Search Suffolk County Bankruptcy Records
Suffolk County bankruptcy records are maintained by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts, Eastern Division, whose courthouse sits at 5 Post Office Square in Boston. The county includes Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, and all four communities file through the same Eastern Division office. Suffolk County is the legal and financial hub of Massachusetts, and the Eastern Division handles the bulk of bankruptcy cases filed statewide, making this courthouse one of the busiest in New England for bankruptcy matters.
Suffolk County Overview
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern Division
Every Suffolk County bankruptcy case goes through the Eastern Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts. The courthouse is at 5 Post Office Square, Suite 1150, Boston, MA 02109. Main phone: (617) 748-5300. Emergency line: (617) 748-5317.
This is the only bankruptcy court location that handles Suffolk County filings. There is no separate county courthouse for bankruptcy matters. All petitions, schedules, motions, and hearings for Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop residents run through this one office. The court's website is mab.uscourts.gov. The location and contact page at mab.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations has current hours and directions.
Suffolk County also has state courts that may intersect with bankruptcy matters. The Suffolk County Superior Court is at 3 Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108, phone (617) 788-8175. The Suffolk Probate and Family Court is at 24 New Chardon Street, Boston, MA 02114, phone (617) 788-8300. These courts handle state civil matters, estates, and family law, which sometimes run alongside or follow from a bankruptcy case.
The image below shows the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts homepage, where you can access case resources, local rules, and filing information for Suffolk County.
The court's website provides access to PACER links, local rules, filing guides, and contact information for all three Massachusetts bankruptcy divisions.
| Eastern Division Courthouse |
5 Post Office Square, Suite 1150 Boston, MA 02109 Phone: (617) 748-5300 Emergency: (617) 748-5317 |
|---|---|
| Court Website | mab.uscourts.gov |
| Pro Se Email (since May 1, 2025) | prose_filings@mab.uscourts.gov |
Searching Suffolk County Bankruptcy Records
PACER is how most people access Suffolk County bankruptcy records online. Register at pacer.uscourts.gov. The fee is $0.10 per page, with a maximum of $3.00 per document. If your total charges stay under $30 in a calendar quarter, the court waives the cost entirely. Once logged in, you can search by debtor name, Social Security number, or case number. Results include the full case docket, all filed documents, hearing schedules, and discharge orders.
PACER's case dockets for Suffolk County bankruptcy filings are detailed. You will find the original petition, all schedules of assets and liabilities, the creditor matrix, any trustee reports, adversary proceeding filings if applicable, and the discharge order or dismissal. For Chapter 13 cases, the confirmed repayment plan is also part of the record. These documents are public under federal law, and anyone can access them with a PACER account.
The free VCIS phone line is another option. Call 1-866-222-8029, then press 1 for Massachusetts. The automated system gives you basic case data: case number, filing date, chapter type, trustee name, and whether a discharge has been entered. No login or credit card needed. VCIS runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no charge.
For in-person access, visit the courthouse at 5 Post Office Square. Public PACER terminals in the clerk's office let you search and view records at no cost on-site. Certified copies cost $12.00 each. Plain photocopies are $0.50 per page. If you need the court to search by name rather than case number, a $34.00 search fee applies. The full fee and access guide is at mab.uscourts.gov/obtain-case-documents.
Bankruptcy Chapters Filed in Suffolk County
Suffolk County filers use several chapters of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, each with different rules, processes, and fees. The chapter you pick shapes the entire record for your case.
Chapter 7 makes up 60 to 70 percent of Suffolk County filings. This is the liquidation chapter. Most cases are "no-asset," meaning the debtor has nothing beyond what state and federal exemptions protect. The case closes in four to six months, often ending with a discharge under 11 U.S.C. § 727. The filing fee is $338. Chapter 7 is common in Boston, Chelsea, and other parts of the county where renters and lower-income residents make up a large share of the population.
Chapter 13 is used by debtors with regular income who want to keep property and pay debts over three to five years. It is especially common among Suffolk County homeowners who have fallen behind on mortgage payments. The Massachusetts homestead exemption is powerful here: up to $500,000 for a declared homestead or $125,000 for an automatic one under 11 U.S.C. § 522. The filing fee is $313. A repayment plan must be filed and confirmed by a judge before the case proceeds.
Chapter 11 is the reorganization chapter for businesses and high-debt individuals. Suffolk County has seen notable Chapter 11 filings, including Bertucci's restaurant chain, which filed its third Chapter 11 in 2025 after earlier filings in 2011 and 2018, and Friendly's, which filed in 2020 and 2011. These cases involve complex plan negotiations and can span years in the court record. The filing fee is $1,738.
When a Suffolk County resident files for any chapter, the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362 takes effect at once. It stops most collection activity immediately. Creditors seeking to continue must file a motion to lift the stay, which becomes part of the public docket.
What Debts Survive a Suffolk County Discharge
Not every debt disappears when a Suffolk County debtor receives a bankruptcy discharge. 11 U.S.C. § 523 lists debts that survive. Common examples include most student loans, recent income taxes, child support and alimony, and debts from fraud or intentional harm. If a creditor believes a specific debt should not be discharged, they can file an adversary proceeding in the case, which becomes its own separate docket record within the main case file. These are all accessible through PACER.
Greater Boston Legal Services
Greater Boston Legal Services is the primary free civil legal aid organization serving Suffolk County residents who cannot afford an attorney. Their main office is at 197 Friend Street, Boston, MA 02114. Phone: (617) 371-1234 or toll-free 1-800-323-3205. Their website is gbls.org. GBLS handles a wide range of civil legal matters for income-eligible clients in Boston and surrounding communities.
The screenshot below shows the Greater Boston Legal Services website, where Suffolk County residents can learn about eligibility and apply for assistance.
GBLS assists low-income Suffolk County residents with civil legal matters, including issues that arise in connection with bankruptcy cases such as housing and family law.
Legal Resources in Suffolk County
Several organizations help Suffolk County residents navigate bankruptcy. Each serves a slightly different population or need.
The Boston Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service that covers Suffolk County. Phone: (617) 742-0625. Their website is bostonbar.org. Many member attorneys offer reduced fees for initial consultations, and the referral line can match you with someone who handles bankruptcy cases. The bar association also hosts clinics and educational programs on debt issues throughout the year in Boston.
The Volunteer Lawyers Project provides free legal help to low-income Suffolk County residents. Phone: (617) 603-1700. Their website is vlpnet.org. VLP coordinates volunteer attorneys from private firms who take on cases at no charge for qualified clients. This includes assistance with bankruptcy petitions and related matters.
The court's own FAQ page at mab.uscourts.gov/faqs-debtors is a solid starting point for people who plan to file without an attorney. It covers what forms to file, what to expect at the 341 meeting of creditors, how long different chapter types take, and how to get a fee waiver if you cannot afford the filing fee. Local procedural rules are at mab.uscourts.gov/local-bankruptcy-rules.
State-specific information on exemptions, the homestead declaration process, and related Massachusetts law is at mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-bankruptcy.
The image below shows the Boston Bar Association website, a resource for finding qualified bankruptcy attorneys in Suffolk County.
The Boston Bar Association connects Suffolk County residents with attorneys experienced in bankruptcy and related financial legal matters.
Volunteer Lawyers Project
The Volunteer Lawyers Project offers a direct path to free legal help for income-eligible Suffolk County residents. The image below shows their website, where you can find eligibility criteria and contact information.
VLP volunteers help clients in Suffolk County prepare and file bankruptcy petitions, review schedules, and handle related legal steps at no cost to qualified applicants.
Qualifying Cities in Suffolk County
Two cities in Suffolk County have dedicated bankruptcy records pages. Chelsea and Winthrop are part of the county but do not meet the population threshold for separate pages; residents there follow the same Eastern Division filing process.
Nearby Counties
Suffolk County borders three Massachusetts counties. All of them also file through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts, though some may use different divisions.