Search Louisiana Bankruptcy Records
Louisiana bankruptcy records are federal court documents held by the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts serving the state. Three federal districts cover all 64 parishes: the Eastern District in New Orleans, the Middle District in Baton Rouge, and the Western District based in Shreveport and Alexandria. You can search these records through PACER or at each court's clerk office.
Louisiana Bankruptcy Records Quick Facts
Louisiana Bankruptcy Records Overview
Bankruptcy in Louisiana is a federal matter. State and parish offices do not keep bankruptcy filings. All cases go through one of three U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, each with its own clerk, judges, and jurisdiction over specific parishes. When someone files for bankruptcy in Louisiana, the case becomes a public record held by that court.
The records in a bankruptcy case can include the original petition, schedules of assets and debts, the list of creditors, any motions filed, hearing transcripts, and the final discharge order. Under 11 U.S.C. § 107, bankruptcy papers are public records open to inspection. The court may seal specific documents on a case-by-case basis, but most filings are open to all.
Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 5003 requires each clerk to keep a complete docket for every case. This docket tracks all filings and orders in chronological order. You can view the docket through PACER or at the court's public access terminals. Rule 9037 sets rules for redacting personal information such as Social Security numbers and financial account data from public filings.
Note: Parish Clerks of Court do not maintain bankruptcy records. For state court matters tied to a bankruptcy, check the relevant parish clerk office separately.
Eastern District Bankruptcy Court
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana is based in New Orleans. It covers 13 parishes in the southern and southeastern part of the state. The court handles a large number of cases given the population in the New Orleans metro area. It serves Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, and Washington parishes.
The Eastern District clerk office is at 500 Poydras Street, Suite B-601, New Orleans, LA 70130. The phone number is (504) 589-7878. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Chief Deputy Clerk is Heather Rouchon. The court uses a hybrid hearing model, and some hearings are held by video or phone. For video hearings, the court uses a GoToMeeting link listed on the court website.
The Eastern District Bankruptcy Court website has case information, local rules, and ECF login for attorneys. Public users can access records through PACER or at the court's public access terminals in the clerk office.
Middle District Bankruptcy Court
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Louisiana is located in Baton Rouge. It covers 9 parishes in the central part of the state: Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana. Judge Douglas D. Dodson presides, and William Guercio III serves as Clerk of Court.
The court address is 707 Florida Street, Room 119, Baton Rouge, LA 70801. The phone is (225) 346-3333 and fax is (225) 346-3334. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The 341 meeting of creditors is held at Room 324 in the same building. The CM/ECF Help Desk can be reached at (225) 389-3552 or 1-866-558-6631. Free public access terminals are available in the clerk office for viewing records at no cost.
The Middle District court website has case search tools, a fee schedule, local rules, and public access information at lamd.uscourts.gov/case-information-public-access. All proofs of claim must be filed via CM/ECF. The office does not accept faxed documents.
Western District Bankruptcy Court
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana covers 42 parishes across five divisions. Chief Judge John S. Hodge and Clerk of Court Edward Takara lead this district. The Western District is the largest in terms of geographic coverage, reaching from the New Orleans suburbs west through central and northwest Louisiana all the way to the Texas border. The toll-free voice case information line is 1-866-222-8029.
The five Western District divisions and the parishes they serve are:
- Shreveport Division (Tom Stagg U.S. Courthouse, 300 Fannin St, Suite 2201): Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Red River, Sabine, Webster
- Lafayette Division (800 Lafayette St, Suite 1200): Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Vermilion
- Alexandria Division (Hemenway Building, 300 Jackson St, Suite 116): Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon, Winn
- Lake Charles Division (611 Broad St, 1st Floor) -- NO staffed clerk office; file at Lafayette: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis
- Monroe Division (201 Jackson St) -- NO staffed clerk office; file at Shreveport: Caldwell, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union, West Carroll
Note: If you are in the Lake Charles or Monroe divisions, you must send documents to the Lafayette or Shreveport office respectively -- there is no clerk staff at those courthouses.
View all Western District court locations for addresses and contact details for each division.
Search Bankruptcy Records with PACER
PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) is the main tool for searching federal court records online. It covers all three Louisiana bankruptcy districts and every other federal court in the country. Registration is free. You can create an account at pacer.uscourts.gov. Once you have an account, you can search case dockets, view filings, and download documents any time of day.
The cost to view or download documents through PACER is $0.10 per page. Audio files cost $2.40 each. If your total PACER charges for a quarter do not exceed $30, those fees are waived. For people who only search a few cases a year, PACER costs nothing. The PACER Service Center can be reached at (800) 676-6856, Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 6 PM Central time.
The PACER Case Locator lets you search across all federal courts at once. You can search by name, case number, or other details. This is useful if you are not sure which district the case was filed in. Real-time access shows current case status, docket entries, and all filed documents.
Note: You can also search at no cost by visiting the clerk office in person. Each court has public access terminals that give you free access to PACER records on-site.
Other Ways to Find Louisiana Bankruptcy Records
Beyond PACER, a few other tools can help you search bankruptcy records. The Multi-Court Voice Case Information System (McVCIS) lets you search by phone at no charge. Call 1-866-222-8029 toll-free, any time. The system walks you through a voice menu. You can search up to 5 records per call. Have the case number, party name, or SSN ready when you call.
The eClerks LA portal was created by the Louisiana Legislature under La. R.S. 13:754 and launched in 2015. It gives free access to land records, marriage licenses, and civil information across all 64 parishes. It does not hold federal bankruptcy records, but it can help you find related parish-level court filings and property records. The eClerks Alert service lets you monitor up to 5 names for free, sending alerts when new documents are recorded in those names across all 64 parishes.
The Louisiana Secretary of State website at sos.la.gov has business entity records. If you need to check whether a business that filed for bankruptcy had active licenses or registrations in Louisiana, the SOS records may help. These are not bankruptcy records but can add useful context to a case search.
Bankruptcy Filing Fees in Louisiana
Filing fees for bankruptcy cases in Louisiana are set by federal law under 28 U.S.C. § 1930. The fees apply statewide across all three districts. The court must collect the fee when you file unless the judge grants a waiver or allows payment in installments. Fee waivers are available for individuals with income below 150% of the poverty line.
Current filing fees by chapter:
- Chapter 7 (liquidation): $338
- Chapter 13 (wage earner plan): $313
- Chapter 12 (family farmer or fisherman): $278
- Chapter 11 (reorganization): $1,738
For getting copies of case documents, the standard fee is $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $11.00 (increasing to $12.00). A record search by the clerk costs $32.00 (increasing to $34.00). Payment rules vary by division. The Shreveport office accepts cash, money orders, and cashier's checks. The Alexandria and Lafayette offices accept money orders and cashier's checks only from individuals. Attorneys may pay by check or credit card through Pay.gov.
Note: Fees are subject to change. Contact the specific court office to confirm current amounts before you file or request records.
Laws Governing Louisiana Bankruptcy Records
Bankruptcy law in the United States comes from federal statute. The Bankruptcy Code is found in Title 11 of the United States Code. Louisiana does not have its own bankruptcy law, but the state does have laws related to debt, creditor rights, and court procedures that can apply to bankruptcy cases.
The Louisiana State Legislature website has the full text of Louisiana Revised Statutes. Title 9 covers civil code ancillaries related to debt and creditor rights. Title 13 covers courts and judicial procedure. You can search statutes at legis.la.gov/Legis/LawSearch.aspx. These state laws do not govern bankruptcy cases directly, but they may affect how debts and property are treated under Louisiana law within a federal case.
Each district also has its own Local Bankruptcy Rules. These cover procedures specific to that court. The Western District local rules are at lawb.uscourts.gov. The Middle District rules are at lamb.uscourts.gov/rules-and-forms. Always check local rules in addition to the federal rules when researching a case or planning to file.
The Louisiana Supreme Court handles state law matters. It does not have jurisdiction over federal bankruptcy cases. But decisions from the Louisiana courts on property and debt law can influence how those issues are handled in a Louisiana bankruptcy proceeding. If a debtor's exemptions or creditor disputes involve state law questions, Louisiana case law may apply.
Browse Louisiana Bankruptcy Records by Parish
Each of Louisiana's 64 parishes is served by one of the three federal bankruptcy districts. Select a parish to find the specific court, clerk contact information, and local resources for that area.
Louisiana Bankruptcy Records by City
Residents of major Louisiana cities file bankruptcy cases at the federal court that covers their parish. Select a city below to find which court handles your case and where to access records.