online search, use PACER. Make a free account, then pay $0.10 per page to view dockets or PDFs. PACER is the main tool most lawyers and researchers use. You can also try the PACER Case Locator if you don't know which court a case was filed in. The Delaware Bankruptcy Court case info page lists each search tool and what it costs.

State Court Records for Bankruptcy Cases

State court records often come up in a bankruptcy case. The Leonard L. Williams Justice Center at 500 North King Street in Wilmington houses the New Castle County Superior Court. The Superior Court handles civil cases over $50,000 and criminal felony cases. In Delaware, the Superior Court is also called the Prothonotary. It keeps records of state tax liens, judgments, pending suits, and assumed names.

These state court records are useful when you fill out bankruptcy schedules. You need to list every creditor, every judgment, and every pending suit. If you miss one, your discharge could be at risk. The court's phone is 302-255-3900. Visit the Superior Court page to learn more.

The site links out to CourtConnect, the online docket search, and gives filing tips. CourtConnect does not show federal bankruptcy cases.

Legal Aid for New Castle County Residents

Free legal help is out there for folks with low income. Delaware Volunteer Legal Services (DVLS) helps New Castle County at 302-575-0660. Their work here covers public housing, public benefits and bankruptcy, landlord and tenant issues, and some other areas. DVLS is a nonprofit that works hand in hand with the Community Legal Aid Society and the Legal Services Corporation of Delaware.

Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. also serves the county. They help with many kinds of civil matters. You can find their contact info on the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence's programs page at dcadv.org. Many legal aid clinics help with Chapter 7 filings, which is the most common consumer bankruptcy chapter.

If you do not qualify for free help, the Delaware State Bar Association has a Lawyer Referral Service. Most bankruptcy lawyers in the state work in Wilmington, so the court is close by. Be sure the lawyer is admitted to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware before you sign on.

Division of Revenue in New Castle County

The Delaware Division of Revenue has a New Castle County office at the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. The phone is 302-577-8200. Office hours are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday. If you owe state taxes, this is the office that can pull your tax history for you.

A bankruptcy filing puts a stop to state tax collection on pre-filing debt. But you still need to file returns and pay any taxes that come due after the filing date. Some tax debts cannot be wiped out at all, so talk to your lawyer. The Division of Revenue bankruptcy page has more on how tax debt works in a case.

When you get to the 341 meeting of creditors, the trustee may ask for your tax return from last year. That's why you may want a full tax account transcript from this office before you file. Call the main line. Staff can walk you through what you need. You can also set up an account at tax.delaware.gov to see your tax data online.

New Castle County Bankruptcy Records Fees

The court charges set fees for filings and copies. Under the Delaware Bankruptcy Court fee schedule, a motion to terminate the automatic stay runs $199. An adversary complaint runs $350. An appeal runs $298. A motion to redact runs $28. Case filing fees depend on the chapter you file.

PACER charges $0.10 per page to view dockets or filings. A single doc caps at $3.00. If your annual PACER use stays under $30, fees are waived. You can save PDFs of most filings once you pay. The court takes cash, money orders, and cashier's checks from debtors. From all others, personal checks, debit, and credit cards work too.

• Motion to Terminate Automatic Stay: $199
• Motion to Redact: $28
• Adversary Complaint: $350
• Appeal: $298
• Archive Retrieval: $70 first box, $43 each more
• PACER Viewing: $0.10 per page, $3.00 cap

Common Bankruptcy Chapters Filed Here

New Castle County is home to all kinds of filings. Chapter 7 is the most common for people. A trustee sells non-exempt assets to pay back creditors. Most Chapter 7 cases close in four to six months. Chapter 13 lets wage earners keep their home or car. They pay back debts over three to five years under a court-approved plan.

For firms, Chapter 11 is the main tool. Many large U.S. firms pick Delaware for this, since the state is where so many are set up. The court has judges with deep know-how in large cases. To read more on Chapter 11, see the U.S. Courts bankruptcy basics page.

New Castle County Cities

The county is home to several cities and towns. Each one sends its bankruptcy cases to the same Wilmington court. Pick a city below for local info on help, state offices, and nearby resources.

Other Delaware Counties

Cases from the other counties come to the same court in Wilmington. Pick a county below for county-level tips and local help.