Washington County Bankruptcy Records
Washington County bankruptcy cases are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Northeastern Division, which serves this county from its Greeneville courthouse. This page explains how to search those records, what documents are in a typical file, how to reach the court for copies or in-person help, and what costs apply when filing or accessing case documents.
Washington County Bankruptcy Quick Facts
Eastern District Court, Northeastern Division
Washington County is served by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Northeastern Division. The Greeneville courthouse at 220 W. Depot Street, Suite 218, Greeneville, TN 37743, handles all bankruptcy filings for this county. The clerk's office can be reached at (423) 787-0113. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call ahead before visiting to confirm hours and any current requirements for in-person service.
Jonesborough is Washington County's county seat and one of Tennessee's oldest towns. Johnson City, the county's largest city, is also served by the Greeneville courthouse. The drive from Johnson City or Jonesborough to Greeneville is roughly 30 to 35 miles. In-person filings and hearings all take place in Greeneville. Attorneys use CM/ECF for electronic submissions. Self-represented filers may appear in person or mail documents to the clerk's office.
The Eastern District's website at tneb.uscourts.gov lists local rules, required forms, judge procedures, and trustee information. It also explains how to apply for a Chapter 7 fee waiver and how to request an installment payment plan. If you are researching cases or planning to file without a lawyer, reviewing the site before you begin helps you understand what the court requires.
Washington County is one of the larger counties in the Northeastern Division, with Johnson City contributing a high share of the division's bankruptcy filings. Trustees assigned to Washington County cases are experienced in handling consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 matters as well as small business Chapter 11 cases from the region.
Searching Washington County Bankruptcy Cases
PACER is the primary tool for searching federal bankruptcy records. Register free at pacer.uscourts.gov. Once logged in, go to the Eastern District of Tennessee and search by debtor name, case number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. Each page of results costs 10 cents, with a $3 cap per document. Quarterly charges under $30 are not billed at all.
The PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov searches all federal courts at once. This is the right first step if you are not certain which district holds a case. Enter a name and filter by Tennessee. Results show the district, case number, and filing date, with a direct link to the full record in PACER. For Washington County cases, the Eastern District is correct, but the locator confirms it quickly before you do a detailed search.
For free phone-based lookups, the Voice Case Information System runs 24 hours a day. Call 866-222-8029 and press extension 813 for the Eastern District. Enter a name or case number on your phone keypad to get case status, filing dates, hearing times, and trustee assignments. VCIS provides basic case facts only. It does not give document access. It is a fast, no-cost way to confirm a case number before you pull the full docket in PACER.
Cases filed before the court switched to electronic records may not appear in PACER. The National Archives holds older closed federal court files. For historical Washington County cases, visit archives.gov/research/court-records to find the request process and the right NARA facility.
Washington County Sessions Court and Local Records
The Washington County Sessions Court handles state-level civil and criminal matters, which are separate from federal bankruptcy filings. Sessions court records can be relevant when researching civil judgments, small claims, or other legal activity that may connect to a bankruptcy case. Contacting the court directly is the best way to get specific case information.
The Washington County Sessions Court information is available through the county's official site at washingtoncountytn.org/271/Sessions-Court.
State circuit and sessions court records cover state-level cases only. Federal bankruptcy records are a separate system accessed through PACER and the Greeneville courthouse. When researching a person or business in Washington County, checking both sources provides the fullest view of any open legal matters.
The Eastern District bankruptcy court portal gives access to all federal bankruptcy cases filed for Washington County residents and businesses. You can search by chapter, filing date, case status, and party name.
The Eastern District site links to judge calendars, form downloads, trustee contacts, and local rule updates. If you are researching a Washington County case from petition to discharge, the CM/ECF docket viewer tracks every entry in the case record.
What Washington County Bankruptcy Records Include
A bankruptcy case file is a public record. The petition opens the case and names the debtor, chapter, and filing date. Schedules detail all assets and liabilities, income and expenses, and executory contracts. The statement of financial affairs covers the debtor's income and financial activity in the two years before filing. The creditor matrix lists every person or company owed money. These documents are filed at the start of the case and are accessible through PACER.
Chapter 7 adds the trustee's report and the discharge order when the case closes. Most individual Chapter 7 cases are no-asset cases where nothing is sold and discharge comes within three to five months. Chapter 13 files include a proposed repayment plan, the court's confirmation order, and payment records over the plan period. Chapter 11 cases, mainly for businesses, include a disclosure statement and a reorganization plan that creditors vote on.
Some information is restricted. Social Security numbers appear with only the last four digits visible. Bank account numbers are similarly masked. Judges may seal specific records by court order. The Greeneville clerk can advise on what is available when you call before pulling records in PACER.
Once the court issues a discharge order, it becomes part of the public record. The order states which debts were eliminated and which were not. Non-dischargeable debts, such as child support, alimony, recent taxes, and student loans, survive the bankruptcy and remain the debtor's responsibility.
Filing Fees, Chapters, and Automatic Stay
Federal filing fees are the same in all Tennessee districts. Chapter 7 is $338. Chapter 13 is $313. Chapter 11 runs $1,717. Fees are due at the time of filing. Chapter 7 filers whose income falls below 150 percent of the federal poverty guideline may apply for a full fee waiver. Any filer can request an installment payment plan by submitting a motion before or with the petition.
Chapter 7 provides a discharge of most unsecured debts after the trustee reviews assets. Most individual Chapter 7 cases in Washington County are no-asset cases. Discharge comes in three to five months after the filing date. Chapter 13 suits people with steady income who want to keep secured property like a home at risk of foreclosure. The plan runs three to five years and requires court confirmation before payments begin. Chapter 11 is mainly for businesses but available to high-debt individuals as well.
Filing triggers an automatic stay at once. Collection calls stop. Wage garnishments pause. Foreclosure actions halt. The stay remains in place until the case closes or is dismissed. Creditors who want to continue collection must file a motion for relief from stay and get court approval before they can resume. Courts can sanction creditors who ignore the stay.
PACER access costs 10 cents per page, capped at $3 per document. Certified copies must be requested directly from the Greeneville courthouse. Call (423) 787-0113 to ask about current fees for copies and how long they take to prepare.
Public Records Law and Governing Statutes
Federal bankruptcy records are public under 11 U.S.C. Section 107. The statute says all papers filed in a bankruptcy case are public records. Exceptions apply to sealed documents, personal identifiers, trade secrets in business cases, and records restricted by court order. The law strongly favors open access while letting courts protect specific sensitive information when there is a legitimate reason.
Tennessee's public records act, TCA 10-7-503, governs state and county government records including the Washington County clerk's office and state courts. It does not apply to federal bankruptcy court records. When requesting documents from the Greeneville federal courthouse, federal statute controls. When requesting records from the county clerk or a state court, TCA 10-7-503 sets the rules.
Most Washington County bankruptcy records are accessible through PACER. The main barriers are registration, the per-page fee, and the fact that some older cases require a NARA request. The Greeneville clerk can help if a standard online search doesn't find what you need.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County includes one qualifying city with its own records page.
Nearby Counties
Washington County borders several other northeast Tennessee counties, all in the Eastern District.