What are Nebraska Bankruptcy Records?

Nebraska bankruptcy records are judicial documents containing financial and case information of parties who have filed for bankruptcy in a court. In Nebraska, bankruptcies are filed under any chapter of the U.S Bankruptcy Code and by individuals or businesses who are unable to repay their debts. Bankruptcy filings are done in a federal court as the Nebraska Courts do not have any jurisdiction over these cases. Bankruptcy records, created and retained by the United States Bankruptcy Court District of Nebraska, are disseminated upon mail or in-person request by any member of the public. These records may also be retrievable from federal electronic services: PACER or VCIS or privately-owned websites like NebraskaCourtRecords.us.

What do Nebraska Bankruptcy Records Contain?

A Nebraska bankruptcy record contains all documents filed in a case and information generated during court proceedings. Below is a list of this information:

• Debtor’s current name (and former name(s), if any)
• Debtor’s aliases
• Debtor’s attorney information (name and address)
• Creditor details (names, addresses, and amount in claims)
• Car and real estate titles
• Financial account numbers
• Trustee
• Judge’s name
• Payment histories
• Monthly living expenses
• Case number
• Tax returns
• Case status
• Petition type and chapter
• Filing date
• Closing and discharge dates
• Case disposition
• Pending alimony or child support (if any)

Are Bankruptcy Records Public Information?

Ordinarily, bankruptcy records created in the Nebraska bankruptcy court are available to members of the public except for confidential or sensitive information described in sections 107(b) and 112 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or records sealed by court order. Under the law, the court may, of its own volition or to protect the interests of a party, restrict access to bankruptcy information about a debtor’s finances, company trade secrets, and identifying data. The court may also seal or redact a minor’s full name and any other sensitive, scandalous, or confidential information that, if released, may cause personal injury, property damage, or identity theft.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. Such platforms, which operate independently of any state, county, or local agency, may make the search process easier because they are not geographically constrained. Third-party platforms may also have search engines that might be useful when conducting a search for a specific or many records. To use a third-party or government website, interested parties typically provide any or all of the following:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary

How to Get Nebraska Bankruptcy Records

Access to Nebraska bankruptcy records may be gained remotely, electronically, or directly from the court. Methods by which members of the public may inspect or copy these records include:

• Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER)
• Multi-Court Voice Case Information System (McVCIS)
• The Clerk of Court’s Office

Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER): PACER is one of the fastest methods of obtaining Nebraska bankruptcy records. This system is accessible remotely for a fee but requires a user’s credentials (username/password). Account creation is handled by the PACER Service Center at (800) 676–6856 on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Service Center also treats account, billing, and usage inquiries on the same number or via email. Alternatively, individuals may register online on the website. For new users, once registration is completed, the court’s PACER system is accessible for a fee of 10 cents per page. Other PACER fees are listed on the Electronic Public Access Fee Schedule.

Multi-Court Voice Case Information System (McVCIS): McVIS is a remote-access electronic system providing free, up-to-date, and substantial bankruptcy case information at (866) 222–8029. Unlike PACER, a laptop is not required to access the VCIS system, just a touch-tone telephone. Following the voice prompts, callers may obtain the following information about a debtor or case with a person’s name, social security number, case number, or tax identification number:

• Representing attorney
• Name of debtor
• The filing date of the case
• Case discharge date
• Trustee
• Time, date, and location of 341 meeting
• Case number
• Case status
• Judge

The Clerk of Court’s Office: The United States Bankruptcy Court District of Nebraska Clerk’s office receives requests for certified or uncertified copies of bankruptcy records by email, mail, or phone. Any individual may make email requests for a fee. However, in pending cases, debtors generally mail, not email, their requests or make it in person at the Clerk’s office. If the requesting party is a debtor’s attorney, the request can be emailed, and the court will forward copies to the attorney. Requests generally contain the requester’s contact information in case of follow-ups by the Clerk of Court, and all copy fees must be paid at the time of the request. Below is the Clerk offices’ street addresses:

Lincoln
460 Robert V. Denney Federal Building
United States Courthouse
100 Centennial Mall North
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 437–1625
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m to 4:30 p.m.

Omaha
Roman L. Hruska
United States Courthouse
111 South 18th Plaza
Suite 1125
Omaha, NE 68102
Phone: (402) 661–7444
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m to 4:30 p.m.

Written requests containing adequate record descriptions may be sent mail, along with the proper fees, requester’s phone number, and self-addressed envelope to any of the addresses below:

Lincoln mailing address
Roman L. Hruska United States Courthouse
111 South 18th Plaza, Suite 1125
Omaha, NE 68102

Omaha mailing address
Roman L. Hruska
United States Courthouse
111 South 18th Plaza
Suite 1125
Omaha, NE 68102

Acceptable payment methods for closed cases ordered by mail, phone, and email requests include cashier’s check, credit/debit card, money order, or check. Further copy or payment inquiries or requests for archived records may be directed to the Clerk’s office in Lincoln or Omaha.

Electronic bankruptcy records may be accessible with public access terminals at the Clerk’s office. Copies cost 10¢ per page or 50¢ per page if provided by the Clerk. There is no fee to inspect electronic records in the court.

How do I Find Out if My Bankruptcy Case is Closed in Nebraska?

The most efficient way to find out if the Nebraska bankruptcy court has closed a bankruptcy case is to contact the Omaha or Lincoln Clerk’s office by phone at (402) 661–7444 or (402) 437–1625, respectively, within office hours (Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m to 4:30 p.m except on federal holidays). Also, members of the public may obtain this information from remote-access platforms, VCIS and PACER. Requests made through VCIS are free.

Can a Bankruptcy be Expunged in Nebraska?

Although bankruptcies cannot be expunged in Nebraska, certain information may be sealed or redacted by the court. Redactable information includes financial account numbers, personally identifiable numbers (social security and taxpayer-identification numbers), and the names/dates of birth of children. Debtors may file for the redaction of electronic records using the CM/ECF platform to limit access to the person and court, as described under Fed. R. Bank. P. 9037(a). Other redaction requests may be filed in the court.