Bankruptcy Records in Stokes County
Stokes County bankruptcy records are filed through the Winston-Salem Division of the Middle District of North Carolina. The county seat is Danbury, one of the smallest county seats in the state. Stokes County was formed in 1789 from Surry County and named for John Stokes, a Revolutionary War captain. With a population of about 46,000, the county's bankruptcy filings go through the federal court in Winston-Salem. This guide explains how to search and access Stokes County bankruptcy records.
Stokes County Quick Facts
Stokes County Federal Bankruptcy Court
The Middle District of North Carolina Bankruptcy Court handles all bankruptcy filings from Stokes County. The Winston-Salem Division office is at 226 S. Liberty Street in Winston-Salem, NC 27101. This division covers Stokes County along with Cabarrus, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Rowan, Stanly, Surry, and Yadkin counties.
The Stokes County Courthouse sits at 1012 Main Street in Danbury, NC 27016. The phone number is 336-593-4400 and hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. This courthouse handles state court matters under District 17B jurisdiction. Federal bankruptcy cases for Stokes County residents go to the Winston-Salem office instead.
Jason Tuttle serves as the Stokes County Clerk of Court. His office at PO Box 250 in Danbury manages state-level records. For federal bankruptcy records from Stokes County, you must contact the Middle District court.
How to Search Stokes County Bankruptcy Cases
The best way to find Stokes County bankruptcy records is PACER. Sign up for a free account. Search by name, case number, or date. The fee is ten cents per page with a $30 quarterly waiver. All Middle District cases are in PACER, including every Stokes County filing.
Call the Voice Case Information System at 866-222-8029. VCIS is free and works around the clock. It provides filing dates, case status, chapter type, and trustee names for Stokes County bankruptcy cases. This phone service covers every case in the Middle District.
The court has public access terminals at the Winston-Salem office. Visit during business hours to search records at no charge. These terminals give direct access to the court database, and you can look up any Stokes County bankruptcy case.
What Stokes County Bankruptcy Records Show
Each Stokes County bankruptcy case file has many parts. The petition is the first document filed. It gives the debtor's name, address, and the chapter chosen. Schedules list all property owned and all debts owed. Income and expense schedules show monthly cash flow.
Under 11 U.S.C. § 107, these records are public. Anyone can request access to a Stokes County bankruptcy file. Social Security numbers are redacted in public copies. Tax returns may be sealed. But most of the case file is open for viewing.
A Stokes County bankruptcy case file usually contains:
- Voluntary petition and all schedules
- Statement of financial affairs
- Creditor list with balances
- Means test form for Chapter 7 cases
- Discharge order or dismissal notice
Note: The Stokes County Register of Deeds, Kathy Young, at 336-593-2414 handles property records that may connect to bankruptcy cases but does not store federal filings.
Stokes County Bankruptcy Court Resources
The Middle District court site has forms, fee information, and local rules for Stokes County cases. The Stokes County government website provides general county information. Stokes County is part of Region I Council of Governments.
The Middle District website provides electronic case filing tools and links to PACER for searching Stokes County bankruptcy records online.
The NC Judicial Branch court records page covers how to get state records in Stokes County. For old federal cases, the National Archives holds closed bankruptcy files from the Middle District.
PACER gives full access to every Stokes County bankruptcy filing in the Middle District of North Carolina.
Court Information for Stokes County Cases
The table below shows the key details for the bankruptcy court that handles Stokes County filings.
| Court |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court - Middle District of NC Winston-Salem Division 226 S. Liberty Street Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Phone: 336-397-7785 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | ncmb.uscourts.gov |
Types of Bankruptcy in Stokes County
Most Stokes County residents who file for bankruptcy use Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Chapter 7 wipes out most unsecured debt through liquidation. A trustee checks for non-exempt assets. Most cases are no-asset, meaning the debtor keeps everything they own. The process takes about four months.
Chapter 13 is a repayment plan. Stokes County filers make monthly payments for three to five years. This option helps people keep their home or car while paying down debt over time. The Winston-Salem court must approve each plan before payments start. All plan payments and trustee reports go into the Stokes County case file.
The North Carolina State Records site offers a guide to understanding bankruptcy filings in the state, including Stokes County cases.
Note: Credit counseling is required before filing and a financial management course is needed before discharge for all Stokes County bankruptcy cases.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Stokes County. Bankruptcy filing location depends on where the debtor lived at the time of filing.