Access Pierce County Bankruptcy Records

Pierce County bankruptcy records are filed through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington, with a courthouse right in Tacoma at 1717 Pacific Avenue. That location makes Pierce County one of the more accessible jurisdictions in the state for in-person filings and hearings. PACER, VCIS, and the county's own LINX case search system all give you ways to find records, depending on what you need.

Federal Bankruptcy Court for Pierce County

Pierce County is served by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington. The Tacoma courthouse at 1717 Pacific Avenue, Suite 2100 handles Pierce County cases. This is one of two main locations for the Western District, the other being the Seattle courthouse at 700 Stewart Street. Most Pierce County filers use the Tacoma location for hearings, 341 meetings of creditors, and in-person filings. The Tacoma clerk's office phone is 253-882-3900.

The Western District handles all chapter types, including Chapter 7, Chapter 13, Chapter 11, and Chapter 12. The court's website at wawb.uscourts.gov gives you access to local rules, required forms, fee schedules, approved credit counseling providers, and a link through to PACER for case searches. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Because the Tacoma courthouse is located in Pierce County itself, travel to hearings is much simpler for local filers than in many other Washington counties.

Notices in your case will be mailed to the address on your petition. Trustees assigned to Pierce County Chapter 7 cases typically hold 341 meetings at the Tacoma courthouse. In a Chapter 13 case, your plan payments go to the Chapter 13 trustee, and confirmation hearings also take place in Tacoma. Keeping your address current with the court during your case is important because missed notices can result in your case being dismissed.

Pierce County Superior Court Clerk

The Pierce County Superior Court clerk's office is at the County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Avenue S., Room 110, Tacoma. The Superior Court does not handle federal bankruptcy cases, but it keeps state court records that often come up in bankruptcy situations. Civil judgments entered in Pierce County Superior Court, property liens, and domestic relations orders can all matter when you are preparing bankruptcy schedules or dealing with creditor claims in federal court.

Pierce County uses the LINX online case search system at linxonline.co.pierce.wa.us. This covers Superior Court civil and criminal cases from January 2002 to present. Basic case information is free to view. Printing non-certified copies costs $0.25 per page, and certified documents are $5 each. It is worth noting that court records in Washington are not subject to the Public Records Act under the Washington Supreme Court's holding in Nast v. Michels, 107 Wn.2d 300 (1986), so access rules differ from other public records. The clerk's office can assist with requests not available through LINX.

Pierce County District Court records are handled separately. Contact the District Court Records office at PCDCRecords@piercecountywa.gov or by phone at (253) 798-7487. Certified copies from District Court are $5 per document. Records provided on CD cost $20 per disc. The Tacoma Municipal Court at 930 Tacoma Ave S can be reached at (253) 591-5357 and covers matters within Tacoma city limits.

How to Search Pierce County Bankruptcy Records

Pierce County has more search options than most Washington counties. Federal bankruptcy cases are searchable through PACER and VCIS. State court records have the LINX system. Each tool serves a different purpose, and knowing which to use first saves time.

PACER is the main system for federal bankruptcy records. Register at pacer.uscourts.gov or call 800-676-6856. After logging in, choose the Western District of Washington and search by debtor name, case number, or last four digits of a Social Security number. Viewing records costs $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 per document. Fees are waived when your quarterly total stays under $30, which covers most individual searches. PACER gives you full dockets, all filed documents, and complete case history. It is the right tool when you need a full picture of a federal bankruptcy case.

VCIS, the Voice Case Information System, is a free phone-based alternative. Call 866-222-8029 at any time, any day. No account is needed. Search by debtor name or case number and get back the case number, chapter type, filing date, trustee name, and current status. It takes about two minutes per search. Use VCIS when you just need to confirm a case exists or check its status quickly without logging in to PACER.

The LINX system at linxonline.co.pierce.wa.us covers Pierce County Superior Court civil and criminal cases from 2002 forward. It is free to search and useful for finding state-level civil judgments or liens that may accompany a bankruptcy filing. The Washington Courts statewide name search at dw.courts.wa.gov also covers Superior, District, and Municipal Court records across Washington. Use it to check for court activity in other counties.

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov holds older Pierce County records. For historical property research or older estate matters, this archive can fill in gaps that LINX does not cover. The LINX system screenshot below shows the Pierce County case search portal.

The Pierce County LINX system lets you search Superior Court cases from 2002 to present for free and view basic case information without a PACER account.

LINX is a good first stop for Pierce County state court records, including civil judgments and property liens that may relate to a bankruptcy debtor.

Bankruptcy Chapters and Filing Fees

Federal bankruptcy law offers several types of relief. The chapter you choose depends on your financial situation, your goals, and whether you want to keep or walk away from your property. All Pierce County filings go through the Western District court in Tacoma.

Chapter 7 is the most common bankruptcy type in Pierce County. It is a liquidation process where a trustee reviews your assets, protects your exempt property under Washington law, and uses anything non-exempt to pay creditors. Most remaining debts are discharged at the end. The filing fee is $338. A typical Chapter 7 case for an individual takes about four to six months from filing to discharge. To qualify, you must pass a means test that compares your income to the Washington State median income for a household your size. If your income is below the median, you qualify automatically.

Chapter 13 is a structured repayment plan lasting three to five years. The filing fee is $313. You keep your property and repay some or all of your debts through a monthly plan payment supervised by a trustee. This chapter is widely used in Pierce County by homeowners facing foreclosure, because it lets you catch up on missed mortgage payments over the life of the plan while staying in your home. Your income must be regular enough to fund the plan, and your debts must fall within statutory caps. Chapter 12 applies to family farmers and fishermen and works similarly to Chapter 13. The Chapter 12 filing fee is $278. Chapter 11 is a reorganization option for businesses or individuals with debts too large for Chapter 13. It is considerably more complex and carries a $1,738 filing fee.

Credit counseling from an approved provider is required before you file any chapter. A debtor education course is also required after your case ends, before your discharge is entered. Both courses can usually be completed online or by phone, and fee waivers are available for lower-income filers. The Western District court website at wawb.uscourts.gov lists approved providers for both courses.

The screenshot below shows the PACER public access portal, which is the main search tool for federal bankruptcy cases in Pierce County.

Visit pacer.uscourts.gov to register for free and start searching Western District bankruptcy cases, including all Pierce County filings.

PACER charges $0.10 per page with a $3.00 cap per document, and fees are waived when your quarterly total stays under $30.

Washington Bankruptcy Exemptions

Washington State lets you shield certain assets from creditors when you file for bankruptcy. These are called exemptions. Pierce County filers choose between Washington's state exemption system and the federal exemption system. Most filers pick the state system because it tends to offer better protection for Washington residents, especially for vehicle equity and homestead value.

Under RCW 6.15, you can protect up to $3,500 in household goods and furnishings, up to $15,000 in a motor vehicle, up to $15,000 in tools of the trade, and up to $10,000 as a wildcard exemption that you apply to any property you choose. As of July 2023, married couples each get their own full set of exemptions. That means couples filing together can protect up to $30,000 in vehicle equity, $20,000 as a wildcard, and $7,000 in household goods. That change was significant for joint filers and reflects an important shift in how Washington handles exemptions for married debtors.

The homestead exemption is set by RCW 6.13. It protects equity in your primary home up to the median sale price of a single-family home in Pierce County at the time you file. In the Tacoma and greater Pierce County area, median home prices are substantial, and this exemption provides meaningful protection for homeowners with equity. You must actually live in the home for the exemption to apply. If you own a home and have equity, it is especially important to review the homestead exemption before you file, because the amount changes based on current market conditions in your county.

Choosing between state and federal exemptions, and deciding how to apply the wildcard, can make a real difference in what you keep after bankruptcy. A licensed bankruptcy attorney in the Tacoma area can help you plan this before you file.

Legal Help for Pierce County Residents

Pierce County has several strong legal resources for people considering bankruptcy. The county's size and population means more local options than you find in smaller rural counties.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association runs a Volunteer Legal Services program with a Bankruptcy Clinic held on the last Monday of each month at the Pierce County Law Library. Call (253) 572-5134 or visit tacomaprobono.org for scheduling and eligibility information. The Bar Association also operates a Lawyer Referral Service at (253) 383-3432 if you want to find a paid attorney for a private consultation. Consumer Credit Counseling is available at (253) 588-1858 for people who want to explore budget-based options before deciding whether to file.

CLEAR, the Coordinated Legal Education, Advice, and Referral program, offers free civil legal help to low-income residents. Call 888-201-1014 from outside King County, which includes Pierce County callers. The Northwest Justice Project at nwjustice.org also serves Pierce County residents with free legal assistance, and its online intake system is available statewide. The Office of Civil Legal Aid at ocla.wa.gov connects filers to additional regional resources. The Washington State Bar Association's legal help page at wsba.org/for-the-public/find-legal-help lets you search by practice area and location for attorneys serving Pierce County. Pierce County's own legal assistance resource list is at piercecountywa.gov/525.

The U.S. Trustee Program at justice.gov/ust oversees bankruptcy cases nationally. It does not give legal advice to individual filers but does handle complaints about fraud, misconduct, or abuse in bankruptcy proceedings. If you have concerns about how a trustee or attorney has handled your case, the Trustee is the right contact.

Cities in Pierce County

Pierce County includes several cities with pages on this site. All bankruptcy cases from any Pierce County city or community are filed through the Western District of Washington court in Tacoma.

• Tacoma — county seat and largest city, home to the federal bankruptcy courthouse
• Lakewood
• Puyallup
• South Hill
• Spanaway
• Frederickson
• Graham
• Parkland
• University Place

Nearby Counties

Pierce County borders several counties in western Washington. If you need records from a neighboring county, use these links.