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Frequently Asked Questions

  • May I speak directly with a bankruptcy judge?

    Speaking with a judge outside of a hearing is considered improper "ex parte" contact with the court. In order to preserve the integrity of the court and to prevent the appearance of any impropriety or allegations of preferential treatment, all contact and communications with the judges must happen through pleadings or in a court hearing.

  • Is the United States Bankruptcy Court accessible to handicapped people? Will the court provide and pay for an interpreter for me?

    The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma has implemented a number of accommodations pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

    • The South door that faces Boulder Avenue is handicap accessible. There is an intercom system located next to the door to request access thru the handicap entrance.

    • All public restrooms are ADA compliant.

    • All smoke detectors/fire alarms have strobe lights for the deaf.

    • All elevators are equipped with Braille signage and emergency call buttons.

    • All courtrooms are wheelchair accessible.

    If you are a debtor (the person who filed bankruptcy), a creditor (person owed money from the debtor) or other interested party to a bankruptcy case, and you are deaf, hearing impaired, or have other communication disabilities, a sign language interpreter or assistive listening device will be provided by the bankruptcy court for the hearing, without charge.

    • Sign language interpreters: To request a sign language interpreter for a hearing or trial, please contact the Clerk's Office at 918-699-4040.
    • Assistive listening device: The courtrooms are equipped with infrared emitters and receivers for use with headphones and/or for hearing aids that are compatible with an induction loop. Please call at 918-699-4040 for further assistance.

    The Clerk's Office would appreciate at least five business days advance notice when the need for an interpreter or use of the assistive listening device is anticipated. If you need similar assistance for a meeting of creditors, please contact the U. S. Trustee's Office at 918-581-6670.

  • Will the court fax documents to me?

    The Clerk's Office does not transmit documents by fax. Requested documents may be paid for and picked up at the Clerk's Office during normal business hours.

    Alternatively, the Clerk's Office will quote callers the specific cost based on the number of copies requested. You can then mail a money order for that amount along with a self-addressed stamped envelope with sufficient postage to cover the mailing costs of sending the copies. Your documents will be processed and returned by mail promptly.

  • How do I get certified copies of documents from the Clerk's Office?

    Certified documents must be copied and prepared by the Clerk’s Office. The certification fee is $11.00 per document, plus $.50 per page. If a certified docket sheet is required, it is subject to similar fees.

    To obtain certified copies:

    1. You may come to the Clerk's Office during business hours. Our address is: 224 S Boulder, Suite 105, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
    2. If you are not able to come to our office, you can request the copies by phone at 918-699-4072. The Clerk’s Office will quote callers the cost based on the number of copies needed. Once you have received the quote, mail a money order for the amount specified by the Clerk’s Office. Also, include a self-addressed stamped envelope with sufficient postage to cover the mailing costs of sending back the certified copies you have ordered.
  • How do I get copies of a document from a case?

    You can get copies of a document on the web if you have a PACER account or by coming into the clerk's office. You may also come to or call the clerk's office at 918-699-4072, but you must pay for the copies and send a self-addressed, stamped envelope before the copies will be sent.

    Due to privacy procedures, some documents filed electronically will not be available online. When a user tries to access a document that is not available online, the System will display the message, “The document has been restricted. If this document is not redacted or sealed it may be viewed in the Clerk’s Office...” Restricted documents will be available for viewing and printing at the Clerk’s Office or may be purchased in paper form. For instructions on purchasing a restricted document by mail, please call 918-699-4072.

  • Where can I find hearing information?

    The court calendar for Chief Judge Michael is posted on our website. To access a calendar go to:

    Court Calendars

  • How can I get information about a case?

    There are several ways you can get information about a case:

    1. If you have access to the internet, you may obtain information about a case through the "Public Access to Court Electronic Records" system also known as "PACER." PACER is a service that allows users to obtain case and docket information from federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts via the internet. A login and password is required to access PACER. Once registered, a PACER login and password allows the account holder access to our court dockets and all documents from 1997 to present.

      To obtain a PACER login and password, call (800) 676-6856 or complete the on-line PACER Registration Form available at the following link:

      https://pacer.uscourts.gov/register-account

      PACER charges $0.10 per page retrieved. This applies to both the pages of search results and the pages of documents you retrieve. The charge for any single document is capped at $3.00, the equivalent of 30 pages. The cap does not apply to name searches, reports that are not case-specific, and transcripts of federal court proceedings. If you accrue a total of less than $30.00 worth of charges in any given quarter, fees are waived for that quarter. More information on PACER can be accessed at the following link:

      https://pacer.uscourts.gov/help/faqs

      Due to new privacy procedures, some documents filed electronically will not be available online. When a user tries to access a document that is not available online, the System will display the message, “The document has been restricted. If this document is not redacted or sealed it may be viewed in the Clerk’s Office...” Restricted documents will be available for viewing and printing at the Clerk’s Office or may be purchased in paper form. For instructions on purchasing a restricted document by mail, please call 918-699-4072.

    2. If you are in the Tulsa area, the Clerk's Office has computer terminals available to the public for viewing electronic case records. Case files from 1997 to the present are available for review free of charge at our public use terminals. Please note there is a $0.10 per page charge to obtain copies of case documents from the public use computers. The Clerk's Office must have exact change; please plan accordingly if you anticipate needing copies.
      The Clerk's Office is located at:

      United States Bankruptcy Court
      Northern District of Oklahoma
      224 S. Boulder Ave., Suite 105
      Tulsa, OK 74103

      The Clerk's Office is open:

      Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Closed on All Federal Holidays

    3. From a telephone, you can access limited case information at any time, free of charge, using the Multi-Court Voice Case Information System (McVCIS) at (866) 222-8029.

      Information available on McVCIS includes the debtor(s) name, case number, chapter, date filed, debtor's attorney name & telephone number, trustee name, and the date, time and location of the meeting of creditors.

  • What is an Adversary Proceeding?

    An adversary proceeding is a lawsuit related to a particular bankruptcy case. An adversary proceeding begins when a complaint is filed with the court and the appropriate fee is paid. This complaint is given a separate case number, and advances according to the court's policies. More information on adversary proceedings may be found in the Bankruptcy Code, the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, and the court's local rules.

    Adversary proceedings are extremely complex; parties not represented by an attorney are strongly urged to consult a bankruptcy attorney when considering filing an adversary proceeding.

  • What is a Certificate of Service?

    A certificate of service states: (1) who was given a copy of a particular document, and (2) how, when, where, and in what format they received the document. Generally, the Bankruptcy Code, the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, and the Court's local rules outline the specific requirements of service for a motion or other pleading. The requirements of service are varied and may include such things as time constraints, manner of distribution, and which parties must receive a copy. Please review our court's local rules and the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure for more in-depth information on service of pleadings.

    The correct and appropriate service of a pleading is critical to obtaining the requested relief. Unrepresented parties are strongly encouraged to consult an attorney.

  • What is a motion?

    A motion is a written request made to the court for the purpose of obtaining a ruling or order directing that some act be done or decision made on a matter.

    Parties that are not represented by an attorney are strongly urged to consult an attorney prior to filing a motion or request. The filing of various motions is governed by complex rules, time limits, and notice requirements, which can impact the outcome of a request.

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