Bankruptcy Records in Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County is the most populous county in Utah with over 1.2 million residents. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Utah is physically located in Salt Lake City, making Salt Lake County the primary filing location for all Utah bankruptcy cases. Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 filings for Salt Lake County residents are searchable through PACER. State court records are available through XChange. This page explains how to find Salt Lake County bankruptcy filings, obtain case documents, and access court resources.
Salt Lake County Quick Facts
U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Salt Lake County
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Utah is located at 350 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. This is the central filing location for all bankruptcy cases across the entire state of Utah. Because Salt Lake County is home to the court itself, filers here have the advantage of in-person access that residents of other Utah counties do not.
The court's main phone number is 801-524-6687. Chief Judge Honorable Peggy Hunt presides over the District of Utah. David A. Sime serves as Clerk of Court. The court accepts Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 filings from Salt Lake County residents and businesses.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Utah website provides local rules, filing guides, fee schedules, and trustee information. Salt Lake County filers should review these materials before submitting any case documents to the court.
Note: The Pro Bono Assistance Program operates at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Salt Lake City and provides free legal guidance to qualifying filers who cannot afford an attorney. Contact the court at 801-524-6687 for details on eligibility.
Salt Lake County Clerk and Court Records
The Salt Lake County Clerk is located at 2001 South State St., Suite S1200, Salt Lake City, UT 84190. The clerk's email is vote@saltlakecounty.gov. This office handles marriage records, election records, and certified copies of county documents. These records are often needed as supporting materials in a bankruptcy filing when establishing identity, listing dependents, or documenting marital property.
The Third District Court at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse handles state-level civil, family, and probate matters for Salt Lake County. The courthouse address is 450 S. State St., Salt Lake City, UT 84111, and the main number is 801-238-7300. State court records, including civil judgments, can be relevant to bankruptcy cases because creditors often obtain judgments before debtors file for protection.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney case lookup tool allows you to search felony, misdemeanor, civil, family, and probate matters in the Third District Court. This is useful for verifying whether a Salt Lake County debtor has open criminal or civil cases that may affect a bankruptcy proceeding.
Search Salt Lake County Bankruptcy Cases on PACER
PACER is the federal system for accessing bankruptcy court records. You can search Salt Lake County filings at the PACER login page for the District of Utah. Once logged in, you can search by debtor name, case number, or Social Security Number partial match. PACER shows docket entries, filed documents, and case status for all open and closed Salt Lake County bankruptcy cases.
Registration at pacer.uscourts.gov is required. PACER charges $0.10 per page. Quarterly bills under $30 are typically waived. For registration assistance or account questions, call the PACER Service Center at 800-676-6856.
Salt Lake County has the highest volume of bankruptcy filings in Utah due to its large population. Searching PACER is the most reliable way to find current or recent Salt Lake County bankruptcy records.
Note: Because the Bankruptcy Court is physically in Salt Lake City, in-person PACER terminal access is available at the courthouse for researchers who prefer not to use a personal account. Public terminals are available at 350 S Main St during court business hours.
XChange Access for Salt Lake County Court Records
XChange, the Utah Courts online records system, is accessible directly at utcourts.gov/xchange. This system covers state court case indexes for all Utah districts, including the Third District serving Salt Lake County. You can search civil, family, and probate case records without a federal PACER account.
The Utah State Law Library at the Matheson Courthouse, 450 S State St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, offers free XChange access to the public. This is a valuable resource for Salt Lake County residents who want to search court records in person without incurring per-search fees. The library also provides reference assistance for navigating bankruptcy-related records.
Note: XChange covers state court records only. Federal bankruptcy filings for Salt Lake County are not in XChange. Use PACER for all federal bankruptcy case records.
Getting Salt Lake County Bankruptcy Documents
The court's Obtaining Case Information page outlines all available methods for pulling Salt Lake County bankruptcy records. Options include PACER, in-person terminal access at the courthouse, and the McVCIS automated phone line at 866-222-8029, extension 83. McVCIS provides free automated case status updates and is available around the clock.
CHAPMobile is a mobile-friendly case status tool available through the court. Salt Lake County residents can check case status from a phone or tablet without logging into PACER. For document copies, visit the court clerk at 350 S Main St or request them through PACER.
For older closed Salt Lake County bankruptcy cases, the Utah State Archives holds records transferred from the court after local retention periods expire.
Salt Lake County generates a large volume of filings each year. Some older cases may have been transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration. The court clerk can confirm whether a specific Salt Lake County case is still held locally.
Bankruptcy Chapters Filed in Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County residents and businesses file under four primary chapters of the Bankruptcy Code. Chapter 7 is the most common. It allows individuals to discharge most unsecured debts after a trustee reviews and liquidates non-exempt assets. Most Chapter 7 cases in Salt Lake County close within a few months of filing.
Chapter 13 allows individuals with regular income to repay debts under a three-to-five-year court-approved plan. This chapter is popular in Salt Lake County among homeowners who want to catch up on mortgage arrears and keep their property. Chapter 11 is used for business reorganization and for individuals with very high debt loads. Several Salt Lake County businesses have used Chapter 11 to restructure and continue operations.
Chapter 12 is designed for family farmers and fishermen. While less common in Salt Lake County than in more rural parts of Utah, it is available to qualifying filers. The court handles all chapters at the same location at 350 S Main St.
- Chapter 7: Debt discharge through asset liquidation
- Chapter 11: Reorganization for businesses and high-debt individuals
- Chapter 12: Repayment plans for family farmers and fishermen
- Chapter 13: Wage earner repayment plans over three to five years
The Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure govern all filings in Salt Lake County. Rule 5003 addresses how court records are maintained and made public. All case documents filed in Salt Lake County are kept according to these federal rules.
National Case Locator for Salt Lake County Research
The PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov is a national search tool covering all federal district and bankruptcy courts. Researchers checking whether a Salt Lake County resident has filed in another state can use the Case Locator to search all districts at once. Results include the court location, case number, and filing date.
A PACER login is needed to view full results. The Case Locator is especially useful for creditors or attorneys handling Salt Lake County matters who need to verify no prior filings exist in other jurisdictions. The search interface accepts partial name matches and Social Security Number fragments.
The Utah Courts directory at utcourts.gov/directory lists all state courts and their contact information. Salt Lake County researchers can use this to find the right state court office for records that fall outside the federal bankruptcy system.
Note: GRAMA, the Government Records Access and Management Act under Utah Code 63G-2, governs public access to state agency records in Salt Lake County. Requests for records not available online may be submitted as formal GRAMA requests to the relevant county or state office.
Cities in Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County includes many cities and municipalities. All bankruptcy filings for Salt Lake County residents, regardless of city, are filed at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court at 350 S Main St in Salt Lake City.
Nearby Counties
Salt Lake County borders several other Utah counties. Residents in those counties also file bankruptcy through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court at 350 S Main St in Salt Lake City, the sole federal bankruptcy court for all of Utah.