Marion County Bankruptcy Records
Marion County bankruptcy records are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Chattanooga Southern Division. Residents and businesses in Jasper and across Marion County file their cases through the Chattanooga courthouse, and all records are available to the public via PACER, the court's website, and a free automated phone system. This page explains how to find those records and what information they contain.
Marion County Bankruptcy Quick Facts
Eastern District Court, Chattanooga Division
Marion County is part of the Chattanooga Southern Division of the Eastern District of Tennessee. The courthouse address is 31 East 11th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402. The phone number for the clerk's office is (423) 752-5163. The court's website is at tneb.uscourts.gov, where you can access local rules, download forms, and find the current fee schedule. The Eastern District also has courthouses in Knoxville and Greeneville, but Marion County cases go through Chattanooga.
Jasper, the county seat of Marion County, sits on the Tennessee River just southeast of the county's main population areas. Marion County is known for its Sequatchie Valley geography and has a mix of rural residents and small-town communities. Most bankruptcy cases filed here are individual filings, and they all route through the Chattanooga federal courthouse.
If you need to visit the Chattanooga courthouse to pull physical records, request certified copies, or check on a case in person, call ahead to confirm current hours. Bring a valid photo ID and your case number if available. The clerk's staff can help locate records for older cases that may not be fully digitized.
Creditor meetings for Marion County cases take place in Chattanooga. These 341 meetings are held in a separate meeting room at or near the courthouse. They are a required step in every bankruptcy case and are conducted by the trustee, not a judge.
Searching Marion County Cases Through PACER
The PACER system is the main tool for searching bankruptcy records online. Create a free account and then select the Eastern District of Tennessee to look up Marion County filings.
You can search by debtor name, case number, or Social Security number last four digits. Results show the case type, filing date, assigned judge and trustee, and a full docket of all events in the case. Documents filed electronically are usually available in PACER within a day or two of submission.
The cost is 10 cents per page. No document costs more than $3. If your quarterly usage stays under $30, the fee is waived. For most one-time searches, you will pay little or nothing. The PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov lets you search all federal courts at once, which is useful if you are not sure which district holds a particular case.
The Case Locator is especially helpful when you know the debtor's name but are unsure whether they filed in Tennessee or another state. Enter the name and choose Tennessee to narrow results. Each match links directly to the court that holds the case.
Eastern District Website and Free Phone Access
The Eastern District Bankruptcy Court website is the official online hub for Marion County filings and all cases in this district. It provides links to PACER, the court's local rules, required forms, a fee schedule, and general guidance for filers and creditors.
The site also lists approved credit counseling and debtor education providers, both of which are required in every bankruptcy case filed in this district. Forms on the site include the petition, all financial schedules, and instructions for filers who do not have an attorney.
For free phone access, call the VCIS line at 866-222-8029 and press extension 813 for the Eastern District. VCIS is available 24 hours a day. It will read back basic case details including filing date, chapter, and current status when you provide a case number or the debtor's name. No account is needed and there is no charge for calls.
What a Marion County Bankruptcy File Contains
Every Marion County bankruptcy case includes the petition, which identifies the debtor and the chapter filed under. The petition is followed by financial schedules that list all assets and debts. Schedule A covers real property. Schedule B covers personal property. Schedule C identifies what the debtor claims as exempt from creditor reach. Schedules D through F list secured, priority, and unsecured creditors along with amounts owed.
A statement of financial affairs is required in every case and covers income over the past two years, recent property transfers, any lawsuits filed against the debtor, and other financial events. Chapter 7 cases also include a trustee report. Chapter 13 cases include the repayment plan, any amendments, and the court's confirmation order.
Federal law under 11 U.S.C. Section 107 makes most of these documents public. Full Social Security numbers do not appear in public filings. Financial account numbers are shown only as the last four digits. Judges can seal portions of a record in specific circumstances, but the sealed entry still appears on the docket. Archived Marion County cases can be requested through NARA at archives.gov/research/court-records.
Filing Fees and Chapter Types in Marion County
Chapter 7 carries a $338 filing fee and is the most common type for individuals in Marion County. The trustee reviews assets, and if none are available for creditors, a no-asset report is filed and the case moves toward discharge. Chapter 13 costs $313 and uses a court-approved repayment plan lasting three to five years. Chapter 11 costs $1,717 and is designed for businesses or individuals with complex debts above the Chapter 13 limits.
Filers who cannot pay the full fee at once may request installments. For Chapter 7 only, those below 150 percent of the federal poverty line may apply for a complete waiver using Form 103B. The form must be submitted with the petition. The court will rule on the waiver request separately.
The automatic stay begins the moment a case is filed. Creditor calls must stop. Wage garnishments pause. Foreclosure actions are put on hold. The stay applies to all collection activity directed at the debtor, both secured and unsecured. Creditors who need to continue a specific action must ask the court for relief from the stay by filing a motion. Marion County residents should also know that domestic support obligations, like child support and alimony, are not stopped by the stay.
Both a credit counseling course (before filing) and a debtor education course (before discharge) are mandatory. Both must come from providers approved by the U.S. Trustee Program. Completion certificates must be filed with the court.
Nearby Counties
Marion County borders several southeast Tennessee counties. Some are also in the Eastern District Chattanooga Division; check each page for details.