U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Missouri
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri handles bankruptcy cases across three divisions: Eastern (St. Louis), Southeastern (Cape Girardeau), and Northern (Hannibal). The Clerk’s Office is permanently staffed only at the St. Louis location, as well as the judges.
By Alexander Hernandez, J.D., Professor, and Author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge).
General Court Contact & Locations
The Clerk’s Office is the main point of contact for case administration, general inquiries, and filing. Note that the clerk’s office cannot provide legal advice.
| Office Role | Contact Information |
| Clerk’s Office Main Line | (314) 244-4500 |
| CM/ECF Help Desk (Toll-Free) | 1-866-803-9517 |
| Office Hours | Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Clerk of Court | Dana C. McWay |
Eastern Division (St. Louis – Main Office)
This is the only permanently staffed location for the Clerk’s Office.
- Location: Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse, 111 South 10th St., 4th Floor, St. Louis, MO 63102.
- Main Phone: (314) 244-4500.
All three judges for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri are primarily located at the main court office in St. Louis.
| Judge | Courtroom | Phone Number | Email for Proposed Orders |
| Hon. Bonnie L. Clair, Chief Judge | Courtroom 7 South | (314) 244-4511 (Law Clerk) | ClairOrders@moeb.uscourts.gov |
| Hon. Kathy A. Surratt-States | Courtroom 7 North | (314) 244-4541 (Judicial Assistant) | StatesOrders@moeb.uscourts.gov |
| Hon. Brian C. Walsh | Courtroom 5 North | (314) 244-4532 (Law Clerk) | WalshOrders@moeb.uscourts.gov |
The following counties are part of the Eastern Division.
| County Name | County Name | County Name | County Name |
| City of St. Louis | Crawford | Dent | Franklin |
| Gasconade | Jefferson | Lincoln | Maries |
| Phelps | St. Charles | St. Francois | St. Louis County |
| Warren | Washington |
Southeastern Division (Cape Girardeau)
This division is unstaffed except when hearings are scheduled.
Location: Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse, 555 Independence Street, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703.
The following counties are part of the Southeastern Division.
| County Name | County Name | County Name | County Name |
| Bollinger | Butler | Cape Girardeau | Carter |
| Dunklin | Iron | Madison | Mississippi |
| New Madrid | Pemiscot | Perry | Reynolds |
| Ripley | Scott | Shannon | Ste. Genevieve |
| Stoddard | Wayne | (Total: 18) |
Northern Division (Hannibal)
This division is also unstaffed except when hearings are scheduled.
Location: Federal Building, 801 Broadway, Hannibal, MO 63401.
The following counties are part of the Northern Division.
| County Name | County Name | County Name | County Name |
| Adair | Audrain | Chariton | Clark |
| Knox | Lewis | Linn | Macon |
| Marion | Monroe | Montgomery | Pike |
| Ralls | Randolph | Schuyler | Scotland |
| Shelby |
The information provided on this website regarding the bankruptcy court system is intended as a general overview; however, also confirm with your district’s bankruptcy court procedures, as local rules can vary between districts within a state.
Information on the Eastern District is available here. Looking for other states’ bankruptcy court systems? Click here.
For the most current and accurate information, I strongly recommend that you visit the website of the specific bankruptcy court you will be filing with. You can find contact information and website links for each district court through the United States Courts website: US Courts Bankruptcy Cases: United States Courts | (uscourts.gov).
Professor Hernandez is an attorney specializing in consumer finance and debt relief. He is the author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge) and teaches law and finance courses in both English and Spanish at an international university.
Educational Resources
- For Institutions: Colleges and universities can purchase or request examination copies of my textbook directly from Routledge Publishing.
- For Students & Practitioners: Single print and digital copies are available via Amazon Books.
- Video Lectures: Stream comprehensive legal breakdowns and video explanations on the Prof. Hernandez YouTube Channel.
Bankruptcy Court & Consumer Resources
Explore a deep dive for consumer guides and court directories to navigate your legal options:
- A step-by-step master guide on Filing for Bankruptcy and Navigating the Petition.
- Access full directories for the Federal Bankruptcy Court System and Trustee Contact Information.
- Protect your assets by reviewing your specific State Bankruptcy Exemptions or compare them against the Federal Bankruptcy Exemptions.
- Prepare for your court date with the updated brief on the 341 Meeting of Creditors Rules and Procedures.
Please note that the information on this site does not constitute legal advice and should be considered for informational purposes only.
You must be logged in to post a comment.