- Step 1: Perform a search
- Step 2: Refine your search
- FAQ
- Record of transactions
- User Management
Registration
New clients looking to complete a search in the bankruptcy and insolvency records search database can register online for free.
If you had an account before July 2023, do not use your old Bankruptcy and Insolvency Search credentials. You will need to create a GCKey or use a Sign-In Partner as part of the new login process.
Searches are made via the OSB website.
Cost
The cost to view the results of a search is $8 for each set of 10 (or fewer) records (CCAA records can be viewed free of charge). You can purchase search rights in the form of “tokens”. Note that if you are registered as a user in a group, tokens purchased are shared within the group.
Note: If your search results in the response "10 or fewer matches were found (including no matches found)," you must pay the minimum $8 fee to view the results, even if the result turns out to mean there are no records at all.
You will be told how many $8 "tokens" you need to buy to view the results of your search.
Except in cases where the search results in fewer than 10 records, you will be told the exact number of records found and the cost associated with viewing all records. However, you pay only for the sets of 10 records that you view. For example, if there are 61 records found and you view only the first set of 10, you will be charged only $8.
You can refine your search as often as you like before you view the results. We suggest you start with the name only. If the number of records found is too high, you can add additional information to narrow your search. Be sure the information you enter is correct, otherwise, you could get inaccurate results.
Steps
- Step 1: Perform a search
- Step 2: Refine your search
- Step 3: Method of payment
- Step 4: View, print or save details of your search
- Step 5: Log out
- Definitions of terms
Before you can perform a search, you must log in with your GCKey or Sign-In Partner. If you do not have a GCKey, you must create one by providing a username, a password and password recovery questions. (For more information, see Registration.)
To view previous transactions, add a new user to your account, modify user information or delete a user, click "My OSB account". (For more information see, My OSB account.)
Note: This search includes both bankruptcy and insolvency (BIA) records as well as records for companies that filed under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) since September 18, 2009. (Only companies that owe creditors at least $5 million can file under the CCAA . There is no charge to view these records.)
Step 1. Perform a search
To search by name, enter the information you know in any order in the space provided and click "Search." (For tips on doing a name search, see our list of frequently asked questions.)
To search by BIA estate number or CCAA file number, click the "Search by File Number" tab.
Searching using wild cards
If you are unsure of the spelling of a name but know at least two letters, you can use one of two wild cards:
- an asterisk (*) can be used to replace one or more unknown letters, for example, "Rob*" will give you records such as Robertson, Robinson, Roberts; and
- an underscore can be used to replace a single unknown letter, for example, "Si_ard" will give you records such as Simard and Sicard.
Since wild cards can help to increase the number of matches, they can also increase the cost (if you choose to view the search results). For that reason, we recommend that you use them sparingly.
Remember there is no charge to view CCAA records, so you may want to view them first. (Click on the "CCAA Records" tab.)
Once you submit your query, you will be told the number of matches if there are more than 10. If there are fewer than 10 or none, the message will read "10 or fewer matches were found (including no matches found)."
The system will tell you the maximum cost for viewing all of the results. The results are shown in sets of 10 or fewer and each set of 10 costs $8 to view.
If the number of matches is large, you may want to refine your search by going to Step 2. If the number of matches is very large, the system may prompt you to refine your search.
If you get a small number of search results and you don't need to refine your search, go directly to Step 3.
Step 2. Refine your search
"Refine Search" will take you back to the main page where you can use additional selections to refine your search as often as you wish until you decide to pay to view the results either from your OSB billing account or by using your credit card.
1. Search by File Number
If you know the BIA Estate Number, this will allow you to find it quickly.
You can also search using the CCAA File Number assigned by the OSB (not the CCAA court number).
2. Search by Name
Name of business or individual
You can enter the first name, last name or both, in any order, as long as you enter at least two letters. You can also use an asterisk (*) to replace one or more unknown letters (searching using wild cards).
Type
You can choose an individual, a corporation or both. An individual means a human being (natural person). A corporation is a legal entity (usually a business), distinct from its shareholders, that under law, can act as a natural person.
Filed after
You can narrow the search if you know the approximate year (YYYY) the bankruptcy or insolvency was filed.
Province or territory where the bankruptcy or insolvency was filed
For individual bankruptcies, enter this information only if you are certain you know the province or territory where the person was living when they filed, as this may be different from where they live currently
Birth date
If you know the person's exact date of birth, enter the information using the format YYYY-MM-DD . Note that records that are missing birthdate information may not appear in the list of results.
Birth-year range
If you know a range of years when the person might have been born, enter the information using the format YYYY. Note that records that are missing birthdate information may not appear in the list of results.
Once you are satisfied with the results of your search, proceed to Step 3.
Frequently asked questions about the name search
Q. What if the name has an apostrophe?
A. Use apostrophes where necessary ( e.g. O'Connor, Centre d'hébergement ).Q. What if there are two last names?
A. Use either or both, with or without a hyphen.Q. What if there is a hyphen?
A. Searches can be conducted with or without hyphens.Q. What if I don't know the full name of a company?
A. If you type two words of the name of a company, the search results will include every business registered that has those words as part of the name.Q. What if I know the exact name of the company?
A. You may want to enclose the words in quotation marks; the search results will include only those exact words in the order you type them, thus reducing the number of matches.Step 3. Method of payment
(Remember there is no charge to view CCAA records, so you may want to view them first. Click on the " CCAA Records" tab.)
Choose your method of payment ("Credit Card" or "My OSB account") by clicking on the appropriate button.
Note: payments through “My OSB account” are only available to existing clients that have obtained a monthly billing account prior to July 2016.
Charge to credit card
New and existing clients paying by credit card will be told how many $8 "tokens" they need to buy to view the results of the search. Each token can be used to view up to 10 matches. The system will tell you the number of tokens you will need to view all of the results.
When you pay by credit card (VISA or MasterCard); you will be prompted for your credit card information. After your payment has been processed, click "Submit" and your search results will appear on the screen. The number of tokens you have remaining will also be displayed.
Note: Our systems will not save your credit card information; therefore, if you’d like to avoid re-entering this information each time you perform a search, you may purchase numerous tokens during your first purchase and they will remain in your account until further use.
Charge to your OSB Account
To use this method of payment, you must already have a monthly billing account set up with the OSB prior to July 2016.
Step 4. View, print or save details of your search
CCAA records
When you choose to view CCAA records (i.e., by clicking the "CCAA Records" tab), you will be able to view, print or save your search results. There is no charge to view these records.
BIA records
Once you have paid for your search, one of three situations will occur:
- The system indicates there are no matches. Press "View details of the results" to print or save. Even when there are no matches, it is still a good idea to print the results of your search or save them to your desktop. This will be your record that, according to your search criteria, nothing was found in our records.
- The system indicates there are 10 or fewer matches. You now have the option of viewing and printing or saving to your desktop the details of each record, one at a time. To view the details for a record, click on the name. After printing or saving a record to your desktop, click the "Back to the search results" link at the bottom of the page to go back to the list where you can click on another name and select another record. Don't forget to print the details of the results of your search or save them to your desktop.
- The system indicates there are more than 10 matches. You now have the option of viewing and printing or saving to your desktop details of each record, one at a time. To view the details of a record, click on the name. If you finish viewing a set of 10 records and still have not found what you are looking for, you can select "Next 10" or "Previous 10."
You pay only for the records you view. Before viewing them, you will be told the total number of records found and the maximum cost to view all of the results.
You will be charged $8 for every set of 10 records you view. For example, if your search resulted in 38 matches found and you view all of them, the total cost will be $32 (three sets of 10 plus one set of 8 = $32). However, if you find what you are looking for in the second set of 10 records and stop there, the total cost of your search will be $16.
Step 5. Log out
When you are finished, log out by clicking the "Logout" link at the top of the page.
My OSB account
Clicking on "My OSB account" enables you to view previous transactions (see "Record of transactions" below), add a new user to the account, modify user information or delete a user (see "User management" below).
Record of transactions
This allows you to view previous searches. You can choose to view a complete list of searches (transactions), or all searches conducted within a specific time period.
- the searches made and charged to your account with the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (account activity for a user);
- the searches made and charged to your credit card (credit card activity for a user);
- the searches made and charged to your account and your credit card (account and credit card activity for a user); and
- a list of all searches by everyone using the account (viewable only if you are an administrator for the account).
User management
This allows administrators to add, delete or modify user profiles within a group.
Before being added to a group, each user must register online for free if they do not already have an account.
To add a new user, select "My OSB Account", followed by "User Management". Then click on "Add user", enter the new user's email address and click on "Verify". Then select the appropriate user type and click the "Save" button.
