Burke County Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records from Burke County are held in the federal court system under the Southern District of Georgia. The county seat is Waynesboro, but the local courthouse has no involvement with bankruptcy filings. The Augusta division of the Southern District handles cases from Burke County, which is convenient given the county's location in east Georgia near the South Carolina border. You can search for Burke County bankruptcy records online using PACER, call the McVCIS phone line at no cost, or visit the federal clerk office in Augusta.

Southern District Augusta Division

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia serves Burke County through its Augusta office. The Federal Justice Center at 600 James Brown Blvd, Augusta, GA 30901 is the closest staffed location. Phone: (706) 823-6000. This office is a short drive from Waynesboro.

The district also has offices in Savannah at 124 Barnard Street, phone (912) 650-4100, and in Brunswick at 801 Gloucester Street, phone (912) 280-1376. All three are staffed. For Burke County cases, Augusta is the most practical choice for in-person visits. Mail goes to PO Box 1487, Augusta, GA 30903.

Chief Judge Michele J. Kim and Clerk Dana M. Wilson manage the court. The case information page provides search tools and filing resources for Burke County records.

How to Find Burke County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the fastest way to search. It is free to set up an account. Select the Southern District of Georgia and enter a debtor name or case number. The system gives you the complete docket, all filed documents, hearing schedules, and case status. PACER is available 24 hours a day. The cost is $0.10 per page with a $3.00 cap on single documents of 30 pages or less.

The PACER Case Locator searches all federal courts at once. If someone who lived in Burke County filed elsewhere, this tool finds it. It is a one-stop search across the entire federal system.

For free phone access, call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. It runs around the clock. The automated system reports the debtor name, case number, chapter type, assigned judge, trustee, filing date, and current status. Pick the Southern District for Burke County records.

In-person visitors to the Augusta office can use public terminals to view records at no charge. Printing is $0.10 per page.

Burke County Bankruptcy Exemptions

Georgia has opted out of the federal bankruptcy exemptions. Burke County residents must use the state exemptions found in O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption covers up to $21,500 in home equity. Married couples who file jointly may protect up to $43,000 under certain conditions. Vehicle equity is exempt to $5,000.

Personal property is protected to $5,000 total with a $300 per-item cap. Jewelry gets a $500 exemption. Work tools are covered up to $1,500. The wildcard exemption of $1,200 can be applied to any type of asset. Unused homestead up to $10,000 can be added to the wildcard, which helps Burke County residents who rent their home.

Fully exempt income sources: Social Security, veterans benefits, workers comp (O.C.G.A. 34-9-84), unemployment, alimony, and child support. Retirement accounts in 401(k), IRA, and pension plans are protected. These exemptions apply under 11 U.S.C. to every bankruptcy case in Burke County.

Record Fees in Burke County

Online through PACER: $0.10 per page. Capped at $3.00 for most single documents. Public terminal viewing at the Augusta office: free. Printing: $0.10 per page. Mail or in-person copy requests: $0.50 per page. Certified copies: add $12.00 per document.

A records search without a case number costs $34.00. Submit Form B1320 with payment to the clerk. Money orders and certified checks accepted. McVCIS phone searches are completely free for Burke County case lookups.

Burke County State Court Records

The Burke County Clerk of Superior Court in Waynesboro maintains state-level records. Civil lawsuits, criminal cases, property deeds, and liens are kept at the courthouse. These are not bankruptcy records, but there can be overlap. A judgment lien on Burke County real estate might appear in a debtor's bankruptcy petition. The GSCCCA provides a statewide search tool for these state records.

The screenshot below shows the Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court homepage, which manages all Burke County bankruptcy filings through the Augusta division.

From this site you can access search tools, filing instructions, and fee schedules for the court serving Burke County.

Filing Requirements and Archives

Burke County filers must have lived in Georgia for 730 days (two years) to claim the state's bankruptcy exemptions. Moving to Burke County from another state? You may need to use your previous state's exemptions until the residency period is met. Re-filing limits are firm: eight years between Chapter 7 discharges, four years from Chapter 7 to Chapter 13, and two years between Chapter 13 filings.

Archived cases from Burke County are at the National Archives (NARA). Call the Augusta clerk at (706) 823-6000 for the accession and box numbers. Then order from NARA. Expect several weeks for delivery of archived Burke County bankruptcy records.

Note: Check PACER first since most recent cases are still in the electronic system.

Nearby Counties

Burke County is in east Georgia. The counties around it are also in the Southern District, with Richmond County (Augusta) being the closest major population center.