Centerton Bankruptcy Records Lookup

Bankruptcy records for Centerton are filed at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Arkansas, Fayetteville division. Centerton is in Benton County, and the Benton County Circuit Clerk maintains state court records that can relate to federal bankruptcy cases. This page covers how to find filings and access relevant records.

Federal Bankruptcy Court for Centerton

Centerton is one of the fastest-growing cities in Arkansas, located in central Benton County. All bankruptcy filings for Centerton residents and businesses go to the Western District of Arkansas court. The district's main office is at 30 South 6th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901. Phone: 1-833-853-0345. The Fayetteville division serves Benton County and is closer to Centerton.

The Western District court handles Chapter 7 liquidations, Chapter 13 wage earner plans, Chapter 11 business reorganizations, and Chapter 12 family farmer cases. The court's website at www.arwd.uscourts.gov has divisional office contact information, local rules, and forms for filers. Attorneys use the CM/ECF electronic system for all filings. Self-represented filers use paper forms.

Centerton Bankruptcy Records on PACER

PACER is the right tool for searching federal bankruptcy case filings. Register for free at pacer.uscourts.gov. Each page viewed costs $0.10, with no charge in quarters where total fees stay under $30.

Log into PACER and select Western District of Arkansas - Bankruptcy Court. Search by the debtor's name or business name. Filter by filing date if needed. Results show all matching cases with case numbers, chapter types, and filing dates. Click through to the docket to download any document in the case file. Case records are public unless sealed by court order.

The City of Centerton's official website, shown below, provides access to city government services, municipal court information, and public records requests for local matters.

The city's municipal court handles local traffic and ordinance cases. Federal bankruptcy filings are entirely separate and found only through PACER and the Western District court.

Benton County Circuit Clerk Records

The Benton County Circuit Clerk maintains state court records for all Centerton residents and businesses. The clerk's office is at 102 NE A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712. Phone: 479-271-1015. The official website is bentoncircuitclerk.com.

Benton County's records search portal at bentoncircuitclerk.com/search-records allows searching court records, real estate filings, and other recorded documents by name or document type. These state records often overlap with federal bankruptcy cases. Property liens, civil judgments, and domestic relations orders in Benton County may all appear as assets or liabilities in a Centerton bankruptcy case.

For certified copies of state records, contact the circuit clerk's office directly. In-person and mail requests are accepted. Fees apply depending on the type and number of pages requested.

Centerton Municipal Court and City Records

Centerton has its own municipal court that meets on the third Tuesday of every month. The court handles traffic violations, city ordinance cases, and misdemeanor matters. Court address is 200 Municipal Dr., Centerton, AR 72719. Phone: 479-795-2750. Online payments are accepted at www.myfinepayment.com or by calling 877-591-8768. The court page is at centertonar.us.

The Court Clerk email is courtclerk@centertoncourt.com for direct inquiries. The City Clerk and Recorder/Treasurer handles public records for city business. The City Council page at centertonar.us provides contact information for city government. These local offices manage city records only - federal bankruptcy filings require contact with the Western District court.

Centerton Bankruptcy Filing Documents

When a Centerton resident or business files for bankruptcy, the case generates a set of required documents. All are public unless sealed.

• Bankruptcy petition: States the debtor's name, address, and chapter type. Filed first to open the case.
• Property schedules: Lists real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, household goods, and all other property.
• Debt schedules: Separates secured debts (tied to collateral) from unsecured debts (credit cards, medical bills).
• Income and expense schedules: Shows monthly cash flow to help determine eligibility and payment ability.
• Statement of Financial Affairs: Documents recent income, transfers, and pre-filing payments to creditors.
• Means test: Used in Chapter 7 cases to verify income is below the Arkansas state median.
• Creditor matrix: Mailing list of all creditors who receive case notices.
• 341 meeting of creditors notice: Date and location of the required meeting with the trustee.
• Final order: Discharge, dismissal, or plan confirmation by the judge.

Arkansas Bankruptcy Exemptions for Centerton Filers

Arkansas exemptions determine what property you can keep when you file for bankruptcy. These rules are set by state law and apply to all Western District filers, including those from Centerton.

The homestead exemption protects your primary residence. Urban homesteads qualify up to one acre. The value protected is $2,500. Rural homesteads may be up to 160 acres at the same $2,500 cap. If your home has more equity than that, a Chapter 7 trustee may consider whether to sell it to pay creditors. Most Centerton filers with homes worth far more than $2,500 need to plan carefully.

Personal property protection is limited. Married filers can exempt up to $500 in personal property. Single filers are limited to $200. Social Security benefits are fully exempt. So are workers compensation payments. Public employee retirement funds also carry protection under Arkansas law.

Chapter 7 works best for filers with low income and few assets. It takes 4 to 6 months and eliminates most unsecured debt. Chapter 13 suits filers who have regular income and want to keep secured property. A repayment plan runs 3 to 5 years. Both types appear on PACER as public records once filed.

Copying Bankruptcy Records and In-Person Access

PACER is the most common way to get copies of bankruptcy documents. But you can also request paper copies in person or by mail from the Western District clerk's offices.

Paper copies cost $0.50 per page. If you need a certified copy, add $12 to the base copy cost. Exemplified copies, which carry an extra level of authentication, cost an additional $24. Audio recordings of hearings run $34 per recording. These fees apply at all Western District locations including Fort Smith.

The Western District headquarters is at 30 South 6th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901. That is the closest full-service clerk's office for Centerton residents. The Fayetteville divisional office at 35 E. Mountain Street, Room 316, Fayetteville, AR 72701, phone (479) 582-9800, is even closer. Note that the Fayetteville location does not accept cash. Mail payments to the Fort Smith address.

For a quick automated case status check by phone, call 1-866-222-8029. The Multi-Court Voice Case Information System gives basic case information 24 hours a day. You need the case number to use it. For help with your PACER account, call the PACER Service Center at (800) 676-6856.

Nearby Cities

Centerton is surrounded by other Benton County cities in the Western District. All of these have bankruptcy record pages on this site.

• Bentonville - Benton County, Western District
• Rogers - Benton County, Western District
• Bella Vista - Benton County, Western District
• Siloam Springs - Benton County, Western District
• Fayetteville - Washington County, Western District