Search criteria
- Determine your search criteria because the BRS requires you to enter details into the family name and given name or reference number (district and number) fields.
- The BRS defaults to search Insolvency records started in the last 10 years of the date you are searching; if older records are required ensure you uncheck the box located at the bottom of the search form.
- Searches will return a maximum of 50 matches for your criteria, if too many matches are found you will need to refine your search.
There are two options for searching the Bankruptcy Register Search. You can search via the Name and/or date of birth of an individual or via an AFSA Reference number.
Name and date of birth search
Default limit of 10 years
All name searches on the Bankruptcy Register Search (BRS) default to records started in the last 10 years plus older undischarged bankruptcies. To search for earlier records select the radio button next to ‘Search all insolvency records back to 1928’.
Mandatory criteria
The mandatory fields for performing a name and date of birth search are:
- Family name
- Given name
For each of the mandatory fields, you need to choose a search method.
Search method options
The following table explains the search method options:
| Search method | Usage |
|---|---|
| Starts with |
Can help locate the person if you don't know the exact details; eg STE will match STEVEN, STEPHEN, and STEPHANIE. Or if the name is a common alias or abbreviation; eg TIM will match TIMOTHY and TIMEON. |
| Exact | Returns exact matches eg STEVEN will match STEVEN, (it will not match STEPHEN). |
| Contains | Can help locate the person if you don't know the exact details eg STE will match STEVEN, STEPHEN, STEPHANIE, ESTELLE and CELESTE. |
Special characters
You can enter special characters like -, ’, ( but the BRS should still find the relevant records without them.
What if I’m looking for a person with only one name?
You can search for people with a single name by entering the name into the family name field and entering a dash (-) in the given name field. Don’t forget to select the search method for both the family and given name fields.
Optional criteria
If the search criterion matches over 50 records on the National Personal Insolvency Index (NPII), the BRS will ask you to redefine your criteria. It will not charge you for this initial search attempt.
You can redefine your search by completing the optional criteria of middle name and date of birth.
Middle name
After entering a middle name, you can deselect the checkbox ‘also match records with no middle name’. This means that the BRS will not include records without a middle name in your search results. Not all NPII records contain a middle name so it’s a good idea to keep this option checked.
As well as the three search methods used for mandatory criteria, there are two extra search methods when searching for a middle name. They are:
- Any middle name: Returns results that have any middle name and match your other criteria.
- No middle name: Returns only results with nothing recorded for middle name on the NPII.
Date of birth
Like the middle name optional criteria, you can deselect the checkbox ‘also match records with no date of birth’. However, some NPII records may not contain a date of birth so we recommend that you keep this option checked.
Use the date of birth format of DD/MM/YYYY, eg 01/01/2000.
The following are the search methods of the date of birth optional criteria.
| Search method | Usage |
|---|---|
| Any date of birth | Returns results that have any date of birth and match your other criteria. |
| Exact | Returns exact matches, eg 01/01/2000 will match 01/01/2000 but not 01/01/1982. |
| +- 1 year |
Returns results with a date of birth one year prior and one year after the date entered into the date of birth field. For example, 01/01/2000 will match dates between 01/01/1999 and 01/01/2001. |
| +- 5 years |
Returns results with a date of birth five years prior and five years after the date entered into the date of birth field. For example, 01/01/2000 will match dates between 01/01/1995 and 01/01/2005. |
| Range | Returns results within the from and to dates specified. |
Search extract or result report
For your search fee, you receive a search of the National Personal Insolvency Index and only one of the following:
- an extract (details of a person’s insolvency) or
- a result report (a list of people who match your search criteria, if any).
To save a search extract
On the Search Result Summary screen you must tick the check box against the individual you want to receive the extract for and select View Selected Extract(s).
The search extract details will appear, you can then select Save this Extract.
To save a result report
On the Search Result Summary screen you must select Save Result Report.
A confirmation screen will appear which allows you to download the report as a PDF document.
AFSA reference search
The AFSA reference search is a number usually displayed on documents issued by the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA). An example of its usual format is WA 0000/1/2.
You can use the AFSA reference number to locate a specific record from the National Personal Insolvency Index. An AFSA reference search has the four fields of:
- district (eg NSW, SA, WA)
- number
- year
- checkdigit.
Recording your search
- Remember to record your Search/Extract ID once you have completed your search, this is presented in the top right had corner and will assist if you need to enquire further about your result.
- The BRS can email all requested extracts and invoices directly to you by entering a valid email address (if you do not have an email address and do not wish to create one you can download these documents from the BRS).
How do I receive my invoices and results?
It is important to note that you must save your search result or request the result be emailed to you.
Receiving your invoice
The Bankruptcy Register Search (BRS) will email all requested extracts and invoices directly to you by entering your email address on the search criteria screen. If you do not have an email address you will need to deselect the ‘Yes please email me my purchased extracts’ check box to proceed.
If you do not have an email address and do not wish to create one you can download the documents from the BRS.
Viewing your invoice
Click on the View or Download links beneath the search criteria on the results screen to view your invoice.
The invoice for additional extracts can be accessed via the View or Download links located at the top of the screen displaying the extracts requested.
If multiple extracts have been requested clicking next to view others requested will remove the invoice links, they can then only be accessed via Search history and invoices.
After requesting extracts each one can be saved individually by clicking the Save Extract Button; or if multiple have been requested they can all be saved in one file by clicking the Save all Extracts Button located in the bottom right corner.
Search history and invoices
Located in the top right corner, allows full access to all searches conducted during your BRS session. This is useful for retrieving any invoices you did not save and/or to review the searches you have conducted; by clicking the relevant Invoice identifier you can open or save it. Specific Search Result Summary/Extracts can also be retrieved.
Important: If your session ends by you closing your browser or your session timing out (30mins of inactivity) this data will be cleared.
