Berrien County Bankruptcy Records Lookup

Bankruptcy records in Berrien County are federal documents, not county records. The Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court in Macon handles all filings from Berrien County residents. Nashville is the county seat, but the local clerk office does not process bankruptcy cases. To search for Berrien County bankruptcy records, you can go online through PACER, use the free McVCIS phone system, or visit the federal clerk office. Docket sheets, case petitions, and court orders for all chapter types are open to public review.

Middle District Bankruptcy Court

Berrien County falls under the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. This district serves 69 counties in the central and southern parts of the state. The main courthouse is in Macon at 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201. Phone: 478-752-3506. The Columbus office at 901 Front Avenue is the second staffed location, reachable at 706-649-7837.

The Middle District holds hearings in Valdosta, which is south of Berrien County. The Valdosta office at 401 N. Patterson Street is only open during scheduled hearings, so don't walk in without confirming first. All mail for Berrien County cases goes to Macon. Chief Judge Austin E. Carter and Clerk Kyle George manage the court.

How to Look Up Berrien County Records

PACER gives you full access to Berrien County bankruptcy records from any computer. Registration is free. Select the Middle District of Georgia and search by name or case number. You see the entire docket, every filed document, and real-time updates on case status. The fee is $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 for single documents of 30 pages or fewer.

For free access, call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. The automated system gives you case number, debtor name, filing date, chapter, judge, trustee, and whether the case is open or closed. Available all day, every day. It works from any touch-tone phone.

The PACER Case Locator searches every federal court at once. If you are not certain which district has a case connected to Berrien County, this tool finds it nationwide.

Note: McVCIS data is general information and not the official court record.

Berrien County Bankruptcy Exemptions

Georgia filers must use state exemptions. This rule applies to everyone in Berrien County. O.C.G.A. 44-13-100 defines the amounts. Home equity is protected up to $21,500 for an individual, and up to $43,000 for some married couples. The vehicle exemption stands at $5,000.

Personal property gets a $5,000 exemption, though no single item can exceed $300 in value. Jewelry: $500. Tools of the trade: $1,500. The wildcard of $1,200 applies to any property, and you can stack unused homestead exemption on top of it up to $10,000. This is particularly useful for Berrien County renters who do not own a home.

Income that is fully exempt includes Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment, workers compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, and alimony or child support. Retirement accounts are protected too. Under 11 U.S.C., these exemptions determine what a Berrien County debtor keeps after filing.

Berrien County Clerk Office

Shawna C. Hughes is the Clerk of Superior Court in Berrien County. The address is 201 N Davis Street, Room 230, Nashville, GA 31639. Phone: (229) 686-5506. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Visit the Berrien County clerk website for details.

The clerk office handles state-level records: civil lawsuits, criminal cases, deeds, traffic court, and other filings. Bankruptcy is exclusively federal. But state records in Berrien County can relate to bankruptcy cases. A lien on real property or a civil judgment in the county might show up in someone's federal bankruptcy petition. You can search state records through the GSCCCA system.

The image below shows the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court homepage, the federal court responsible for all Berrien County bankruptcy filings.

This site offers access to case search tools, fee information, and office locations for the court that handles Berrien County.

Record Fees in Berrien County

PACER: $0.10 per page online. Free viewing at public terminals. Printing at terminals: $0.10. Mail or in-person copies: $0.50 per page. Certified copies: add $12.00 per document. Records search without a case number: $34.00 via Form B1320. Pay by money order or certified check. McVCIS phone lookups are free.

Filing Rules for Berrien County

Berrien County filers need 730 days of Georgia residency to claim state exemptions. That's two full years. If you moved to Berrien County from another state recently, the old state's exemptions may still control your case. Re-filing is limited too. Chapter 7 to Chapter 7 needs eight years. Chapter 7 to Chapter 13: four years. Chapter 13 to Chapter 13: two years.

Old closed cases may be archived with the National Archives (NARA). Contact the Macon clerk office at 478-752-3506 first for the reference numbers. Then order from NARA. Give it several weeks for processing.

Nearby Counties

Berrien County is in south Georgia. Most surrounding counties are also in the Middle District, though a few border areas may fall under the Southern District.