Wayne County Bankruptcy Records

Wayne County bankruptcy records are filed and maintained at the Eastern District of Michigan Detroit Division courthouse at 211 West Fort Street in downtown Detroit. Michigan's most populous county, Wayne County is home to the headquarters of the Eastern District of Michigan Bankruptcy Court. Residents in Detroit, Dearborn, Livonia, Westland, and Canton Township can all file bankruptcy cases here and search records in person, online through PACER, or by calling the free VCIS phone line.

Eastern District of Michigan - Detroit Division

Wayne County is home to the main office of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The Detroit courthouse at 211 West Fort Street is not just the filing location for Wayne County cases; it is also the administrative center for the entire district. The clerk's office phone is (313) 234-0065. You can also reach the court by email at cmecfhelpdesk@mieb.uscourts.gov for CM/ECF related questions. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. The court's full website is at mieb.uscourts.gov.

Wayne County is Michigan's most populous county and one of the most active bankruptcy filing counties in the Midwest. The Detroit Division handles a very high volume of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases each year. Cases come from all parts of Wayne County including Detroit itself, the Downriver communities, western suburbs like Livonia and Canton Township, and the Dearborn and Westland areas. The court also handles Chapter 11 business reorganizations and Chapter 12 family farmer cases from across the county.

Wayne County has one notable entry in bankruptcy history. In 2013, the city of Detroit filed for Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy as Case No. 13-53846. At the time of filing it was the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. The case is closed and its full record is accessible through PACER. Municipal Chapter 9 filings are separate from individual and business bankruptcy cases but go through the same federal court system.

Wayne County also has a county-level records system that is entirely separate from the federal bankruptcy court. The Wayne County Clerk is located at 2 Woodward Ave, Room LL-61, Detroit, MI 48226, phone (313) 224-5530. The county's records portal at waynecountymi.gov/Services/Records provides access to state civil court records dating back to 1942. State court records and federal bankruptcy records are separate. Copy fees at the state court level are $1.50 per page for Wayne County civil records. For bankruptcy records, go to the federal court or PACER.

How to Search Wayne County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the primary tool for searching Wayne County bankruptcy records. Register for free at pacer.uscourts.gov. Log in and select the Eastern District of Michigan. Search by debtor name, business name, case number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. Given Wayne County's high filing volume, common names may return many results. Use a case number or more specific details to narrow the list. PACER provides the full docket and access to every filed document in the case. The fee is $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 per document. Charges under $30 in a calendar quarter are not billed at all.

The VCIS phone line at 866-222-8029 is free and available around the clock. It is fully automated. Enter a debtor's name or case number and the system reads back the filing date, chapter type, case status, trustee, and discharge date if applicable. No account is needed. For high-volume Wayne County cases, VCIS is a fast way to get the case number before going into PACER for full document access.

The Detroit courthouse is located in Wayne County, making in-person access easy for local residents. Public terminals in the clerk's lobby let you view case records for free during business hours. Printing at the terminal costs $0.10 per page. These terminals connect to the same data as PACER, but viewing is free. Clerk-made copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $12.00 plus $0.50 per page. Mail request details are at mieb.uscourts.gov/obtaining-copies-documents.

Note: Wayne County state court records, including civil and family matters, are at the Wayne County state court system and are not accessible through PACER. The two systems are completely separate.

What Wayne County Bankruptcy Records Include

Wayne County generates more bankruptcy case records than any other Michigan county. Every case starts with the petition and its required schedules. The schedules detail every asset owned, every debt owed, current monthly income, and monthly expenses. For Wayne County filers, the mix often reflects urban and suburban realities: homes with varying equity levels, vehicle debts, medical bills, and consumer credit. The statement of financial affairs, also required, discloses financial activity from the two years before filing.

Chapter 7 cases include the means test calculation. Wayne County has significant income variation. Some filers are well above the Michigan statewide median income; many others fall below it. The means test uses the debtor's average income over the six months before filing. Those below the median generally qualify for Chapter 7. Those above complete a more detailed analysis. The result and the underlying numbers are part of the public record accessible through PACER.

Chapter 13 cases from Wayne County are numerous. The repayment plan, any modifications, creditor proofs of claim, trustee distributions, and the final discharge all add to the docket over the three to five year plan period. Chapter 11 business reorganizations from Detroit-area companies can be especially large, with disclosure statements, creditor voting records, and reorganization plans generating hundreds of docket entries. The city of Detroit's Chapter 9 case (No. 13-53846) is accessible in PACER and represents one of the most significant bankruptcy records in the district's history, though its structure differs from standard individual and business cases.

Filing Fees and Record Costs

Bankruptcy filing fees in the Eastern District of Michigan are set by federal statute and do not vary between divisional offices. Chapter 7 costs $338 to file. Chapter 13 costs $313. These fees are paid to the clerk at the time of filing. The court accepts cashier's checks and money orders made out to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Attorneys filing electronically pay through their PACER accounts.

Fee waivers are available for individual filers who meet the income requirements. The application is submitted with the petition. If approved, the filing fee is waived entirely. Installment payment arrangements are also available with court approval for those who need to pay in smaller amounts over time. Not everyone who applies will qualify, but the option exists.

Once a case is filed, getting records has its own fee structure. PACER costs $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 per document, with quarterly charges under $30 not billed. Public terminals at the Detroit courthouse are free for viewing, with printing at $0.10 per page. Clerk-made copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $12.00 plus $0.50 per page. For Wayne County state court civil records, the separate county system charges $1.50 per page for copies.

Michigan Exemptions for Wayne County Filers

Wayne County bankruptcy filers choose between Michigan state exemptions and the federal bankruptcy exemptions when they file. The two cannot be combined. Michigan's homestead exemption under MCL 600.5451 protects up to $46,125 in home equity from liquidation in a Chapter 7 case. Wayne County has a very wide range of home values. In Detroit and some Downriver communities, homes are often worth less than in the western suburbs. For homeowners with modest equity, this exemption may fully protect their home. For those with higher equity, it may not be enough in a Chapter 7 case, making Chapter 13 a better option if they want to keep the property.

MCL 600.6023 covers personal property exemptions under Michigan law. Protected items include household goods, one vehicle up to a set value, tools used in a trade or profession, life insurance proceeds, and pension or retirement funds. Federal law provides strong independent protection for 401(k) plans, IRAs, and similar qualified retirement accounts regardless of which exemption set is chosen. Wayne County filers with rental property, investment accounts, or business assets should review how those items are classified under both Michigan and federal exemption rules before filing. A Michigan bankruptcy attorney can help identify what is at risk and what is protected.

The Eastern District of Michigan Bankruptcy Court homepage is the main starting point for all Wayne County filers and researchers. It provides access to PACER, local rules, filing guides, and court calendars for the Detroit Division.

From the homepage you can navigate to PACER registration, filing instructions, the local rules for the Eastern District, and the court locations page listing the Detroit Division serving Wayne County.

The Eastern District of Michigan court locations page lists the Detroit Division address, phone, and email for Wayne County filers planning an in-person visit or needing to reach the clerk by phone or email.

The Detroit courthouse at 211 West Fort Street is both the filing location and the public access point for Wayne County bankruptcy records, with free public terminals available during regular business hours.

The Wayne County government records portal provides access to state-level civil court records maintained at the county level, separate from federal bankruptcy records.

This portal covers state court records only. Federal bankruptcy case files are accessed through PACER or the Detroit federal courthouse, not through the Wayne County government portal.

Cities in Wayne County

Wayne County has several large cities with individual pages on this site. All file bankruptcy cases at the Detroit Division of the Eastern District of Michigan.

Other Wayne County communities including Dearborn Heights, Taylor, Inkster, Romulus, Wayne, and Lincoln Park also file bankruptcy cases at the Detroit Division of the Eastern District of Michigan.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Wayne County. All are within the Eastern District of Michigan for bankruptcy purposes.