Find Bankruptcy Records in Madison County
Madison County bankruptcy records are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Arkansas and are available to the public through PACER. This page covers how to search for bankruptcy filings, contact the Circuit Clerk in Huntsville, and access related state court records for Madison County.
Madison County at a Glance
Western District Bankruptcy Court Serving Madison County
Madison County is part of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Arkansas. The main courthouse is at 30 South 6th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901, and the court phone number is 1-833-853-0345. All bankruptcy cases for Madison County individuals and businesses are filed through this court, whether by Chapter 7, Chapter 11, or Chapter 13.
Attorneys use the CM/ECF system to submit all filings electronically. People without legal counsel must file paper documents at the Fort Smith courthouse. After a case is filed and assigned a number, all documents become public record on PACER. The Western District uses NextGen CM/ECF, which went live in December 2001, and maintains a large electronic archive of closed and active cases.
The court also maintains a Fayetteville divisional office at 35 E. Mountain Street, Room 316, Fayetteville, AR 72701, phone 479-582-9800. This location is more convenient for residents of Madison County than the Fort Smith courthouse. Note that cash is not accepted in Fayetteville, so payment arrangements should use the Little Rock or Fort Smith mailing address.
Madison County Circuit Clerk
The Madison County Circuit Clerk is Tiffany McDaniel. The office is at PO Box 37, Huntsville, AR 72740. Phone: (479) 738-2747. The Circuit Clerk for Madison County maintains state court records for the 4th Judicial District, which covers civil, criminal, domestic relations, and juvenile cases heard at the state level.
The Circuit Clerk also serves as the recorder of deeds for Madison County. Real estate documents, including deeds, mortgages, and liens, are recorded here. These records are often relevant in a bankruptcy case, since the trustee will review all encumbrances on any real property owned by the debtor. A title search at the Circuit Clerk's office can reveal all recorded interests in a property.
The County Clerk for Madison County is Austin Boatright. The County Clerk handles probate court records, marriage licenses, voter registration, and quorum court minutes. Phone: (479) 738-2747. For an estate matter that intersects with a bankruptcy case, the County Clerk's probate records would be the right starting point.
The Madison County Circuit Clerk and Recorder's website provides access to court records and land records maintained by the clerk's office in Huntsville.
Search Madison County Bankruptcy Cases on PACER
PACER is the federal system for accessing court records. To get started, register at pacer.uscourts.gov. Registration is free. After setting up an account, select the Western District of Arkansas Bankruptcy Court to search for Madison County cases. You can search by the debtor's name, case number, or Social Security number (last four digits only in public searches).
Document access on PACER costs $0.10 per page, with a maximum of $3.00 per single document. Quarterly charges under $30 are not billed, making it free for light users. For most searches involving a single case, costs are minimal. The PACER Service Center is available at (800) 676-6856 on weekdays.
The PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov provides a way to search all federal courts at once. If you do not know where a bankruptcy was filed, start here. It updates daily and can return results from both active and closed cases across every federal district in the country.
State Court Records for Madison County
The Arkansas CourtConnect system at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the free public portal for state circuit court records. You can search Madison County civil, criminal, and domestic relations records by party name or case number. The system is maintained by the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts and covers cases handled in the 4th Judicial District.
CourtConnect is separate from PACER and does not include federal bankruptcy filings. However, state court records often intersect with bankruptcy. Civil judgments from Madison County state courts will show up as debts in a debtor's bankruptcy schedules. Searching both systems gives a fuller picture of a person's legal and financial record.
For in-person access to state court records, go to the Circuit Clerk's office in Huntsville during business hours. The clerk can assist with finding specific cases, making copies, and issuing certified documents. Fees for copies and certification are set by state law and confirmed by the clerk at the time of request.
The Madison County government website provides information on the 4th Judicial District Circuit Court that serves Madison County, including court schedules and contact details.
What Madison County Bankruptcy Records Include
A bankruptcy case file in the Western District contains the original petition, all schedules of assets and debts, the debtor's statement of financial affairs, and any amendments filed during the case. Creditor claims filed by lenders and other parties are also part of the record. All of this is public under federal law.
The petition identifies the debtor by name, address, and county of residence. It states the chapter of bankruptcy filed and provides basic financial data. The schedules list every asset from real estate to bank accounts and every debt from mortgages to credit cards. This level of detail is part of the public record for anyone who searches PACER.
Sensitive personal data, like a debtor's full Social Security number, is redacted. But the bulk of the case file, including the discharge order, is fully public. The discharge order confirms that the court has released the debtor from eligible debts and is one of the most-searched documents in bankruptcy records.
The Madison County Court Records portal allows users to search public records from the circuit court, which may complement a federal bankruptcy record search.
Nearby Counties
Madison County is in northwest Arkansas. Neighboring counties also fall under the Western District for bankruptcy purposes.