Search Perry County Bankruptcy Records
Perry County bankruptcy records are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. This page explains how to search case filings through PACER, reach the Perry County courthouse in Perryville, and access related state court records.
Perry County at a Glance
Perry County Bankruptcy Court and Filing Information
Residents of Perry County who need to file bankruptcy do so with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The courthouse is at 300 W. 2nd Street, Little Rock, AR 72201, phone 501-918-5500. The court handles all federal bankruptcy chapters including Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, and Chapter 13. Perry County is a smaller, rural county, and most filings come from individuals seeking Chapter 7 debt relief or Chapter 13 repayment plans.
Before you can file any bankruptcy case, federal law requires you to complete an approved credit counseling course. This must happen within 180 days before your filing date. After the court grants a discharge, you also need to finish a debtor education course. Both courses can be done online. The court clerk's office can provide a list of approved agencies. Filing fees vary by chapter. Chapter 7 currently costs $338. Chapter 13 is $313. Fee waivers are available for people whose income falls below 150% of the federal poverty line.
Accessing Perry County Bankruptcy Records Through PACER
The best way to search Perry County bankruptcy records is through PACER. PACER stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. It is the federal system that holds all bankruptcy filings for the Eastern District court. You can search by debtor name, case number, or Social Security number. Each page of records costs $0.10, but if your quarterly charges total less than $30, the fees are waived.
Sign up for a PACER account at pacer.uscourts.gov. It is free to register. Once you log in, select the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. From there, run a name search or enter a case number if you have it. The results will show the chapter filed, date of filing, trustee assigned, attorney of record, and the current case status. You can also see a full list of all documents filed in the case and download them directly.
PACER is updated regularly and is the official federal record source. It is more detailed and more current than any third-party records service.
Perry County Courthouse and Circuit Clerk
The Perry County Courthouse is at 310 W Main St, Perryville, AR 72126. The main phone number is 501-889-5126. The Circuit Clerk's office at this location keeps records for the 20th Judicial Circuit. These include civil filings, criminal cases, domestic relations matters such as divorce and child custody, and probate cases. While these are not federal bankruptcy filings, they are part of the public record and may contain related information such as judgments or liens against a debtor.
If you need to check whether a judgment has been filed against someone in Perry County's state court system, contact the Circuit Clerk directly. Staff can confirm if records are on file and explain how to request copies. There may be a small fee per page for paper copies.
The image below shows central Arkansas legal resources including Perry County contact information.
This resource lists court contact numbers and local legal aid information for Perry County and nearby areas in central Arkansas.
Search Perry County Court Records Online
Arkansas CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov is the free state court search tool. It covers the 20th Judicial Circuit, which includes Perry County. You can search for civil, criminal, domestic relations, and probate cases by party name or case number. CourtConnect is a state system and does not include federal bankruptcy cases. For bankruptcy, use PACER instead. Both systems are useful when doing a full picture of someone's legal history in Perry County.
What Perry County Bankruptcy Records Show
A bankruptcy case file from the Eastern District court in Little Rock contains several key documents. The petition shows the debtor's name, address, chapter, and filing date. The schedules cover all property the debtor owns, all debts owed, and monthly income and expenses. The statement of financial affairs reports recent financial activity, including transfers and payments made before filing.
The creditor matrix is a list of all parties owed money. Once the case is assigned to a trustee, you will see trustee reports and Section 341 meeting notices in the file. If the judge grants a discharge, that order is also public. All of these records can be viewed through PACER for $0.10 per page, or free if you stay under the $30 quarterly cap.
Arkansas Bankruptcy Exemptions for Perry County Filers
When you file bankruptcy in Arkansas, state law lets you protect certain property from creditors. The homestead exemption covers up to 160 acres of land outside a city or town, or 1 acre within city limits. The value cap is $2,500 in both cases. If the federal exemption schedule would protect more of your assets, you can choose that instead. Arkansas law lets you pick one set or the other, not both. An attorney can compare the two and tell you which works better for your situation.
Under state law, all clothing is protected. So are wedding rings and tools you need for your job or trade. Heads of household and married filers can protect up to $500 in other personal property. A single person without dependents can only claim $200 in personal property. Wages earned but not yet paid are also protected from creditor claims. Government benefits including Social Security, unemployment compensation, and workers' compensation payments are exempt under both state and federal rules. These protections apply in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases alike.
How to Request Perry County Bankruptcy Records
PACER is the main tool for getting bankruptcy records. You download documents online for $0.10 per page, and if your total charges for the quarter stay under $30, no fee is billed at all. For certified copies needed for legal matters, contact the bankruptcy court clerk's office in Little Rock. Paper copies from the clerk cost $0.50 per page. Certification of a document adds $12. An exemplified copy, which carries a higher level of authentication, costs $24. These fees are set by federal law.
To request records by mail, write to U.S. Bankruptcy Court, 300 W. 2nd Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. Include the case number, the debtor's full name, a list of the documents you need, and payment by check or money order. Call 501-918-5500 before sending to confirm the right amount and processing time. You can also walk in to the clerk's office during business hours to request records in person. The Arkansas Association of Counties at arcounties.org provides county-level contacts if you need to reach other Perry County government offices.
Legal Aid and Help for Perry County Residents
Perry County is a small, rural county, and not everyone can afford a bankruptcy attorney. Legal Aid of Arkansas and the Center for Arkansas Legal Services serve central Arkansas residents who meet income guidelines. Both groups provide free legal help for qualifying individuals. The Arkansas Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service is an option if you do not qualify for free aid. Many private bankruptcy attorneys will meet with you once for free before you decide to hire them.
Filing bankruptcy on your own is allowed but not recommended without some guidance. The forms are detailed. Deadlines are firm. Missing a required step can lead to your case being dismissed without a discharge. The bankruptcy court's website at arb.uscourts.gov has local rules, required forms, and instructional materials. The court cannot give you personal legal advice, but those resources are a useful starting point for understanding what to expect before you file. For basic case status, you can also call 1-866-222-8029 to use the free 24-hour Voice Case Information System.
Nearby Counties
Perry County is surrounded by several other Arkansas counties. Bankruptcy filings for all of these counties go through the Eastern District courthouse in Little Rock.