Find Baldwin County Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records in Baldwin County are part of the federal court system. The Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court processes all filings from Baldwin County residents, with the main court office in Macon. Milledgeville is the county seat, but the local courthouse does not handle bankruptcy cases. You can search for Baldwin County bankruptcy records through PACER online, by calling McVCIS for free case details, or by visiting the clerk office in Macon. All docket sheets, petitions, and court orders are available to the public.

How to Search Baldwin County Records

Start with PACER for the most complete search. It is free to sign up. Once logged in, pick the Middle District of Georgia and search by name or case number. Results pull up the full docket, every document filed, and the current status of any Baldwin County bankruptcy case. PACER runs day and night, so you can search at any time.

If you only need basic details, try the free phone line. McVCIS is at 1-866-222-8029. It works around the clock. The system tells you the debtor name, filing date, case number, chapter, judge, trustee, and whether the case is open or closed. Select the Middle District of Georgia to search Baldwin County.

The PACER Case Locator searches every federal court in the nation at once. Use it when you are not sure which district holds a bankruptcy filing connected to Baldwin County.

Middle District Bankruptcy Court

The Middle District of Georgia serves Baldwin County and 68 other Georgia counties. Chief Judge Austin E. Carter leads the bench. Kyle George is the Clerk. The Macon office is the main hub at 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201. Phone is 478-752-3506. Hours are Monday through Friday.

Columbus has a second staffed office at 901 Front Avenue. The Middle District also holds hearings in Athens, Albany, Thomasville, and Valdosta, but those locations are only staffed during scheduled proceedings. For Baldwin County cases, the Macon office is closest. You can view records there on public terminals at no charge, or mail requests to the Macon address. The court's info page has directions and details about hours.

Baldwin County Bankruptcy Exemptions

Georgia law requires all filers, including those in Baldwin County, to use state exemptions. Under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100, the homestead exemption is $21,500. This protects equity in your home. Married couples may double that to $43,000 in certain situations. The vehicle exemption is $5,000.

Baldwin County debtors can also protect $5,000 in personal property (each item $300 or less), $500 in jewelry, and $1,500 in work tools. The wildcard of $1,200 applies to any asset, and unused homestead of up to $10,000 can boost it. Income from Social Security, veterans benefits, workers comp under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, and unemployment pay is fully exempt. Alimony and child support are also protected. Retirement accounts like 401(k) plans and IRAs can't be taken in a Baldwin County bankruptcy.

Fees for Baldwin County Records

PACER charges $0.10 per page. Documents capped at $3.00 if 30 pages or less. That covers most standard filings from Baldwin County cases. Viewing at public terminals in the Macon clerk office costs nothing. Printing there is $0.10 per page.

For copies requested by mail or in person, the fee is $0.50 per page. Certified documents add $12.00 each. A search without a case number costs $34.00. You fill out Form B1320 and send it with payment to the clerk. Payment must be a money order or certified check payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Cash works only in person.

Baldwin County Clerk Office

Wanda Paul is the Clerk of Superior Court for Baldwin County. The office is at the Baldwin County Courthouse, 121 N. Wilkinson Street, Milledgeville, GA 31061. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Visit the Baldwin County courts website for more information about local court services.

This clerk office keeps state court records. Civil lawsuits, criminal cases, deeds, and liens are on file here. These are not bankruptcy records, but they can relate to one. Property transfers, judgment liens, and civil suits sometimes connect back to a federal bankruptcy case from Baldwin County. Search the local records through the clerk or the GSCCCA statewide system.

The image below shows the Baldwin County courts page where state-level records and court information are available.

For the actual bankruptcy filing, always check the Middle District federal court system.

Archived Baldwin County Cases

Closed bankruptcy cases from Baldwin County are eventually transferred to the National Archives (NARA). To get a copy of an old case, call the Macon clerk office at 478-752-3506 first. They give you the accession and box numbers you need to order from NARA. The process takes several weeks, so build in extra time when you need archived Baldwin County bankruptcy records.

Note: Active and recently closed cases are still on PACER and don't require a NARA request.

Nearby Counties

Baldwin County is in central Georgia. These neighboring counties are all within the Middle District and their bankruptcy records are searched through the same federal court system.