What are Alaska Bankruptcy Records?

Bankruptcy records in Alaska are documents containing information about an individual, business, or corporation's bankruptcy petition. The United States Bankruptcy Court District of Alaska addresses bankruptcy petitions and figures out ways to help creditors and debtors settle their financial differences. To manage bankruptcy files effectively, the bankruptcy court in Alaska uses certain services that also provide uninterrupted access to bankruptcy case records upon request.

The CM/EMF (Case Management and Electronic Case File) is one of the portals used to maintain bankruptcy documents. With CM/EMF, interested parties may file petitions electronically and access case information. However, access is typically only granted to requestors with a valid PACER login and password.

In addition to this, the PACER case locator tool provides interested individuals the comfort of looking through active cases online. Archived bankruptcy records in Alaska are in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration. To retrieve an archived bankruptcy file, parties may need to complete and mail the NARA Bankruptcy case Order Form to the records administration responsible for the state. Alaska bankruptcy records and case information are also accessible via third-party service providers. Whatever the case, persons seeking to find Alaska court records are often required to furnish the custodian and repository with information to facilitate the search. This includes the name(s) of the record subject and case numbers (if known).

What do Alaska Bankruptcy Records Contain? 

A bankruptcy record consists of information such as;

• The name of the trustee and judge
• Case filing and closing date
• Name of the bankrupt
• Chapter filed for 
• Case status
• Case number
• Name of the attorney and telephone number
• Claim filing deadline
• Date and time of the 341 meetings
• Date of discharge.  

Are Bankruptcy Records Public Information?

Following Alaska Public Records Act, bankruptcy records are available for public view unless they are sealed. On rare occasions, a judge may order the sealing of a bankruptcy file if the details in it may threaten personal safety. In Alaska, parties that want to access bankruptcy documents may need to provide reasons for the request in order to balance the interest of all participants in the case.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. Operating independently of any federal, state or local agency, these websites often make searching simpler, as such platforms are not limited by geographic location. Third-party sites may also feature search engines that may help simplify the search process for specific or multiple records. To begin using a third-party or government website, interested parties may be required to provide:

• 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 Alaska Bankruptcy Records

Interested persons may request Alaska bankruptcy records using three different methods:

1. Multi-court Voice Case Information System (McVCIS): This system gives basic case information to anyone with a mobile phone. Individuals seeking bankruptcy records may do so by dialing the court toll-free line 1-866-222-8029 for free access at any time. However, the search requirements are the participant name, social security number, and case number.
2. NextGen CM/ECF (Case Management/Electronic Case Files): NextGen CM/ECF provides functionality that allows citizens to maintain a single login detail for PACER access and e-filing in all federal courts. Requestors are given the advantage of registering once to obtain court records, provided the documents are not under any seal.
3. Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER): This is an online public service that gives users access to records from bankruptcy, district, and federal appellate courts. PACER is a federal judiciary service to help fulfill the mandate of providing public access to court information using a centralized platform.

To use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records, interested persons must have a PACER account of their own as sharing PACER accounts is no longer possible. The PACER account linked to the CM/ECF filing account may enable users to access NextGen CM/ECF.

The PACER Case Locator may help simplify the search process by indicating the right courts for requesting a bankruptcy file. New users may opt to register for a PACER account online, the PACER Service Center at pacer@psc.uscourts.gov, or by dialing (800) 676-6856. Bankruptcy records are maintained locally by each court, and citizens have free access to the District of Alaska Document Filing System.

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

Alaska residents may discover the status of their bankruptcy case using the VCIS platform by dialing 1-866-222-8029. Upon request, interested individuals may need to provide the case number, name of the debtor, social security number, information on the assigned trustee to the case, the date of filing, and other necessary information to aid the search. PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) is another good option to check if a case is closed. Once the inquirer creates an account and fills in the search criteria, the result typically identifies if the case has been closed or still open and running.

During a bankruptcy suit, a discharge does not signify that the case has been closed. It only notifies the debtor of the current development regarding the clearing of personal liabilities and incurred debts. Meanwhile, the case is still very active to the creditor, the court, and other parties involved. In Alaska, bankruptcy cases may be re-visited if the need to add more debts or liquidate an asset arises. This variable ultimately influences the period required for the legal action to be finalized and closed.

When the court issues a decree to close a bankruptcy case, the petitioner or representative attorney typically receives an email notifying the parties. Perhaps a notification has not been received, then it is evident that the case is still running and is open to re-visiting.

Can a Bankruptcy be Expunged in Alaska?

In Alaska, there is no legislative provision for the sealing or expunging of bankruptcy records. Nevertheless, Chapter 7 bankruptcy typically affects the individual’s credit report for a maximum of 10 years. In contrast, a Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing may stay on a record for up to seven years, depending on the type of credit report agency.