Q: I am trying to find documents on the Chapter 13 in my name from 2017

A: Here are a few ways you can try to locate documents related to your 2017 Chapter 13 bankruptcy case:

1. Contact the bankruptcy court where you filed. The court should be able to provide you with copies of key documents from your case, such as the petition, schedules, plan, and discharge order (if your case was completed). There may be a small fee for copies.

2. Log in to your PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) account if you have one. As the debtor, you can access your case documents through PACER. If you don't have an account, you can register for one at pacer.uscourts.gov.

3. Check with your bankruptcy attorney, if you used one. Your attorney should have copies of all the paperwork filed in your case. Even if you no longer retain them, they are obligated to keep your file for a certain number of years.

4. Access your records through a third-party public records website, some of which provide bankruptcy case information. However, make sure to use a reputable source.

5. Get your free annual credit report from annualcreditreport.com. While it won't have all the bankruptcy documents, it should list the filing under the public records section, confirming the basic details like the court and case number which can help you request documents from the court.

When contacting the court, have your full name, last 4 digits of your Social Security number, and case number ready to help them locate your records quickly. The case number is especially helpful if you have it.

A: Contact your local bankruptcy court by going to the United States Bankruptcy court website for your locality. They will help you.