The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Central Plains Region facility, serves as the storage facility for the majority of the court's closed case files. 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 where the case was filed and closed. NARA will not be able to locate the requested case files without this information.

Access information is not available over the phone. Before staff of the clerk's office can retrieve the requested "access information," a $26.00 search fee per case must be paid to the court. Payment of search fees must be made in the form of a certified check, money order, exact cash (the White Plains office does not accept cash) or attorney's check. Personal checks cannot be accepted. Attorneys' checks, certified checks and money orders should be made payable to "Clerk, USBC, SDNY."

You can obtain access information from the court 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. When mailing your request, be sure to enclose payment of the $26.00 fee in the form of a money order, certified check or attorney's check (please do not send cash through the mail). Where the information is urgently needed in an emergency situation, please contact the clerk's office via telephone.

The Bankruptcy Court will then provide the requestor with the following information:

Box Number:
FRC Accession Number:
FRC Location Number:
Court Location (city & state):
Case Name (if unknown):
Case Number (if unknown):

Once you obtain the requested information from the Bankruptcy Court, you are prepared to make your request for copies of documents to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The form used to make such a request is available through NARA’s website at http://www.archives.gov/central-plains/lees-summit/forms/natf-90.pdf. Follow the instructions provided by NARA so that NARA personnel can send you the requested copies.

The cost of copies varies, depending on the kind of case (individual, business or adversary proceeding) and the type, and number of, documents requested. Identify whether you want the PACKAGE of pre-selected documents, the ENTIRE CONTENTS of a case file, or SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS from the DOCKET SHEET. For the list of options and the associated costs, please refer to the NARA's website at http://www.archives.gov/central-plains/lees-summit/public/court-records.html#bank (see "Step 2" under Bankruptcy Case Files -- Access).