Access Roswell Bankruptcy Records
Roswell bankruptcy records are held by the Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court, the same court that serves Atlanta and the rest of north Georgia. Roswell sits in Fulton County, and all Fulton County bankruptcy filings go through the Atlanta office of the Northern District. With more than 92,000 people, Roswell is among the ten largest cities in Georgia. You can search Roswell bankruptcy records through PACER at any time, call McVCIS for free basic case data, or drive to the Atlanta clerk's office to use the public terminals. All bankruptcy records are federal and open to the public.
Roswell Quick Facts
Roswell Federal Bankruptcy Court
All Roswell bankruptcy cases are filed with the Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. The court's main office is at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building, 75 Ted Turner Drive SW, Room 1340, Atlanta, GA 30303. The phone number is (404) 215-1000. Roswell does not have its own federal courthouse, so the Atlanta office handles everything.
Chief Judge Barbara Ellis-Monro leads the Northern District court. Vania S. Allen serves as clerk. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The Atlanta office is about 25 miles south of Roswell. The Northern District also has divisional offices in Gainesville, Newnan, and Rome, though the Atlanta location is the main hub for Fulton County filings.
Roswell's municipal court handles local ordinance violations and traffic matters. It has nothing to do with bankruptcy records. Those are strictly federal.
How to Search Roswell Bankruptcy Records
Start with PACER. Sign up for a free account, then search the Northern District of Georgia by debtor name or case number. You will see docket sheets, motions, schedules, creditor lists, orders, and discharge notices. The cost is $0.10 per page. PACER is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Try the PACER Case Locator if you need to search across multiple districts. It pulls results from every federal court in the country. Enter the name and see where the case was filed.
McVCIS is the free phone option. Dial 1-866-222-8029 and pick the Northern District. You get the debtor name, case number, judge, filing date, chapter, trustee, attorney, and case status. It runs around the clock, no account needed. For more detailed records, switch to PACER or visit the Atlanta office.
Roswell Bankruptcy Record Costs
PACER costs $0.10 per page. The fee cap for most individual documents is $3.00. Public terminal access at the Atlanta clerk's office is free for viewing. Printing from those terminals runs $0.10 per page.
In-person or mail copy requests are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $12 extra per document. A $34 search fee applies when you do not have the case number. Submit Form B1320 for that. Payment can be by money order, certified check, or cash at the counter.
Georgia Exemptions for Roswell Filers
Roswell residents filing for bankruptcy use Georgia's state exemptions. The state has opted out of the federal system. O.C.G.A. § 44-13-100 is the governing statute. The homestead exemption protects $21,500 in equity. Couples can shield $43,000 under certain rules. Vehicle equity is exempt up to $5,000.
Personal property is protected up to $5,000 total, with a $300 limit on each item. Jewelry has a $500 cap. Tools of the trade get $1,500. The wildcard exemption is $1,200, and filers can stack up to $10,000 of unused homestead exemption on top of it. Personal injury recoveries are exempt up to $7,500. Life insurance cash value is protected up to $2,000.
Income that is fully exempt with no cap includes Social Security, unemployment benefits, veterans benefits, workers' compensation, alimony, child support, and crime victim compensation. All standard retirement accounts are fully protected too.
Bankruptcy Types Filed in Roswell
Chapter 7 is the most common type filed by Roswell residents. It liquidates non-exempt assets to pay creditors. Most cases are no-asset, so filers keep all property. The process runs about three to four months. Chapter 13 is the next most popular. It builds a repayment plan lasting three to five years. Roswell filers with steady jobs often pick Chapter 13 to save their home from foreclosure.
Chapter 11 covers business reorganization. Chapter 12 applies to family farmers and fishermen. Both are filed through the Northern District but are uncommon in Roswell.
Roswell's city government handles local services, but bankruptcy is federal. The Northern District in Atlanta holds all Roswell case records.
Roswell Filing Rules
The 730-day residency rule means you need two full years of Georgia residency before you can use the state exemptions. Roswell is a popular destination for people moving to the Atlanta metro area. If you are a new resident, verify your residency status before filing. You may need to use your prior state's exemptions.
Time limits between filings are strict. Eight years must pass between two Chapter 7 cases. Four years is the gap from Chapter 7 to Chapter 13. Chapter 13 to Chapter 13 requires two years. The clock runs from the filing date of the earlier case.
Older Roswell Bankruptcy Records
Closed cases that have been off the docket for several years get transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration. Call the Atlanta clerk's office at (404) 215-1000 if you cannot find a Roswell case in PACER. The staff can look up the accession number, location number, and box number so you can order from NARA.
Note: Many closed cases remain in PACER even years after discharge, so always check there first before contacting NARA.
Fulton County Bankruptcy Records
Roswell is in Fulton County. The county has no role in bankruptcy filings. All Fulton County cases go to the Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. The Fulton County Superior Court Clerk keeps state records like deeds, liens, and civil case filings. The GSCCCA lets you search these across every Georgia county. Use state records alongside PACER for a broader picture of a debtor's legal situation.
Nearby Georgia Cities
Roswell is close to Atlanta and Sandy Springs, and all three share the Northern District for bankruptcy filings. Other Georgia cities fall under the Middle or Southern District.