Bryan County Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records in Bryan County are part of the federal court system and managed by the Southern District of Georgia. Pembroke is the county seat, but bankruptcy filings do not go through the local courthouse. The Savannah division of the federal bankruptcy court handles all Bryan County cases. This makes sense given Bryan County sits right next to Chatham County where Savannah is located. Search for these records online through PACER, by phone using the free McVCIS system, or in person at the Savannah federal clerk office.

Southern District Serving Bryan County

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia handles Bryan County. The Savannah office at 124 Barnard Street, Second Floor, Savannah, GA 31401 is the nearest staffed location. Phone: (912) 650-4100. For Bryan County residents, the drive to Savannah is short.

The district also has staffed offices in Augusta and Brunswick. Chief Judge Michele J. Kim leads the court. Dana M. Wilson serves as Clerk. Mail for Bryan County cases goes to PO Box 8347, Savannah, GA 31412. The court's case information page provides links to search tools, fee schedules, and filing resources.

How to Look Up Bryan County Cases

Start with PACER. Creating an account is free. Select the Southern District of Georgia and type in the debtor name or case number. Results show every docket entry, all filed documents, and real-time case status. The system costs $0.10 per page. A single document of 30 pages or under is capped at $3.00. PACER works any time of day.

The PACER Case Locator is a broader tool. It searches every federal court at once. If you know the name but not which court handled the case, this is the place to start. It finds Bryan County cases and anything filed in other districts too.

McVCIS is the free phone alternative at 1-866-222-8029. It gives you case number, debtor name, chapter type, judge, trustee, filing date, and status. Select the Southern District for Bryan County records. It runs 24 hours.

In-person access is available at the Savannah clerk office. Public terminals let you view records for free. Printing costs $0.10 per page.

Bryan County Bankruptcy Exemptions

Georgia uses its own exemption rules for bankruptcy. Federal exemptions do not apply. Under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100, Bryan County filers protect home equity up to $21,500. Married couples can reach $43,000 in some cases. The vehicle exemption stands at $5,000.

Personal property is protected up to $5,000 total with a $300 limit per item. Jewelry: $500. Tools of the trade: $1,500. The wildcard is $1,200 and can go toward any asset. Add up to $10,000 in unused homestead exemption on top of that. This wildcard combination helps Bryan County renters who have no home equity to protect.

Income that cannot be touched includes Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment, workers comp (O.C.G.A. 34-9-84), and alimony or child support. Retirement savings in 401(k), IRA, and pension accounts are fully exempt in a Bryan County bankruptcy.

Fees for Bryan County Bankruptcy Records

PACER: $0.10 per page, $3.00 cap on smaller documents. Free viewing at clerk office terminals. Printing: $0.10 per page. Mail or in-person copies: $0.50 per page. Certified documents: $12.00 extra each.

A case search without a number costs $34.00 via Form B1320. Pay by money order or certified check to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." McVCIS phone searches are free for Bryan County case lookups.

Bryan County State Records

The Bryan County Clerk of Superior Court in Pembroke manages state-level records including civil cases, criminal filings, property deeds, and liens. These are not bankruptcy records. But state records from Bryan County sometimes relate to federal bankruptcy cases. A mortgage, lien, or civil judgment in the county may appear in someone's bankruptcy petition. Use the GSCCCA for statewide state record searches.

The image below shows the Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court homepage. This is the court system that manages all Bryan County bankruptcy filings and records.

Bryan County residents can access case search tools, forms, and contact details from this site.

Filing Rules and Archived Bryan County Cases

You need 730 days of Georgia residency to claim state exemptions in a Bryan County bankruptcy. That is two full years. Recent arrivals from other states may have to use their former state's exemption rules until the waiting period ends.

Re-filing restrictions apply to all Bryan County filers. Eight years must pass between Chapter 7 discharges. A Chapter 7 discharge to Chapter 13 filing needs four years. Chapter 13 to Chapter 13 is two years. These limits come from 11 U.S.C.

Closed cases may be stored at the National Archives. Call (912) 650-4100 to get the reference data from the Savannah clerk, then order from NARA. Allow several weeks.

Note: Active cases and recently closed ones are still searchable on PACER.

Nearby Counties

Bryan County is in coastal Georgia near Savannah. These neighboring counties are also part of the Southern District for bankruptcy purposes.