U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee: Court Information and Resources
The Western District of Tennessee is one of the federal bankruptcy districts serving residents and businesses throughout Tennessee. In conjunction with the Eastern and Middle Districts, it administers Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases filed within its jurisdiction.
This guide provides key information about the court, including division and courthouse locations, judicial assignments, Clerk’s Office contact information, filing procedures, and other resources that may be helpful to bankruptcy filers, creditors, and legal professionals.
By Alexander Hernandez, J.D., Professor, and Author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge).
General Court Information
The Clerk’s Office for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee oversees the daily administrative operations of all bankruptcy cases filed across the district. Responsibilities include docketing and maintaining official case records, processing electronic and paper filings, collecting filing fees under 28 U.S.C. §1930, and managing public access to court files via PACER.
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §955, Clerk’s Office personnel are strictly prohibited from giving legal advice. While staff members can answer basic questions regarding local rules and procedures such as scheduling hearings, fee schedules, and the filing process, they cannot interpret provisions of the Bankruptcy Code (Title 11), recommend specific filing chapters or strategies, or assist debtors in preparing or completing the bankruptcy petition.
Anyone entering a federal courthouse or bankruptcy court facility in the Western District of Tennessee, including the Odell Horton Federal Building in Memphis or the Ed Jones Federal Building in Jackson, must present valid, government-issued photo identification and is subject to magnetometer and X-ray inspection.
Individuals attending scheduled court hearings or the meeting of creditors under 11 U.S.C. §341 should bring their official court notices or docket information to expedite check-in with courthouse security and staff.
Bankruptcy Petition Filing Fees, Installment Plans, and Waivers (2026)
Filing fees are uniform nationwide. Petitions filed online through CM/ECF require payment via Pay.gov. Below are the filing fees for each bankruptcy chapter.
| Bankruptcy Chapter | Fee Amount |
| Chapter 7 | $338 |
| Chapter 13 | $313 |
| Chapter 11 (Non–Small Business) | $1,738 |
| Chapter 11 (Subchapter V) | $1,738 |
| Chapter 12 | $278 |
Filing Fee Installment Payments and Fee Waivers
Individual debtors filing for bankruptcy relief who cannot pay the filing fee upfront may apply to pay the fee in installments under Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 1006(b) by submitting Official Form 103A (Application for Individuals to Pay the Filing Fee in Installments). The filing fee may be divided into up to four installments, with the final payment due no later than 120 days after the bankruptcy petition is filed.
Upon a showing of good cause, the court may extend the final payment deadline up to 180 days from the petition date.
Chapter 7 debtors may also request a fee waiver by filing Official Form 103B (Application to Have the Chapter 7 Filing Fee Waived). Under 28 U.S.C. §1930(f), the court may waive the Chapter 7 filing fee if the debtor’s combined household income is less than 150% of the official federal poverty guidelines and the debtor demonstrates an inability to pay the fee in installments.
Approval is discretionary and depends on the court’s review of the debtor’s income, expenses, and overall financial circumstances. If a fee waiver application is denied, the court will typically establish a payment schedule for the balance due.
Below are the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
| Persons in Household | Monthly Income |
| 1 | $1,995.00 |
| 2 | $2,705.00 |
| 3 | $3,415.00 |
| 4 | $4,125.00 |
| 5 | $4,835.00 |
| 6 | $5,545.00 |
| 7 | $6,255.00 |
| 8 | $6,965.00 |
| Each additional person add: | $710.00 |
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §123(c), the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee serves across 22 counties. Venue is determined under 28 U.S.C. §1408 based on the county in which the debtor has maintained a domicile, residence, principal place of business, or principal assets.
The district is divided into two administrative divisions: the Western Division and the Eastern Division.
Western Division
The Western Division serves as the primary administrative headquarters for the Western District of Tennessee and houses the main Clerk’s Office in Memphis. The following counties are served in the Western Division: Fayette, Lauderdale, Shelby, and Tipton.
Address:
United States Bankruptcy Court
Western District of Tennessee
200 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 500
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 328-3500
Eastern Division
The Eastern Division serves rural and regional counties across the northern and eastern portions of West Tennessee. The counties served are Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Perry, and Weakley.
Address:
United States Bankruptcy Court
Western District of Tennessee
111 South Highland Avenue, Suite 107
Jackson, TN 38301
Phone: (731) 421-9300
Bankruptcy Judges for the Western District
Bankruptcy Judge | Contact Information |
| Hon. Jimmy L. Croom (Chief Judge) | Courtroom Deputy: Melissa Beacham- 731-421-9314 Career Law Clerk: Abby Little- 731-421-9372 |
| Hon. Jennie D. Latta | Courtroom Deputy: Debra Hayes: 901-328-3570 Judicial Assistant: Jennifer McGaugh- 901-328-3542 Law Clerk: Rhoda Smith- 901-328-3543 |
| Hon. M. Ruthie Hagan | Courtroom Deputy: Jenifer Joiner- 901-328-3573 Law Clerk: Donna Snow- 901-328-3534 Law Clerk: Meredith Ehemann- 901-328-3615 |
| Hon. Denise E. Barnett | Courtroom Deputy: Tonya Lepone- 901-328-3572 Judicial Law Clerk: Jack Mays- 901-328-3522 Judicial Law Clerk: Raven Burnett- 901-328-3524 |
How to Track Your Bankruptcy Case
Once a bankruptcy petition is filed, debtors, creditors, and other parties in interest can monitor docket activity and retrieve electronic filings through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), the federal judiciary’s online records portal. PACER provides real-time access to case dockets, petitions, schedules, motions, trustee reports, proofs of claim, and court orders.
PACER charges $0.10 per page for accessing documents and docket reports through December 31, 2026 (increasing to $0.12 per page effective January 1, 2027), with charges for individual case documents capped at 30 billable pages ($3.00 through 2026).
Users whose accrued charges total $30.00 or less during a quarterly billing cycle have their fees waived entirely. Effective January 1, 2027, the quarterly exemption rises to $40.00.
Parties can also call the Multi-Court Voice Case Information System (McVCIS) toll-free at 1-866-222-8029. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, this automated interactive voice response system allows callers to search by debtor name, case number, or Social Security/Tax ID number.
Conclusion
The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee administers consumer and business bankruptcy filings across all 22 counties. Whether a case is in the Western Division in Memphis or the Eastern Division in Jackson, understanding the district’s boundaries, Clerk’s Office services, fee waivers, and case-tracking tools helps parties navigate the bankruptcy process efficiently.
Because federal bankruptcy practice involves the Means Test and exemptions, individuals and businesses considering relief under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 should consult an experienced Tennessee bankruptcy attorney to evaluate their financial options and protect their real and personal property.
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 may 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 Bankruptcy.blog YouTube Channel.
Bankruptcy Court & Consumer Resources
Explore additional consumer guides and state-specific directories to navigate your legal options:
- A step-by-step master guide to completing and understanding the bankruptcy petition.
- Bankruptcy Court Directory: Full listings for the federal bankruptcy court system and trustee contact information.
- State Bankruptcy Exemptions: Review your state‑specific exemptions or compare them with the federal exemptions.
- 341 Meeting Procedures: Prepare for your court date with updated rules, expectations, and practical guidance.
Please note that the information on this site does not constitute legal advice and should be considered for informational purposes only.
Bankruptcy Code Statutory References
- 11 U.S. Code §341 – Meetings of creditors and equity security holders.
- 28 U.S. Code §1930 – Bankruptcy fees.
- 28 U.S. Code §955 – Practice of law restricted.
- Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. Rule 1006. Filing Fee.
- Application for Individuals to Pay the Filing Fee in Installments.
- Application to Have the Chapter 7 Filing Fee Waived.
- 28 U.S. Code §123 – Tennessee.
- 28 U.S. Code §1408 – Venue of cases under title 11.
You must be logged in to post a comment.