Search Atkinson County Bankruptcy Records

Atkinson County bankruptcy records are managed by the federal court system and stored at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia. The county seat is Pearson, but no bankruptcy cases are filed at the local courthouse. You search for these records online through PACER, by phone using McVCIS, or in person at the federal clerk office in Savannah. All case filings, docket sheets, and related bankruptcy documents for Atkinson County residents are held at the federal level.

Searching Atkinson County Bankruptcy Cases

The best way to find bankruptcy records in Atkinson County is through PACER. This online system gives you access to all federal court records, and it works around the clock. Sign up for a free account, then search by the debtor's name or a case number. Results include the full docket sheet, all filed documents, and current case status for any Atkinson County filing.

Not sure which court handled the case? The PACER Case Locator searches every federal court in the country at once. Type in a name and it tells you which district has the case. This saves time when searching for Atkinson County bankruptcy records if you only know the person's name and nothing else. You can save searches and bookmark cases for later.

McVCIS is the free option. Dial 1-866-222-8029 from any phone. The automated system gives you basic case data like debtor name, case number, chapter type, assigned judge, and filing date. Pick the Southern District when the menu asks which court. It runs 24 hours a day, all year.

Federal Court Serving Atkinson County

The Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court serves Atkinson County. This court has staffed offices in Savannah, Augusta, and Brunswick. The Savannah office at 124 Barnard Street, Second Floor is the primary location. You can call (912) 650-4100 for questions about Atkinson County bankruptcy cases. The court also has locations in Waycross and Statesboro, but those offices are only staffed when hearings take place.

All new bankruptcy filings from Atkinson County go to the Southern District. The court assigns a judge, trustee, and case number once you file. Chief Judge Michele J. Kim oversees the bench. Dana M. Wilson is the Clerk of Court. Mail for Atkinson County cases should go to PO Box 8347, Savannah, GA 31412.

The Southern District homepage provides case information and links to search tools, filing instructions, and fee schedules that apply to Atkinson County filings.

Atkinson County Bankruptcy Record Fees

Costs vary based on how you access the records. PACER charges $0.10 per page for online searches and downloads. There is a cap of $3.00 for single documents that run 30 pages or less. Viewing records on public terminals at the clerk office is free, but printing at those terminals costs $0.10 per page.

If you request copies by mail or in person, the rate is $0.50 per page. A certified copy adds $12.00 on top of the page fee. When you don't have a case number and need the court to find it for you, that search costs $34.00. Submit Form B1320 with your payment. Make checks or money orders out to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court."

Note: PACER fees can be waived for users who do not go over $30 in a quarter.

Bankruptcy Exemptions for Atkinson County Residents

Georgia does not allow its residents to use federal bankruptcy exemptions. Atkinson County filers must use the state exemptions laid out in O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption protects up to $21,500 of equity in a primary home. A married couple can protect up to $43,000 under the right conditions.

Other key exemptions for Atkinson County filers include $5,000 for a motor vehicle, $5,000 total for personal property (no single item over $300), $500 for jewelry, and $1,500 for tools of the trade. The wildcard exemption lets you protect $1,200 in any type of asset, plus up to $10,000 from any unused portion of the homestead exemption. Certain income sources are fully exempt. Social Security, veterans benefits, workers compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, unemployment pay, and alimony or child support payments cannot be touched in an Atkinson County bankruptcy case.

Atkinson County Clerk Office

Cynthia G. Dillingham serves as the Clerk of Superior Court in Atkinson County. The office is at 19 Robert Ave W, Pearson, GA 31642. Phone number is (912) 422-3343. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, but the office closes from noon to 1:00 PM for lunch. This clerk handles state court records only.

The Atkinson County clerk keeps civil and criminal case files, deed records, and other state-level documents. These records are separate from federal bankruptcy filings. However, property liens or judgments that show up in county records can tie back to a bankruptcy case. If a creditor files a lien on Atkinson County property and the debtor later files for bankruptcy, both sets of records may be relevant. For state-level record searches across Georgia, the GSCCCA website is a useful tool.

The image below shows the Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court homepage, where Atkinson County bankruptcy cases are filed and stored.

Use this site to find forms, fee information, and contact details for the court that handles Atkinson County filings.

Filing Rules and Archived Records

Atkinson County residents need to meet certain requirements before filing for bankruptcy. You must have lived in Georgia for at least 730 days to use state exemptions. That is a full two years. If you have not been here that long, you might have to use exemptions from the state where you lived before.

Re-filing limits also apply. After a Chapter 7 discharge, you wait eight years to file Chapter 7 again. Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 requires four years. Chapter 13 to Chapter 13 is just two years. These time frames are set by federal law under 11 U.S.C. and apply equally to all Atkinson County filers.

Older cases from Atkinson County may have been moved to the National Archives (NARA). Contact the clerk office in Savannah first to get the reference numbers you need, then place your order with NARA directly. This process can take a few weeks, so plan ahead if you need older records from Atkinson County.

Nearby Counties

These counties sit next to Atkinson County in south Georgia. All are part of the Southern District for bankruptcy purposes, though some border counties that fall under the Middle District.