Find Bankruptcy Records in Juneau

Juneau bankruptcy records are federal case files held by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Alaska, filed through the Anchorage main office that handles all Alaska cases. As Alaska's state capital, Juneau has its own legal and government resources, including a local ALSC office, a state law department, and state court facilities. This guide covers every way to search or access Juneau bankruptcy records, from PACER online lookup to in-person options and free legal help available to Juneau residents.

Juneau Bankruptcy Court Access

Juneau does not have a local bankruptcy court divisional office. All federal bankruptcy cases for Juneau residents are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Alaska at 605 W. 4th Ave., Suite 138, Anchorage, AK 99501. The main court number is (907) 271-2655 and the toll free line is (800) 859-8059. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM, except federal holidays.

Because Juneau is not connected to the road system, most Juneau residents who need to file in person must fly to Anchorage or use the eSR online filing system. The eSR tool is free and lets you prepare and submit your Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 petition from any internet-connected computer. You do not have to travel. See the filing section below for more on eSR.

You can also mail filings to the Anchorage office. Do not send cash by mail. Use a money order or cashier's check made out to Clerk of Court. All documents must carry original signatures. Faxed or scanned signatures are not accepted for most filings. If you need to confirm your documents arrived, call the clerk at the Anchorage number above.

The U.S. District Court in Juneau is at 709 W. 9th Street, Room 979, phone (907) 586-7458. This is the federal appellate court for district matters in Juneau. It is separate from the bankruptcy court and does not accept original bankruptcy filings.

The Juneau Superior and District Court handles Alaska state cases and holds related civil records that can surface during a bankruptcy filing.

Search Juneau Bankruptcy Records Online

PACER is the primary system for searching Juneau bankruptcy records from your computer. You need a free account at pacer.uscourts.gov or call (800) 676-6856. Once logged in, search by debtor name, case number, or attorney. PACER costs $0.10 per page, capped at $3 per document. Quarters where your total charges are under $30 are billed nothing. Electronic records go back to January 2000. Older files require an NARA request through the National Archives.

The Alaska Bankruptcy Court PACER page has a getting-started guide. For Juneau users, there are no public PACER terminals locally, so online access or the McVCIS phone line is the most practical option. McVCIS is free, available 24/7, and does not require an account. Call 1-866-222-8029 toll free or (907) 271-2658. It returns basic case data including the debtor name, case number, trustee, and current status.

The Alaska CourtView system at records.courts.alaska.gov covers state trial court records, not federal bankruptcy records. However, CourtView is useful for finding civil judgments, lien information, and other state records that are relevant when reviewing a person's debt situation. It covers records from 1990 forward and is free to search.

Filing Bankruptcy in Juneau

Juneau residents have three main ways to file. The easiest is the eSR online system at the court's eSR portal. It is free, guides you through every step, and lets you submit the full petition package without visiting a courthouse. You need Adobe Reader, a printer, and a valid email address. Log in at least once every 45 days to keep your session active. Once you finish, submit the package directly through the portal and follow up by phone with the clerk.

You can also mail the completed petition to the Anchorage office. Include all required forms, the filing fee by money order or cashier's check, and original signatures on all documents. A third option is filing in person at the Anchorage main office, which requires travel for Juneau residents.

Before any filing, you must complete an approved credit counseling course within 180 days. Find approved providers at justice.gov. After the case ends and debts are discharged, a debtor education course is required before the court issues your discharge. Chapter 7 costs $338 to file; Chapter 13 is $313. Installment payment requests use Form 103A. Low-income Chapter 7 filers can apply for a fee waiver on Form 103B.

City and Borough of Juneau Resources

The City and Borough of Juneau operates as a consolidated government. The municipal clerk's office handles public records requests under Alaska's public records law. You can reach the assembly clerk at (907) 586-5278 or email BoroughAssembly@juneau.org. The clerk keeps ordinances, resolutions, and meeting minutes going back to 1989. These can be useful if you need to research property liens or city-level legal actions related to a bankruptcy case.

The Juneau Law Department drafts and enforces local law for the City and Borough of Juneau. It does not provide legal advice to the public. The law department's website has the Juneau Municipal Code online, adopted legislation from 2001 to the present, and a searchable database of resolutions. The assessor's property database and GIS parcel viewer are useful for pulling property records that may come up in a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 filing.

The Juneau Law Department maintains the municipal code, adopted legislation, and an assessor database useful for property searches during bankruptcy proceedings.

Alaska Exemptions for Juneau Filers

Alaska law protects certain property from creditors in a bankruptcy. Under Alaska Statute 09.38.010 through 09.38.510, a Juneau debtor can protect homestead equity up to $72,900. The vehicle exemption is $4,050. Tools used in your trade or business are protected up to $3,780. Household goods, clothes, and books are collectively exempt up to $4,050. Your Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend is exempt up to $1,500 per person.

To use Alaska exemptions, you need to have lived in Alaska for at least 730 days before filing. That is the rule under 11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(3). Venue must also be established under 28 U.S.C. § 1408, meaning Alaska must be your domicile for the 180 days before filing. Juneau's cost of living makes the homestead exemption especially important. Claim your exemptions explicitly on the petition or you risk losing them by default.

The Alaska Trust Act at AS 34.40.110 may be relevant if a self-settled trust is part of the estate. The Alaska Public Records Act at AS 40.25 governs state and borough records and may apply when you need Juneau municipal records alongside your federal court file.

Free Legal Help in Juneau

Alaska Legal Services Corporation has a Juneau office at 8711 Teal Street, Suite 203, Juneau, AK 99801. Call (907) 586-6425 or toll free at 1-800-789-6426. Email is juneau@alsc-law.org. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. ALSC is the primary source of free civil legal help for low-income Alaskans. Bankruptcy and debt matters are among the most common issues handled. Income limits run at 125% of federal poverty guidelines for most services, up to 200% in some cases.

The ALSC website at alsc-law.org has intake information, office locations, and a list of service areas. The joint pro bono program with the Alaska Bar Association matches qualifying Juneau residents with volunteer attorneys for no-fee help in bankruptcy and consumer debt cases. The Juneau office coordinates these placements for First Judicial District residents.

Alaska Free Legal Answers at alaska.freelegalanswers.org lets Juneau residents submit civil legal questions online and receive free answers from licensed Alaska lawyers. You can ask up to three questions per year with no appointment, no phone call, and no travel required. Bankruptcy, debt, housing, and consumer issues all qualify.

The Alaska Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service connects you with up to three local bankruptcy attorneys. Call (907) 272-0352 or toll free (800) 770-9999, or visit alaskabar.org. The first half-hour consultation is capped at $125.

ALSC Juneau provides free civil legal services including bankruptcy help for qualifying residents of Juneau and the surrounding First Judicial District.

U.S. Trustee and Consumer Protection

Juneau cases fall under U.S. Trustee Region 18, based in Seattle. Visit justice.gov/ust/ust-regions-r18 for panel trustees, the Chapter 13 trustee, and debtor/creditor resources. Most 341 creditor meetings in Alaska since 2024 run via Zoom, which is a clear benefit for Juneau residents who would otherwise need to travel to Anchorage. Check the court notice for your meeting date and login details once your case is filed.

Juneau is also home to some Alaska state agencies that may be relevant when you are dealing with debts involving state programs, licenses, or taxes. The Alaska Department of Revenue and Department of Law both have Juneau offices. For consumer fraud tied to bankruptcy or debt collection, contact the Alaska Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit at law.alaska.gov/department/civil/consumer or email consumerprotection@alaska.gov.

Older Juneau Bankruptcy Case Files

Pre-2000 bankruptcy cases are not in PACER. They are at the National Archives Federal Records Center in Seattle. NARA Pacific Alaska Region is at 6125 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98115-7999, phone (206) 336-5115. Start at archives.gov. To retrieve a file, you need the case number. The Anchorage bankruptcy clerk can look up transfer status and provide the NARA box number. Retrieval fees start at $70 for the first box. Plan about four weeks for delivery.

Nearby Cities

Other Alaska cities file through the same federal bankruptcy court. See related pages below.