UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT   EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON Honorable Frank L. Kurtz Chief Bankruptcy Judge Beverly A. Benka Clerk of Court How to get Public Records PACER - Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) is an electronic public access service that allows users to obtain case and docket information from Federal Appellate, District and Bankruptcy courts, and the U.S. Party/Case Index via the Internet. Links to all courts are provided from this web site. Electronic access is available by registering with the PACER Service Center, the judiciary's centralized registration, billing, and technical support center. PACER Service Center - Overview, Registration, Links to other Courts, US Party/Case Index, Account Information, PACER FAQ. National Archive and Records Administration (NARA) - The NARA's Pacific Alaska Region (Seattle) makes available for review closed business and personal bankruptcy case files, and civil and criminal case files from Federal courts in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. If your bankruptcy case was filed before 1997, you must order copies through NARA. You will need specific information from the court in order to request copies from the National Archives. Please visit our National Archive and Records Administration (NARA) - Request Form webpage and review the instructions for generating a pre-filled form that has all the appropriate information entered into it for you. Further instructions, a NARA phone number, pricing, and other options are also available on the form. VCIS (Voice Case Information System) - VCIS is an automated voice response system that provides a limited amount of bankruptcy case information directly from the court's database in response to touch-tone telephone inquiries. Access to VCIS is currently offered at no cost. You can access this by calling the court at (509) 458-2441 or 1-800-519-2549 ext 6. Public Computers - The court's offices in Spokane and Yakima have public-access computers than can be used to access court information and obtain copies. There is a small, per-page charge for any pages that are printed. Please be aware that the court cannot make change for payments received. Copy Requests - The court provides copies of case documents by request to individuals unable to obtain them through PACER, NARA, or the public computers. The fee is $.50 per page, and prepayment is required in some instances. Details about copy fees are available here. Copy requests can be made by calling (509) 458-5300 or 1-800-519-2549, ex. 0, or by filling out the Copy Request Form and mailing it or faxing it to the court at (509) 458-2445. Please include case information and specific document titles. Please be aware that a request for an entire file includes numerous documents that are multiple pages in length, so requests for specific documents are advised. Requested copies may be received by mail or fax, or they may be obtained from the court office. Hearing Audio Recordings - Audio recordings are made of each hearing conducted by a Judge in the Bankruptcy Court. Copies of the audio recordings are available on CD (compact disk). Click Here to request an audio recording of a hearing. Transcripts - In September 2007, the Judicial Conference adopted a policy regarding the electronic availability of transcripts. Transcripts will no longer be made available for viewing on PACER until ninety (90) days from the date of the filing of the transcript. Any person requiring a copy of the transcript before then may purchase a copy from the transcriber or view the document at the clerk's office public terminal. The redaction policy of personal identifier information in a transcript is also in effect. Personal identifiers to be redacted are social security numbers, names of minor children, financial account numbers and dates of birth. The process to redact information in a transcript is included in the Judicial Conference Policy on Privacy and Public Access to Electronic Case Files. Click Here to request a transcript. UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON