Find Bankruptcy Records in Portage County

Portage County bankruptcy records are filed through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Akron Division. The Akron office at the John F. Seiberling Federal Building handles all bankruptcy cases for Portage County residents. To look up a case, you can use PACER, call the free McVCIS phone line, or go to the courthouse. The county seat is Ravenna, and the local Clerk of Courts at 203 West Main Street keeps liens, judgments, and other court records that may tie into a bankruptcy case. This page explains how to find Portage County bankruptcy records, what they hold, and where to get copies.

Portage County Bankruptcy Court Information

Portage County falls under the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Akron Division. All bankruptcy filings from Portage County go through this federal court. The local county court system does not handle bankruptcy cases at all. The Akron office is at 2 South Main Street, Akron, Ohio 44308. You can call (330) 252-6100 for court info. Note that there is no public parking lot at the Seiberling Courthouse, so bring cash or coins for the nearby metered spots or private lots.

The Northern District moved to the NextGen CM/ECF system on August 2, 2021. This upgrade made it easier to file and access case records online through PACER. In May 2025, the court added multifactor authentication for all CM/ECF and PACER users. Audio files from court hearings can be ordered on CD for $32 or as MP3 files through PACER for $2.40 each.

The Portage County Clerk of Courts does not handle bankruptcy filings. But the Clerk does keep records that can come up in a case. Judgment liens, tax liens, and civil case files from the Common Pleas Court are on file with the Clerk. The office is at 203 West Main Street, Ravenna, Ohio 44266. You can call 330-298-3049 or email jfankhauser@portageco.com. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Clerk of Courts maintains records for the Common Pleas Court, Municipal Court, and the Probate Court.

The Portage County Clerk of Courts is the custodian for many court records in the county. Many of these records can be viewed on the CourtView portal, which holds case data from 1992 to the present. You can search by name, case number, case type, case status, and date range. Under 11 U.S.C. § 107, bankruptcy records are public. Anyone can view them at reasonable times without charge. You do not need to be part of the case to look at the file.

How to Search Portage County Bankruptcy Records

The main way to search Portage County bankruptcy records is through PACER. Sign up for a free account. Then search by name, case number, or Social Security Number. PACER covers all federal courts. The cost is $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 per document. If your use stays under $30 in a quarter, you pay nothing. Court opinions are free.

You can also try the PACER Case Locator. It updates each night and pulls from all federal courts at once. This helps if you don't know which court handled a case. For phone access, call the McVCIS line at (866) 222-8029. Say "Ohio" then "Ohio Northern" to reach the right district. The system runs 24 hours a day and is free. You can make up to 5 queries per call.

For in-person access, the Akron courthouse has public terminals. You can view electronic case files at no charge. Printing costs $0.10 per page. Hard copies of documents can be picked up at any of the Northern District's five offices. Check the court's fee page for copy costs.

The Portage County Clerk of Courts charges $1 per page for certified copies of local court records and 10 cents per page for non-certified copies. Payment is by cash, check, or money order made payable to the Portage County Clerk of Courts.

What Portage County Bankruptcy Records Contain

A bankruptcy case file for a Portage County resident holds many types of documents. The petition starts the case. It lists the debtor's name, address, and the chapter being filed. Schedules show all assets, debts, income, and expenses. The meeting of creditors notice goes out to everyone owed money. Under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 2002, creditors must get at least 21 days notice before this meeting.

The discharge order is what most people want. It marks the end of the case and lists which debts got wiped out. Not all debts can be discharged. Student loans, most tax debts, and child support survive bankruptcy. The case file also has motions from creditors, court orders, and the trustee's report. Chapter 13 cases include the repayment plan in the file.

Under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9037, filers must redact personal data. Only the last four digits of Social Security numbers, the birth year, minors' initials, and the last four digits of account numbers show up on public filings. The filer has to do the redacting. The court does not check this for you.

Local Records Related to Portage County Bankruptcy Cases

While the bankruptcy case is a federal matter, several Portage County offices keep records that connect to bankruptcy filings. The Portage County Recorder's Office holds all real estate records, deeds, mortgages, and liens. Lori Calcei serves as the Portage County Recorder. The office is on the 4th Floor of the Portage County Administration Building at 449 S. Meridian St., Ravenna, OH 44266. You can call (330) 297-3553 for help. If a bankruptcy involves property in Portage County, the land records here are the ones you need.

The Recorder's Office maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plats for all real estate in the county.

The Portage County Common Pleas Court handles several types of cases. The General Division covers felony crimes, civil cases, and foreclosures. Foreclosure cases often show up alongside a bankruptcy filing. The Domestic Relations Division deals with divorces and custody. The Probate Court, led by Judge Thomas L. Hach, manages estates, guardianships, and marriage licenses. The Probate Court is at 203 W. Main St., PO Box 936, Ravenna, OH 44266. Call 330-297-3870 for that office.

The Portage County Municipal Court has locations in both Ravenna and Kent. The Ravenna office is at 203 W. Main Street, phone 330-297-3450. The Kent Municipal Court is at 303 East Main Street, Kent, Ohio 44240, phone 330-678-9170. Hours for Kent are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. These courts handle traffic cases, criminal misdemeanors, and civil claims up to $15,000.

Court records in Portage County are public under the Ohio Public Records Act, Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43. But certain records are kept private. Juvenile records, adoption files, and records with Social Security Numbers are among the exceptions. The CourtView system gives 24/7 online access to court records from 1992 to the present.

Portage County Bankruptcy Filing Fees

Filing fees for bankruptcy in Portage County follow the federal schedule under 28 U.S.C. § 1930. Chapter 7 costs $245. Chapter 13 costs $235. Chapter 11 runs $1,167 for most filers. Chapter 12 is $200 for family farmers and fishermen. You pay these to the clerk of the bankruptcy court when you file. The Northern District takes Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Over-the-counter payments can also be made by cashier's check, certified check, or money order. Personal checks from debtors are not accepted. Cash is no longer taken.

Fee waivers exist. If you earn less than 150% of the federal poverty line and cannot pay in installments, you may qualify. You can also ask the court to let you pay the filing fee in installments. Copies of Portage County bankruptcy records through PACER cost $0.10 per page with a $3.00 cap per document. Courthouse terminal viewing is free, but prints cost $0.10 per page.

How to Get Copies of Portage County Bankruptcy Records

For current cases, use PACER. Log in, find the case, and download what you need. Each page costs $0.10, with a $3.00 cap per document. You can also visit the Akron courthouse and use a public terminal for free viewing.

For older Portage County bankruptcy records, cases filed before 1999 may only exist on paper. Contact the court or reach out to the National Archives at Kansas City. NARA stores all closed bankruptcy case files there. You will need the court name, case number, party names, and time frame. There is no search fee. Email kansascity.archives@nara.gov or call 816-268-8000. The research room is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Book at least two business days in advance.

For local records like liens and judgments, contact the Portage County Clerk of Courts at 203 West Main Street, Ravenna, Ohio 44266. The office takes requests in person, by mail, or by email at jfankhauser@portageco.com. Certified copies cost $1 per page and non-certified copies cost 10 cents per page.

Portage County Bankruptcy Records Research Tools

The Federal Judicial Center Integrated Database holds case data for bankruptcy filings from 1970 to the present. It does not have the actual documents, but it gives you filing dates, case types, and outcomes. This can help narrow your search before you use PACER. Email IDBonline@fjc.gov with questions about the data.

Under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 5003, the clerk must keep a docket in each case. Every judgment, order, and activity gets logged. The clerk also maintains a claims register when there will be a distribution to unsecured creditors. The Northern District now has an Archived Cases Search feature for all its bankruptcy courts, which can help locate older cases that have been sent to NARA storage.

Open records requests for county-level documents can go to the Portage County Commissioners' Office at 449 South Meridian Street, 7th Floor, Ravenna, Ohio 44266. Call (330) 297-3600 for help. An open records request is a formal way to view public government documents.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Portage County. If you are not sure which county covers a specific address, check the location before searching for bankruptcy records.