Search Washington County Bankruptcy Records

Washington County bankruptcy records are filed with and maintained by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota, a federal court that covers all 87 counties in the state. Washington County is in the eastern Twin Cities metro, with the county seat in Stillwater. It is one of the more populous counties in Minnesota and includes large cities like Woodbury. This page explains how to search Washington County bankruptcy records, what the local state court handles, and where county residents can get legal help.

Washington County District Court

The Washington County District Court is located at 14949 62nd Street N, Stillwater, MN 55082, phone (651) 430-6263. It is part of Minnesota's Tenth Judicial District. The state court handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. Federal bankruptcy cases do not go through this court. However, the state court plays a role after a federal discharge. Under Minnesota Statute 548.181, a debtor can petition the district court to clear state civil judgment liens that survived the federal bankruptcy. That application goes to the Stillwater courthouse.

Washington County state court records are accessible through Minnesota Court Records Online at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. This free tool covers district court proceedings statewide. It does not contain federal bankruptcy filings. Use it to search civil judgments, criminal matters, and family court records tied to Washington County addresses.

The Washington County District Court in Stillwater handles state court matters for county residents but does not process federal bankruptcy cases.

Federal Bankruptcy Court for Washington County

All Washington County bankruptcy cases are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota. The St. Paul clerk office at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building, 316 North Robert Street, Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55101, phone (651) 848-1000, is the nearest staffed location for most Washington County residents. Woodbury, the county's largest city, is just a short drive west of the St. Paul office. The Minneapolis office at the Diana E. Murphy U.S. Courthouse, 300 South 4th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415, phone (612) 664-5200, is the other staffed option.

Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Same-day filings must arrive by 3:30 PM. Attorneys file electronically through CM/ECF. Pro se filers submit paper documents at the St. Paul or Minneapolis office. The court website at mnb.uscourts.gov has all forms, local rules, and instructions for people filing without an attorney. Washington County residents are well-positioned to use the St. Paul office, which is a quick drive via I-94 from Woodbury and other county communities.

Document copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies carry a higher fee. Call the clerk to confirm current rates and accepted payment before visiting. The court's debtor help page at mnb.uscourts.gov/debtor-help-resources is a good first stop for pro se filers.

The Volunteer Lawyers Network provides free bankruptcy advice clinics and referrals to income-qualifying Washington County residents through its Twin Cities metro programs.

Searching Washington County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the standard tool for online bankruptcy record searches. Register at pacer.psc.uscourts.gov. Search by debtor name, case number, Social Security number, or tax ID. Electronic records go back to 1999. The charge is $0.10 per page, and quarterly totals under $30 are waived. Most occasional searchers pay nothing.

The Voice Case Information System at 1-866-222-8029 is free and available 24/7. It confirms whether a case exists, provides the case number, and gives open or closed status. It does not provide documents. Use it to quickly verify a filing before logging into PACER.

On-site access at the St. Paul federal clerk office is free. Public computer terminals there allow you to view and print PACER records without paying the per-page remote access fee. Given Washington County's location just east of St. Paul, this is a practical option for residents who want to avoid PACER fees entirely.

Minnesota Court Records Online provides free access to state court records for Washington County. Federal bankruptcy records are maintained separately through PACER.

For state civil judgments and court history, use MCRO at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. It is free, covers all state district courts in Minnesota, and is separate from the federal PACER system.

Legal Help in Washington County

The Volunteer Lawyers Network serves Washington County residents. Call (612) 752-6677 or visit vlnmn.org. VLN matches income-qualifying people with volunteer attorneys for limited bankruptcy advice and direction. They run bankruptcy clinics in the Twin Cities metro that Washington County residents can attend.

Central Minnesota Legal Services at (612) 332-8151 and cmls-mn.org also serves Washington County. CMLS handles civil legal matters for low-income residents across the metro, including questions about bankruptcy exemptions, creditor issues, and the discharge process.

The LawHelpMN website has free guides on bankruptcy, exemptions, and debt relief. The Ramsey Law Library at ramseylawlibrary.org is located in St. Paul, a short drive from Washington County, and can help with bankruptcy-related legal research. The federal court's debtor help resources at mnb.uscourts.gov/debtor-help-resources are also available for pro se filers.

Cities in Washington County

Washington County includes one of Minnesota's fastest-growing cities. The following city has an individual bankruptcy records page:

Nearby Counties

Washington County borders several other Twin Cities metro counties. All use the same federal court for bankruptcy records.