Find Bankruptcy Records in Shreveport

Shreveport bankruptcy records are filed and maintained by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Shreveport Division. The court is housed in the Tom Stagg U.S. Court House at 300 Fannin Street in downtown Shreveport. It is the headquarters for the Western District and has a staffed clerk's office where you can file documents, get copies, and research cases. This page covers how to search Shreveport bankruptcy records, what the court requires, and what fees apply.

Shreveport Division of the Western District Court

The Shreveport Division is the main office of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana. The Western District covers the western half of the state. The Shreveport Division serves Caddo Parish and several surrounding parishes in northwest Louisiana. Chief Judge Hon. John S. Hodge presides over the Shreveport Division.

The Shreveport clerk's office accepts payments by cash, money order, or cashier's check. Credit cards and personal checks are not accepted for new case filings. If you are unsure what to bring, call (318) 676-4267 before you go. The clerk can tell you exactly what forms and payment you need.

How to Search Shreveport Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the primary way to search Shreveport bankruptcy records. Register for free at pacer.uscourts.gov. Once you have an account, search the Western District directly or use the PACER Case Locator at pacer.uscourts.gov/find-a-case to search across all federal courts at once.

Searching by debtor name is the most common method. You can also search by Social Security number if you have it, or by case number if you already know it. Results show the case type, filing date, trustee, and a full docket of all documents filed in the case. Most documents are available to download as PDFs. PACER charges $0.10 per page. If your quarterly charges stay under $30, there is no fee at all.

McVCIS is a free phone option. Call 1-866-222-8029 and follow the prompts for the Western District. You can hear basic case details without needing a computer or account. This is useful if you just need to confirm a case was filed or find a case number before searching further on PACER.

Bankruptcy Chapters Handled in Shreveport

The Shreveport Division handles all chapter types under the federal Bankruptcy Code. Chapter 7 is the most filed type. It is a liquidation bankruptcy where a trustee reviews assets and may sell non-exempt property to pay creditors. Most individual Chapter 7 cases in Shreveport are no-asset cases, meaning there is nothing to sell. The process typically takes about three to four months from filing to discharge.

Chapter 13 is a reorganization for individuals with regular income. You propose a three- to five-year repayment plan. The plan must pay at least as much as creditors would get in Chapter 7. Chapter 13 is useful when you want to keep your home or car and need time to catch up on missed payments. The Shreveport Division has an active standing Chapter 13 trustee who reviews all plans filed in the division.

Chapter 11 is used by businesses and some high-debt individuals. It allows a business to keep running while renegotiating debts. The process is expensive and complex. Most Chapter 11 cases filed in Shreveport involve local businesses, real estate entities, or oil and gas companies from the northwest Louisiana region.

Chapter 12 serves family farmers and family fishermen. Northwest Louisiana has active farming communities. Chapter 12 filings do appear in the Shreveport Division, though they are far less common than Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 cases.

Getting Copies of Shreveport Bankruptcy Records

You can get copies of Shreveport bankruptcy records through PACER or in person at the Shreveport clerk's office. PACER is the cheaper and faster option for most people. You download PDFs directly from the case docket. Each page costs $0.10.

Plain paper copies from the clerk cost $0.50 per page. If you need a certified copy, the fee is $11.00 per document. Certification means the court stamps the copy to confirm it is a true and accurate reproduction of the original. You may need a certified copy to prove a bankruptcy filing to a third party, such as a bank or another court.

A record search conducted by court staff costs $32.00. This fee applies when you ask court employees to search for a case on your behalf, rather than doing the search yourself on PACER. Most people find PACER easier and avoid the staff search fee. But if you are not comfortable with online tools or cannot find a case, staff can help locate it for the flat $32.00 charge.

What Bankruptcy Records Include

A bankruptcy file starts with the petition. The petition names the debtor, gives their address, and states the chapter filed under. It includes the filing date, the case number, and the judge assigned. Every case starts with this document.

The schedules follow the petition. Debtors must list all assets, all debts, all income, and all monthly expenses in separate schedules. The Statement of Financial Affairs discloses recent financial transactions. These documents give a full picture of the debtor's financial situation at the time of filing. They are public records under 11 U.S.C. § 107, though personal identifiers like Social Security numbers are redacted per Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9037.

As the case moves forward, the docket grows. Creditors file proofs of claim. The trustee files reports. If there are disputes, motions and hearings get added. In Chapter 13, the plan and confirmation order become major docket entries. Finally, the discharge order closes out the case for most individual debtors. All of this is searchable through PACER.

Caddo Parish and Shreveport Bankruptcy Filings

Shreveport is the seat of Caddo Parish. Caddo Parish falls within the Shreveport Division of the Western District. All bankruptcy filings from Caddo Parish residents and businesses go to the Shreveport courthouse at 300 Fannin Street.

State-level records for Caddo Parish, such as property deeds, liens, and civil judgments, are kept by the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court. These are separate from federal bankruptcy records. However, property liens recorded in Caddo Parish can affect how a bankruptcy case is handled. If a creditor has a recorded lien, it may have secured status in the bankruptcy. The trustee will check parish records to verify what liens exist.

Visit the Caddo Parish bankruptcy records page for more information on parish-level records in the Shreveport area.

Local Resources for Bankruptcy Filers in Shreveport

Shreveport has several resources for people dealing with bankruptcy. The Shreveport Bar Association can connect you with a local bankruptcy attorney. Many attorneys offer a free first meeting to review your situation. Northwest Louisiana Legal Services provides free civil legal help to low-income residents in Caddo Parish. They may be able to assist with bankruptcy questions or refer you to someone who can.

The Western District court's website at lawb.uscourts.gov has local rules, forms, and procedural information. Reading the local rules before you file is essential. The Western District has specific requirements for filing a Chapter 13 plan, and they differ somewhat from the national model plan. Attorneys licensed in Louisiana who practice in the Western District know these local rules well.

Nearby Cities

These qualifying cities near Shreveport are also served by the Western District of Louisiana.