Access Coffee County Bankruptcy Records
Coffee County bankruptcy records are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, with all filings and hearings processed through the Nashville courthouse that serves the entire Middle District, including this south-central Tennessee county. This page describes how to search Coffee County case records using PACER, the free VCIS phone line, and the local state court portal, along with what to expect in a typical case file.
Coffee County Quick Facts
Middle District Court Serving Coffee County
All bankruptcy cases from Coffee County are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. The Nashville courthouse at 701 Broadway, Room 170, Nashville, TN 37203 is the only Middle District location, and it handles everything from receiving petitions to scheduling hearings. The clerk's office number is (615) 736-5584. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Coffee County is in the southern part of the Middle District. Filers from the Manchester area travel to Nashville for 341 creditor meetings unless a phone or video appearance is arranged. The court's website at tnmb.uscourts.gov lists all current 341 schedules and explains when remote appearances are permitted. Local rules for the Middle District are also posted on that site.
If you need certified copies of documents for a Coffee County case, you can request them in person at the Nashville courthouse or by mail. The clerk's office processes mail requests and can tell you the current cost per certified copy page when you call. Requests typically take a few business days to complete.
Coffee County Court Resources Online
The Coffee County government website provides contact information for local offices, which can help you reach the right department for state-level court matters.
This site covers county departments and is a useful starting point for finding local office addresses and phone numbers related to court records in Coffee County.
State court activity for Coffee County is searchable through the Coffee County Tennessee Courts Information System page, which covers civil and criminal state filings separate from federal bankruptcy records.
This resource is useful when you need to check for state court judgments or liens that may be connected to an ongoing or past bankruptcy case in Coffee County.
Searching Coffee County Bankruptcy Cases with PACER
To search Coffee County bankruptcy cases online, register for a free account at pacer.uscourts.gov. After logging in, select the Middle District of Tennessee from the court list. You can search by debtor name, the last four digits of a Social Security number, or a direct case number. Results show the debtor name, case number, chapter type, filing date, and assigned judge. Click into a case to view the docket and open individual documents. The cost is 10 cents per page, with a maximum of $3 per document. Quarterly totals under $30 are not billed.
The PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov lets you search across all federal districts at once. This is helpful if you are not certain a Coffee County case is in the Middle District. Search by name and state. The locator shows the filing court and case number, then links you directly to the full record. It is a good first step before logging into a specific district's PACER system.
For a no-cost phone search, call the Voice Case Information System at 866-222-8029 and press extension 816 for the Middle District. VCIS runs 24 hours a day. It provides case status, chapter type, filing date, and scheduled hearing dates by voice. You cannot view or download documents through VCIS, but it gives you enough information to confirm a case exists before you log into PACER.
Note: VCIS is best used when you already have the debtor's full name or a case number, since the automated system requires exact input to return results.
Coffee County Bankruptcy Records Contents
A Coffee County bankruptcy case file contains the original petition, which identifies the debtor, states the filing chapter, and lists the county of residence. Attached schedules detail all assets, all debts, monthly income, and monthly expenses. A separate statement of financial affairs covers recent financial activity, including transfers of property, recent payments to creditors, and any lawsuits pending at the time of filing. The full creditor matrix lists every creditor by name and address so the court can send official notices.
Chapter 7 records include the trustee's report on assets, which notes whether any non-exempt property exists to be sold. If debts are eligible for discharge and no objections are filed, the court issues a discharge order, which is the final document in the case. Chapter 13 records are more extensive. They include the repayment plan, any plan amendments, the judge's confirmation order, and a running record of payments made to the trustee.
Certain information is protected. Full Social Security numbers are not public. Account numbers are masked. Judges can seal portions of a record when public disclosure would be harmful. For older Coffee County cases not in PACER, check archives.gov/research/court-records to request records from NARA.
Coffee County Chapter Types and Filing Costs
Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are the most common options for Coffee County residents. Chapter 7 provides a discharge of most unsecured debts, including credit cards and medical bills, after a trustee reviews assets. Most individual Chapter 7 cases are resolved in four to six months. Chapter 13 lets filers keep property and repay debts over three to five years under a court-approved plan. Businesses and high-debt individuals may use Chapter 11, which is more complex and less common in rural counties.
Filing fees are $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13. Coffee County filers who cannot pay upfront may request installment payments. Those with income below 150 percent of the federal poverty level may apply for a fee waiver on Chapter 7 filings. Both options require a written request filed at the time the petition is submitted.
Nearby Counties
Coffee County borders several other Tennessee counties. Each county has its own court resources and access points for bankruptcy records.