UPDATE - March 2002 Free Bankruptcy Filing Information No Longer Available

Merlin Information Services—the long-time favorite of private investigators—is now offering a free, searchable database of personal and business bankruptcy filings.

Search fields include:

• Name
• Social Security Number
• Case Number
• City
• State

Users can enter as little or as much information as they know. (A search for an individual with an unusual name in "all states" returned information that the individual had indeed filed for bankruptcy protection.)

Returned results include only:

• Name
• Filing Date
• City
• State

Even though the returned information is limited, this free search can be helpful in pinpointing the location of a bankruptcy filing or at least confirming that a bankruptcy was filed as a first step in investigation or discovery. Merlin offers more detailed information regarding bankruptcy records to subscribers.