Seeking bankruptcy case with only case number

Hi Ms. Fenster

Welcome to History Hub.

Would you be willing to share more information about the case?

Where was it filed?

What type of bankruptcy?

Perhaps names or company's?

The following is a question and answer by and to another poster on the same subject.

Re: Seeking my bankruptcy transcript

Jason Atkinson Mar 18, 2021 10:55 AM (in response to Donna Barrentine)

Dear Ms. Barrentine,

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

Please begin by contacting the court where the bankruptcy was originally filed, and requesting the following information:  The name of the court (including city & state) where the bankruptcy was filed, the name(s) of the party involved, case number, date of the bankruptcy, Federal Records Center transfer number, and box number for your case.

If the court informs you that the files have been transferred to the National Archives, please email the National Archives at Kansas City (RM-KC) at kansascity.archives@nara.gov. RM-KC will determine which NARA facility has the records and provide you with instructions for ordering copies.  For more information, please review Bankruptcy Case Files at the National Archives at Kansas City.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of NARA staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgement as well as a substantive response to your reference request from RM-KC. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

We hope this information is helpful. Best of luck with your research!

Thank you

Alice Lane

Research Volunteer

Thank you for asking, Alice!

the case was filed in the US District Court for the Western District of NY.  The archives are In Kansas City, I’ve been told.

it was a personal bankruptcy of Harry Altman of Buffalo, NY.  Case number 21301.  It was filed on Feb 8, 1934.  The Hon. James Persons was the referee.  The bankruptcy was discharge on April 23, 1934.

susan Fenster

Susan,

Have you done the following?

Alice Lane

Click on the following link to seen entire page............Instructions for Retrieving Copies of Case Files & Case Documents | Western District of New York | United States Bankruptcy Court (uscourts.gov)National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), serves as the storage facility for the majority of the court's closed case files. General bankruptcy case files are retained by the court for 20 years. Currently, most of the 1970-1995 bankruptcy case files have been destroyed in accordance with the approved records disposition authority (N1-578-11-001, in accordance with 44 USC § 3303).

If the case was filed before June 16, 2003 and closed more than 2 years ago, the entire case file was shipped to NARA.

To request copies of court records stored at the archives center, you will first need to obtain Federal Records Center (FRC) information from the bankruptcy court. NARA will not be able to locate the requested case files without the following information: transfer (accession) number, location number, box number, case name and case number.  This information is available over the phone or by mailing your request to the court. In order to expedite your request, be sure to provide the court with as much information as possible about the case, such as, debtor's name, case number, date filed, and social security number or tax identification number.

Your request can be sent directly to NARA or you can request that the Court retrieve the archived case file from NARA. The form used to make such a request is available through NARA’s website at http://www.archives.gov/research/court-records/form-90.pdf. Follow the instructions provided by NARA so that NARA personnel can send you the requested copies.  If you request the Court to retrieve the file, there is a $64.00 archive retrieval fee required for the Court to request the archived case file from NARA, plus 50 cents per page for copies of the case file.  Payment must be made in the form of a certified check, money order, or attorney's check.  Personal checks cannot be accepted.  Attorney's checks, certified checks and money orders should be made payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court."

Yes, I have contacted the Western District and they can’t find the Federal Records Center (FRC) information.  The only thing they found was the docket sheet from the original action.  I am trying to find out whether the information is still retrievable without the FRC info.

Susan

Dear Ms. Fenster,

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

We searched the National Archives Catalog and located Sampled Non Trial Bankruptcy Case Files, 1941 - 1994 and Historical Bankruptcy Case Files, 1976 - 1998 in the Records of the United States Bankruptcy Courts (Record Group 578) and the Bankruptcy Act of 1898 Case Files , 1/1/1901 - 12/31/1939 in the Records of District Courts of the United States (Record Group 21) for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York.  As Ms. Lane has noted, information about Requesting Bankruptcy Case Files is located on the NARA website. Please contact the National Archives at Kansas City (RM-KC) at kansascity.archives@nara.gov for further assistance with these and similar records. In your inquiry, please include as much information about the case as possible, such as the name of the court where the case was filed, the case number and name(s) of parties on the case, and the time period when the case was filed. The FRC transfer number is only required for cases dated after 1940.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of NARA staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgement as well as a substantive response to your reference request from RM-KC. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your research!