Voice Case Information System (VCIS)
Voice Case Information System (VCIS) is a free service that provides limited case information over the telephone including debtor name, case number, judge, filing date, chapter, asset/no asset designation, attorney, trustee and current case status. To access this service, call toll free at 1-866-222-8029.
Obtaining Copies of Documents
Public terminals are located in each clerk’s office. Viewing information is free; the cost to print information from the public terminals is $.10 per page.
Copies of documents may also be obtained by completing a request form and emailing it to: copywork@njb.uscourts.gov.
Once the request is received, the clerk’s office will calculate the total fees owed and inform the requesting party by phone or email. The fee to obtain a copy of a document is $.50 per page. The court does not accept personal checks or cash. Copy fees must be paid by corporate check, attorney trust account check, certified check or money order. Fees may also be paid online using the court's payment portal. There is a minimum charge of $.50 when using the payment portal.
Upon completion, copies will be emailed to the requesting party unless another method is requested.
Obtaining Certified Copies of Documents or Obtaining Exemplification Certificates
Certified copies of documents or exemplification certificates may be obtained by completing a request form and emailing it to: copywork@njb.uscourts.gov.
Because the documents being certified or exemplified are sworn to be a true copy by the clerk, requesting parties need not provide a copy of the documents to be certified or exemplified.
Once the request is received, the clerk’s office will calculate the total fees owed and inform the requesting party by phone or email. The fees for certified copies and exemplification certificates can be paid online through the court's payment portal or by corporate check, attorney trust account check, certified check, or money order. Personal checks and cash are not accepted by the court.
Upon completion, certified copies and exemplification certificates can be picked up at the clerk's office or mailed to the requesting party.
IMPORTANT NOTICE OF RESTRICTING PUBLIC ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS FILED PRIOR TO DECEMBER 1, 2003:
The Judicial Conference Privacy Policy has been amended to restrict public access through PACER to all documents in bankruptcy cases that were filed before December 1, 2003, and have been closed for more than one year. Documents in these closed cases are available in PACER only to court users, case participants* and attorneys. The docket sheet and docket information will remain available to the general public via PACER. Copies of restricted documents, except those under seal, are available at the Clerk's office and may be printed from the public terminal, please contact the Clerk's office for information about obtaining copies by mail. Email copies will not be sent. The existing fee schedules are applicable to these documents.
* Case participants are defined as attorneys who have electronically filed a document in the case.
Archived Case Information
General bankruptcy case files are retained by the court for a 15 year interval. Presently, most of the 1970-1995 bankruptcy case files have been destroyed in accordance with their approved records disposition authority (N1-578-11-001, in accordance with 44 USC § 3303).
The National Archives can be reached at 1-866-272-6272 or www.archives.gov.
The Federal Records Centers can be reached via email at: frc@nara.gov.
Online Bankruptcy Record Retrieval