Bankruptcy

Public Access to Bankruptcy Filings

By David Leibowitz, Illinois and Wisconsin Bankruptcy

Did you know that you or anybody else can see all bankruptcy papers online? ?You can. ?It’s not free but it’s not expensive either.

PACER is the Public Access to Court Electronic Records. PACER System lets anyone with a computer and Internet access get any information about any bankruptcy case. ?PACER covers just about all court cases in the federal system. ?You’ll be able to read information about your case or anybody else’s case on your computer screen within seconds of requesting it. ?It’s simple and easy.

The only catch is that data is not free. ?It will cost you 8 cents per page.

In order to get a PACER account, you can register here.

There is an alternative system under construction too. ?It’s called RECAP, which of course is PACER backwards. You can try this here. Courts don’t like this because they fear that users are hijacking their database and giving it away. ?Time will tell what happens with RECAP.

Your lawyer may charge you a small service fee to cover access to documents for you through PACER. ?If that happens, please remember that this service fee basically covers the out-of-pocket charges that your lawyer pays to use the system.

PACER is highly valuable to your lawyer since it allows access of cutting edge legal papers from around the country. ?Using national listservs and membership organizations like NACBA, bankruptcy lawyers keep up to date on recent legal developments which they can then use in your case.

Lakelaw stays up to the minute in the law. ?Not only that, we often make law -we’re not afraid to push the envelope for you. ?For help with your consumer bankruptcy case, call Lakelaw today at 1 866 LAKELAW (525-5329)

Full post as published by Bankruptcy Law Network on January 26, 2010 (boomark / email).