University Place Bankruptcy Records
University Place bankruptcy records are filed through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington, Tacoma division, which serves all of Pierce County. University Place is a city of roughly 32,000 residents in Pierce County, situated just west of Tacoma. All bankruptcy petitions from University Place go to the Tacoma federal courthouse. Related civil court records are maintained by the Pierce County Superior Court Clerk, also in Tacoma. This page covers the tools and offices you need to search, access, and understand bankruptcy records tied to University Place.
University Place Overview
Bankruptcy Court for University Place
University Place is within the Western District of Washington. The Tacoma division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court handles all Pierce County cases, which includes University Place. The courthouse at 1717 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma is where petitions are filed and hearings are held. It is a short drive from University Place, and the staff there can answer questions about case status, filing requirements, and how to get copies of documents.
University Place has its own municipal court at 3609 Market Place W, Suite 200. Phone: (253) 566-1920. Website: cityofup.com. That court handles local traffic infractions and misdemeanors. It does not handle bankruptcy cases. For bankruptcy records, the federal courthouse in Tacoma is the right place to go.
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington |
|---|---|
| Address | 1717 Pacific Avenue, Suite 2100 Tacoma, WA 98402 |
| Phone | (253) 882-3900 |
| Website | wawb.uscourts.gov |
| VCIS (Free) | (866) 222-8029 |
The VCIS line at (866) 222-8029 is available 24 hours a day at no charge. Use it to check case status, find a case number, or confirm the trustee assigned to a case. You will need the debtor's full name or Social Security number to use the system. It is the fastest free option and works any time, even outside courthouse hours. Most basic status questions can be answered with a single call.
Searching Records Through PACER
PACER is the federal online system for accessing court records. It covers all cases filed in the Western District of Washington, including those from University Place. Register for free at pacer.uscourts.gov. Once you have an account, you can search for cases by debtor name, case number, or SSN. The system returns full docket information, including every document on file from the initial petition through any discharge order.
The fee is $0.10 per page to view or download documents. If your charges in a given quarter total less than $30, the court waives those fees at the end of the quarter. For a one-time search of a single case, you will almost certainly stay under that cap. The PACER Service Center at (800) 676-6856 can help with account registration and billing questions.
When you search for University Place cases, select Western District of Washington and the Tacoma division. That filters results to Pierce County cases. If you are not sure which division the case was filed under, you can search the full district and then sort by location. PACER also supports case monitoring for active proceedings. Creditors and other interested parties can sign up for email notifications when new documents are filed.
The PACER interface shown above is the starting point for any online search of Western District bankruptcy cases. Set the district to Western Washington and the division to Tacoma to narrow the results to Pierce County filings. This is the most reliable way to confirm whether a University Place resident has a bankruptcy case on file and to get copies of the documents.
Pierce County Superior Court Clerk
The Pierce County Superior Court Clerk in Tacoma holds civil records that frequently connect to bankruptcy cases. Creditors who won judgments before a debtor filed for bankruptcy would have filed those judgments in Pierce County Superior Court. Those records remain in the county system even after the bankruptcy discharges the debt. If you are trying to clear a lien or verify that a judgment has been satisfied, the clerk's office is where you look.
| Office | Pierce County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 930 Tacoma Ave. S., Room 110 Tacoma, WA 98402 |
| Phone | (253) 798-7455 |
| Website | piercecountywa.gov |
Pierce County's LINX system is the free online case search tool for county court records. Access it at linxonline.co.pierce.wa.us. LINX covers cases from January 2002 forward. You can search by party name or case number and filter by case type. Viewing records is free. Printing costs $0.25 per page. For University Place residents, LINX is the right tool to check for civil judgments and lien history in Pierce County without a trip to Tacoma.
The LINX search portal shown above lets you pull Pierce County civil records quickly and at no cost for viewing. For University Place residents checking for judgment history or lien activity, search by name and filter to civil case types. Use this alongside PACER to get both the county court picture and the federal bankruptcy case details in one research session.
Bankruptcy Filing Fees
Filing fees for federal bankruptcy cases are the same throughout the country. They do not change based on which city or county you live in. The amounts below are current as of the time this page was published. Verify with the court before filing, since Congress can change these amounts.
- Chapter 7: $338
- Chapter 13: $313
- Chapter 11: $1,738
- Chapter 12: $278
If you cannot pay in full when you file, the court allows installment payments. You can request up to four payments spread over 120 days. For Chapter 7 only, a complete waiver is available to people whose income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty guideline. The waiver application is a standard form available at the courthouse and on the court website at wawb.uscourts.gov.
Washington state law provides exemptions that protect certain assets from being taken to pay debts in bankruptcy. The homestead exemption under RCW 6.13 can protect equity in your home. Personal property protections are spelled out in RCW 6.15. These cover items like vehicles, clothing, household goods, and certain retirement accounts up to set limits. Review them or talk to an attorney about how they apply before you decide whether and how to file.
Washington State Court Records
The Washington Courts public access system at dw.courts.wa.gov covers state-level court records across all counties. For University Place residents, the relevant records in this system fall under Pierce County. The tool lets you search civil cases, appeals, and court filings by name or case number. It does not include federal bankruptcy cases, but it is useful for checking the state court picture alongside a PACER search.
The statewide portal shown above is a good complement to LINX. Where LINX focuses specifically on Pierce County, the Washington Courts system pulls from all counties. If a judgment was entered in a different county or there is an appeal in the system, this broader search will catch it. Use both tools together with PACER for a complete picture of any individual's state and federal court history.
Legal Help for University Place Residents
University Place residents have access to the same Pierce County legal aid resources as Tacoma and other nearby communities. Several options exist depending on your income and the type of help you need. Bankruptcy is a complex area of law. Getting at least one consultation with a qualified attorney before filing can save you time and prevent costly mistakes.
CLEAR is the statewide civil legal aid hotline at (888) 201-1014. Call Monday through Friday during business hours to get screened for free services. If you qualify based on income, CLEAR can connect you with an attorney who handles bankruptcy in Pierce County. The screening call is free and takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association runs a free monthly bankruptcy clinic at the Pierce County Law Library. Sessions happen on the last Monday of each month. Volunteer attorneys review your situation and answer questions. Call (253) 572-5134 or visit tacomaprobono.org for the current schedule and to confirm the date. University Place is close enough to Tacoma that attending is straightforward.
Consumer Credit Counseling in Pierce County is at (253) 588-1858. Federal law requires you to complete a credit counseling session from an approved agency within 180 days before you file for bankruptcy. You get a certificate after completing the session, and that certificate must be attached to your petition. Do not file without it, as the court will not accept the petition. Many approved providers also offer the post-filing financial management course you need to complete before discharge.
The Washington State Bar Association lists attorneys by county and practice area at wsba.org. Use the directory to find bankruptcy attorneys serving Pierce County. The Office of Civil Legal Aid at ocla.wa.gov maintains a directory of free and low-cost legal providers across the state. Both resources are a good place to start when you are ready to look for representation or additional guidance.
Pierce County Bankruptcy Records
University Place is in Pierce County. All Superior Court records and county civil filings for this city are maintained by the Pierce County Superior Court Clerk. The county page has more detail on all Pierce County resources.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near University Place and file through the same federal district and county court system.