Find Bankruptcy Records in Washington County
Washington County bankruptcy records are maintained by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Utah. St. George is the county seat and the largest city in the county. Washington County is the fastest-growing county in Utah, and its residents file bankruptcy cases in the same federal district as all other Utah counties. PACER is the primary tool to search Washington County bankruptcy filings online. The Fifth District Court in St. George handles related state matters at 435-986-5700.
Washington County Quick Facts
Washington County Bankruptcy Court Overview
Bankruptcy filings for Washington County go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Utah. The court is located at 350 S Main Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. The clerk's office number is 801-524-6687. Chief Judge Peggy Hunt leads the district, and Clerk of Court David A. Sime oversees the administrative functions. All Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, and Chapter 13 petitions filed by Washington County residents are processed through this federal court.
Washington County sits in the far southwestern corner of Utah. Distance from Salt Lake City does not change which court handles your case. The federal district covers the entire state of Utah, so St. George and all other Washington County communities file in the same court as residents of Salt Lake or Davis counties.
The main court website at utb.uscourts.gov has forms, local rules, and contact details. Attorneys who represent Washington County debtors file electronically through the court's CM/ECF system. Pro se filers can also submit petitions directly to the clerk in Salt Lake City.
PACER Search for Washington County Cases
PACER is the federal court's public access portal. It holds the complete docket for every Washington County bankruptcy case filed in the District of Utah. You can see every motion, filing, order, and hearing date in any case. PACER requires a registered account but is free to sign up.
The image below comes from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court's public access information page, which covers how to use PACER to find Washington County and statewide Utah bankruptcy records.
Registered PACER users who spend less than $30 per quarter are not charged. For heavier use, the per-page fee applies. To register or log in, go to pacer.uscourts.gov. You can search Washington County cases by debtor name, business name, case number, or Social Security number. The PACER support line is 800-676-6856.
Note: PACER document fees do not apply to certain case-related notices and orders, so checking the fee schedule before downloading large files helps Washington County users manage costs.
Washington City Justice Court and Local Records
Washington City has its own justice court that handles local matters in Washington County. Court is held on Thursdays starting at 3:00 PM. Starting July 1, 2026, the court time moves to 9:00 AM on Thursdays. The court handles traffic violations, misdemeanors, and small claims cases for Washington City residents.
The screenshot below comes from the Washington City government website, which describes the services offered by the Washington City Justice Court.
Video court is available via Webex for people who live outside Washington County. This option allows remote appearances without traveling to the courthouse. For efiling, the court uses the MyCase system. The Washington County Justice Court can be reached at 435-634-5728. While the justice court does not handle bankruptcy matters, it does process small claims and civil debt cases that may relate to a debtor's financial situation in Washington County.
The Fifth District Court at 435-986-5700 handles larger civil and felony matters in Washington County. Both courts are part of the Utah state court system, which is separate from the federal bankruptcy court. State court records for Washington County appear in XChange and through the Utah Courts MyCase portal.
Utah Courts MyCase Portal for Washington County
The Utah Courts MyCase portal gives parties free access to their own case information. Washington County residents can log in to view filings, hearing dates, and orders in their state court cases. MyCase is available at utcourts.gov/mycase.
The image below is from the Utah Courts MyCase portal, which is used by parties in Washington County and across the state to access their court records online.
MyCase is free for registered parties to view their own records. Public searches on MyCase are limited. For full docket access across all Washington County state cases, the Utah Courts XChange subscription service provides broader search capability. Attorneys and researchers use XChange to track filings, judgments, and case histories in the Fifth District Court.
Note: MyCase handles state court records only. For Washington County federal bankruptcy filings, use PACER at pacer.uscourts.gov.
Utah Courts Forms and Washington County Resources
The Utah Courts system provides online forms for a range of legal matters in Washington County. The forms section at utcourts.gov/howto/divorce is one example of the self-help resources available to Washington County residents through the state court website.
The image below is from the Utah Courts forms page, which Washington County residents can use to find documents needed for state court matters in St. George and the Fifth District.
The Utah Courts website also has a court directory at utcourts.gov/directory where Washington County residents can find addresses, phone numbers, and hours for the Fifth District Court in St. George. For bankruptcy-specific forms and information, the federal court's website at utb.uscourts.gov has the official petition forms and local rules that apply to Washington County cases.
Accessing Washington County Bankruptcy Records
Washington County residents have multiple ways to access bankruptcy case records. Online access through PACER is the fastest option for current cases. The PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov provides a free national case search that can help confirm a filing exists before you pay for full document access.
For phone-based lookups, the McVCIS system gives basic case information at 866-222-8029 ext. 83. The automated system is available around the clock and does not require a PACER account. It can confirm case numbers, filing dates, and discharge status for Washington County bankruptcy filings.
In person, you can visit the U.S. Bankruptcy Court at 350 S Main Street in Salt Lake City. Public access terminals inside the court allow free PACER searches. Washington County residents who cannot travel to Salt Lake City can use any federal courthouse with a public terminal or request records by mail through the clerk's office at 801-524-6687.
Utah State Archives at archives.utah.gov may hold older Washington County government records, while very old federal bankruptcy cases are stored at the National Archives. GRAMA under Utah Code 63G-2 governs state records access, though federal bankruptcy records fall under federal court rules rather than GRAMA.
Washington County Bankruptcy Filing Types
Washington County filers can choose from several bankruptcy chapters depending on their situation. Chapter 7 is a liquidation bankruptcy that discharges most unsecured debts. Chapter 13 allows individuals with regular income to repay debts over three to five years. Chapter 11 is used primarily by businesses to reorganize debt while continuing operations. Chapter 12 is designed for family farmers and family fishermen.
Washington County has seen steady growth in population and housing values in recent years. St. George is one of the fastest-growing cities in the western United States. This growth can bring both opportunity and financial strain, making bankruptcy filings a legal option that some Washington County residents and businesses choose to pursue.
All Washington County bankruptcy cases under any chapter are accessible through PACER once filed. The federal rules of bankruptcy procedure govern how cases are processed, and you can review those rules at federalrulesofbankruptcyprocedure.org. These rules apply uniformly to every Washington County petition regardless of chapter type.
Note: Choosing the right chapter depends on your income, assets, and debt type, and a Washington County bankruptcy attorney or legal aid office can help you decide which path fits your situation.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County includes several cities and communities in southwestern Utah. All bankruptcy filings for residents of Washington County are processed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Utah in Salt Lake City.
St. George is the county seat and largest city in Washington County. It is served by the Fifth District Court for state-level matters.
Nearby Counties
Washington County borders several other Utah counties in the southwestern region of the state. All neighboring counties also fall within the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Utah. Use PACER to search for filings from any of these nearby areas.