Find Macomb County Bankruptcy Records

Macomb County bankruptcy records are filed and maintained through the Eastern District of Michigan, Detroit Division. As the third most populous county in Michigan, Macomb County generates a substantial volume of bankruptcy filings. Residents and businesses in cities like Warren, Sterling Heights, and Clinton Township all file their cases at the Detroit courthouse at 211 West Fort Street. You can search records through PACER, by phone via the free VCIS line, or in person at the courthouse.

Eastern District of Michigan - Detroit Division

Macomb County bankruptcy cases are filed in the Detroit Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The courthouse is at 211 West Fort Street in Detroit, roughly 20 to 30 miles southwest of most Macomb County communities. From Warren or Sterling Heights, the drive typically takes 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. The clerk's office phone is (313) 234-0065. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.

The Eastern District of Michigan handles all federal bankruptcy cases for Macomb County. This is a high-volume court given the size of the Detroit metropolitan area. Macomb County contributes a large share of filings across all chapter types. The court's full website at mieb.uscourts.gov provides access to the PACER login, filing guides, local rules, and information about the three divisional offices.

Macomb County itself has a county clerk office at 40 N Main St, Mt Clemens, MI 48043, reachable at (586) 469-5351. That office deals with state-level matters. It does not hold federal bankruptcy records. Bankruptcy records for Macomb County cases are exclusively in the federal system and accessed through PACER or the Detroit courthouse directly.

How to Search Macomb County Bankruptcy Cases

PACER is the primary tool for searching Macomb County bankruptcy records. Create a free account at pacer.uscourts.gov and search the Eastern District of Michigan. You can enter a debtor's name, business name, case number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. PACER returns a list of matching cases and shows the full docket for each one. Individual documents can be opened and downloaded. The fee is $0.10 per page, with a $3.00 cap per document. Any quarter where your total usage is under $30 costs you nothing.

The VCIS phone system at 866-222-8029 gives free case lookups around the clock. Call, enter the debtor's name or case number, and the system reads back the basics: chapter type, filing date, trustee name, and case status. This works well when you just need to confirm whether a case exists or is still open.

In-person access at the Detroit courthouse is another option. Public terminals in the clerk's lobby let you view the full docket and case documents for free. Printing at the terminal costs $0.10 per page. If you need copies made by the clerk or certified copies, the fees are higher. Standard copies from the clerk run $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $12.00 plus $0.50 per page.

Note: The Eastern District of Michigan also uses the CM/ECF system for case management and electronic filing. Attorneys and some pro se filers use CM/ECF to file documents directly into the case record.

What Macomb County Bankruptcy Records Include

A bankruptcy case file for a Macomb County filer contains every document submitted from the date of filing through the case's close. The petition itself is the opening document. It identifies the debtor, their address, the chapter filed under, and whether any prior bankruptcy was filed in the past eight years. Attached schedules lay out the full financial picture: real property, personal property, secured and unsecured debts, income, and living expenses.

Chapter 7 cases in Macomb County also include the means test calculation. Michigan's median income figures play into this test. If the debtor's average income exceeds the state median for their household size, they must run a more detailed analysis. The result determines whether the filer qualifies for Chapter 7 relief or must convert to Chapter 13. All of this ends up in the PACER record.

Chapter 13 case files are especially detailed because the case runs three to five years. You will find the repayment plan, any plan modifications, payment history summaries from the trustee, creditor claims, and objections. Motions to dismiss or convert are also common in Chapter 13 cases when a debtor falls behind on payments. Each of those filings adds to the docket record available through PACER.

Macomb County Bankruptcy Filing Fees

Filing fees in the Eastern District of Michigan are set by Congress and apply uniformly at all divisional offices. Macomb County filers pay the same fees as anyone else in the district. Chapter 7 costs $338 to file. Chapter 13 costs $313. Chapter 11 carries a higher fee. These fees are paid at the time you file your petition. The court accepts payment by cashier's check, money order, or through the attorney's account if an attorney is filing electronically.

If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may apply for a fee waiver or an installment payment arrangement. The application for a fee waiver is reviewed by the court. Approval is based on income relative to federal poverty guidelines. Not everyone qualifies, but the option exists for those in financial hardship. Fee waiver forms are available from the clerk's office and on the Eastern District's website.

Michigan Exemptions for Macomb County Filers

Macomb County bankruptcy filers can choose either the Michigan state exemption set or the federal bankruptcy exemptions. Most choose Michigan because the homestead protection is stronger for local homeowners. MCL 600.5451 allows up to $46,125 in home equity to be protected from creditors in a Chapter 7 case. Many Macomb County homeowners have equity within or close to this range, making the exemption a critical factor in deciding whether to file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.

MCL 600.6023 covers other personal property exemptions under Michigan law. This includes household goods, a vehicle up to a set dollar amount, qualifying retirement account balances, and tools of the trade. Pension plans from public employers and many private qualified plans receive separate protection under federal law regardless of which exemption set is chosen. Macomb County filers with substantial retirement savings often find that those funds are well-protected even in a Chapter 7 liquidation case.

The Eastern District of Michigan court locations page lists the Detroit Division address and contact information for Macomb County filers planning to visit or reach the clerk by phone.

The Detroit Division processes all Macomb County bankruptcy filings and maintains these case records in the federal court's electronic system.

The Eastern District of Michigan Bankruptcy Court homepage provides access to PACER, filing guides, local rules, and the court calendar for all three divisional offices including Detroit, where Macomb County cases are filed.

From the homepage you can navigate to PACER registration, case filing resources, and the court locations page that covers the Detroit Division serving Macomb County.

Cities in Macomb County

Macomb County has several large communities. The cities below meet the population threshold and have individual pages on this site. All of them file bankruptcy cases at the Detroit Division of the Eastern District of Michigan.

Other communities in Macomb County including Roseville, Eastpointe, Chesterfield Township, and St. Clair Shores also file at the Detroit Division.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Macomb County. All are in the Eastern District of Michigan for bankruptcy purposes.