Savannah Bankruptcy Records Search
Savannah bankruptcy records are filed with the Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court, which has a staffed office on Barnard Street in downtown Savannah. Chatham County residents and filers from surrounding coastal counties use this office for court filings and record requests. The Savannah division is one of three staffed offices in the Southern District, along with Augusta and Brunswick. You can search Savannah bankruptcy records any time through the PACER online system, use the free McVCIS phone service, or go to the Savannah clerk's office to view case records on the public terminals.
Savannah Quick Facts
Savannah Federal Bankruptcy Court
The Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court maintains a fully staffed office in Savannah at 124 Barnard Street, Second Floor, Savannah, GA 31401. The phone number is (912) 650-4100. The mailing address is PO Box 8347, Savannah, GA 31412. Chief Judge Michele J. Kim leads this court, and Dana M. Wilson serves as clerk of court.
The Savannah office is a key location for bankruptcy filings from the coastal region. Chatham County, along with nearby Bryan, Effingham, and Liberty counties, all fall under the Savannah division. Staff at this office process new filings, handle record requests, and assist visitors using the public terminals. Hours are Monday through Friday.
The Southern District also has staffed offices in Augusta and Brunswick. Unstaffed offices in Dublin, Statesboro, and Waycross hold hearings only. Mail for those locations should go to the Augusta or Brunswick office.
How to Search Savannah Bankruptcy Cases
PACER is the primary search tool. Create a free account, then pick the Southern District of Georgia. Search by name or case number. You get docket sheets, motions, orders, and every document filed in the case. The cost is $0.10 per page. PACER runs around the clock.
If you need free information fast, call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. Choose the Southern District. The system will read back the debtor name, case number, filing date, chapter type, judge, trustee, attorney, and current status. It is automated and available day or night. No account needed.
Visit the Savannah office in person to use the public computer terminals. Viewing is free. Printing costs $0.10 per page. The staff can point you in the right direction if you are new to the system.
Savannah Bankruptcy Record Fees
PACER charges $0.10 per page for any document you view or download. Public terminal access at the Savannah clerk's office is free for viewing only. Printing from those terminals is $0.10 per page.
If you order copies by mail or in person, expect to pay $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost an extra $12 per document. The search fee is $34 when you lack a case number and need the clerk's office to look it up for you. Submit Form B1320 with that request. Pay by money order or certified check made to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." In-person visitors can also pay cash.
Note: The fee cap on most PACER documents is $3.00, which means shorter filings cost very little to access.
Exemptions for Savannah Bankruptcy Filers
Savannah residents who file for bankruptcy must use Georgia's state exemptions. Federal exemptions are not available. O.C.G.A. § 44-13-100 sets out the full list. The homestead exemption is $21,500, or $43,000 for a married couple under certain conditions. Vehicles are exempt up to $5,000. Personal property gets a $5,000 total exemption, capped at $300 per item.
Other key exemptions include $500 for jewelry, $1,500 for tools of the trade, and a $1,200 wildcard plus up to $10,000 in unused homestead. Personal injury recovery is protected up to $7,500. Unmatured life insurance cash value has a $2,000 cap.
Income that is fully exempt in Savannah bankruptcy cases includes Social Security, unemployment, veterans benefits, workers' comp, alimony, child support, and crime victim compensation. Retirement accounts are protected with no dollar limit.
Savannah Bankruptcy Filing Types
Most Savannah filers choose Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Chapter 7 is the faster option. Non-exempt assets are liquidated, and qualifying debts get discharged. The process usually wraps up in three to four months. Many Chapter 7 cases in Savannah are no-asset, meaning the filer keeps all property.
Chapter 13 creates a structured repayment plan over three to five years. Filers with steady income use it to save their home from foreclosure or restructure car payments. Chapter 11 business reorganization and Chapter 12 for family farmers are also available through the Savannah court but are filed less often.
The Southern District website has Savannah-specific filing instructions and a full schedule of court hearings.
Residency and Filing Limits
You need 730 days of Georgia residency to claim the state's bankruptcy exemptions. That is two years. If you moved to Savannah recently, you may have to use your prior state's exemption rules instead. This is a federal rule and it trips up many new residents who want to file right away.
Repeat filings have time limits too. Chapter 7 to Chapter 7 requires eight years. Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 needs four years. Chapter 13 to Chapter 13 has a two-year wait. These gaps start from the filing date of the earlier case, not the discharge.
Archived Savannah Cases
Closed bankruptcy cases from the Savannah division are eventually transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration. If your PACER search comes up empty, the records may be archived. Contact the Savannah clerk's office at (912) 650-4100 to get the information NARA needs: case number, accession number, location number, and box number. Then submit your request through the NARA website.
Chatham County Bankruptcy Records
Savannah is the county seat of Chatham County. Bankruptcy filings for Chatham County residents are handled by the Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court in Savannah. The Chatham County Superior Court Clerk maintains state records like property deeds, liens, and civil judgments, but not bankruptcy records. The GSCCCA statewide database is useful for searching those related county filings alongside federal bankruptcy records.
Nearby Georgia Cities
Look up bankruptcy records for other cities across Georgia. Augusta is in the same Southern District as Savannah. Other major cities are spread across the Northern and Middle Districts.