Documents Filed on and after 11/7/03
Documents filed on and after 11/7/03 are stored electronically on the court's computer system (ECF). To obtain copies of these documents, you have the following options:
1. Make an email request
Use the contact form on the court's website to request a discharge order, petition and schedules, or order of dismissal. The clerk's office will reply to the email and attach the requested documents in PDF format. Each request must contain the debtor's name and case number, and specify the documents being requested. There is no charge for this service. Requests are ordinarily completed within two business days.
If you do not know the case number or your request is urgent, please call the clerk's office at (503) 326-1500 or (541) 431-4000.If you do not know the case number, be prepared to state the debtor's full name and social security number. Do not send a social security number in an email request.
The court cannot provide certified copies or the complete case file via email.
2. Internet (PACER)
Contact the PACER Service Center at www.pacer.gov for registration information about obtaining a PACER account. A PACER fee of $0.10 per page applies, not to exceed $3 per document; however, accounts that do not accrue charges of more than $30 in a quarterly billing cycle will not be charged a fee. Please note that documents are not available in PACER for cases that were filed before December 1, 2003, and have been closed for more than one year. For copies of documents in cases filed before December 1, 2003, you must use one of the other three options.
3. Visit the Clerk’s office
If you come to the Bankruptcy Court in person for your copies, the copy fee is $0.10 per page when using the computer in the court’s lobby. Other fees may apply, such as a $34.00 search fee if a clerk has to spend substantial time locating the document. A copy fee of $0.50 per page applies if a clerk makes the copies. A $12.00 certification fee applies for each document that needs a certification.
Exact change, check or money order is required. Credit cards and debit cards are not accepted at the Clerk’s office.
4. Mail a request to the Clerk’s office
If you mail a copy request to the Bankruptcy Court, the copy fee is $0.50 per page. A $34.00 search fee may also apply if a clerk has to spend substantial time locating the document. A $12.00 certification fee applies for each document that needs a certification.
Each written request should:
- state debtor(s) name and case number
- state documents to be copied
- state your name (if you are not the debtor) and daytime phone number
- provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope
If you do not know how many pages there are, you may send a “Not to Exceed” check with the amount lines left blank. Below the line for writing out the dollar amount, write “Not to Exceed $[enter estimated amount here].”
The check or money order should be made payable to “Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court.” You may mail your copy request to the Bankruptcy Court at either location:
U.S. Bankruptcy Court U.S. Bankruptcy Court
1050 SW 6th Ave #700 405 E. 8th Ave #2600
Portland OR 97204 Eugene OR 97401
Documents filed prior to 11/7/03
If the documents you are looking for were filed more than 20 years ago, they may no longer be available. Otherwise, documents filed prior to 11/7/03, and closed prior to 9/08 (Portland cases) or closed prior to 9/07 (Eugene cases), are stored at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Seattle, Washington. Call the Clerk’s office to check on the location of the file. If the case was sent to the National Archives (“archived”), you have the following options:
1. Review the archived file at the Bankruptcy Court
The Clerk’s office will request the file from NARA and contact you when the file arrives. A retrieval fee applies ($70.00 for first box containing requested record; $43.00 for each additional box), payable with exact change, check or money order, to the Bankruptcy Court. There is no search fee to review the retrieved file; however, other fees (such as a copy fee or a certification fee) might apply.
2. Phone NARA
Begin by requesting that the Clerk’s office provide you with the box, location and accession/transfer numbers for the file, along with the phone number for NARA. Phone NARA with your copy request and charge it to a credit card or debit card. NARA’s fees will apply.
3. Mail or fax NARA
Begin by requesting that the Clerk’s office provide you with a form with the box, location and accession/transfer numbers filled in on it. Complete the form with your name, address and payment information. Mail or fax your copy request to NARA. NARA’s fees will apply.
4. NARA’s website
Begin by requesting that the Clerk’s office provide you with the box, location and accession/transfer numbers for the file. Make your copy request to NARA by clicking here. NARA’s fees will apply.
Further Information
If you need further information about obtaining copies, please contact the Bankruptcy Court at either location:
Portland (503) 326-1500 or Eugene (541) 431-4000
Notice to consumers presenting checks: When you provide a check as payment, you authorize the court either to use information from your check to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your account or to process the payment as a check transaction.A Privacy Act Statement required by 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(3) stating our authority for soliciting and collecting the information from your check, and explaining the purposes and routine uses which will be made of your check information, is available from www.fms.treas.gov/otcnet/index.html, or call toll free at 1−866−945−7920 to obtain a copy by mail. Furnishing the check information is voluntary, but a decision not to do so may require you to make payment by some other method.