Butts County Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records for Butts County are part of the federal court system, managed by the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court in Macon. Jackson is the county seat, but the local courthouse does not maintain bankruptcy case files. Butts County sits between Atlanta and Macon on Interstate 75, putting both metropolitan areas within reach. All case filings, dockets, and court orders for Butts County residents are stored in the federal system, where they can be searched through PACER online or by phone using the free McVCIS line.

How to Search Butts County Cases

The primary search tool is PACER. Account setup is free. Once logged in, select the Middle District of Georgia and search by debtor name or case number. PACER shows the entire docket, all documents that have been filed, and the current status of each Butts County bankruptcy case. The system costs $0.10 per page. Most individual documents are capped at $3.00.

Use the PACER Case Locator for a nationwide search. It checks every federal court at once. This is useful when someone from Butts County might have filed in a different state or district.

McVCIS is the free phone option at 1-866-222-8029. It runs 24/7. Pick the Middle District and search by name or case number. The automated system returns the debtor name, case number, chapter, judge, trustee, filing date, and case status for Butts County records.

Middle District Court Serving Butts County

The Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court processes all Butts County cases. The Macon office is at 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201. Phone: 478-752-3506. A second staffed office is in Columbus at 901 Front Avenue, phone 706-649-7837. Both offices are regularly staffed.

The Middle District also operates hearing locations in Athens, Albany, Thomasville, and Valdosta, but those are only open during scheduled hearings. For Butts County residents, Macon is the most accessible office. All mail goes there. Chief Judge Austin E. Carter oversees the bench, and Kyle George is the Clerk. Court details are on the court info page.

Butts County Bankruptcy Exemptions

Georgia filers use state exemptions. The federal ones are not an option. O.C.G.A. 44-13-100 controls what Butts County residents can protect in bankruptcy. Homestead exemption: $21,500 (up to $43,000 for married couples in some situations). Motor vehicle: $5,000.

Personal property gets $5,000 total with a $300 per-item ceiling. Jewelry is exempt up to $500. Tools of the trade: $1,500. The wildcard exemption is $1,200 for any asset type. You can add up to $10,000 of unused homestead exemption to the wildcard. Workers compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84 has no cap. Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment, alimony, and child support are fully exempt. Retirement savings are protected.

To use Georgia's exemptions, Butts County filers need 730 days of state residency under the Bankruptcy Code. That is two full years.

Fees for Butts County Bankruptcy Records

PACER charges $0.10 per page for online access. Documents of 30 pages or less cap at $3.00. Free viewing is available at the Macon clerk office public terminals. Printing there is $0.10 per page. Mail or in-person copies run $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 per document.

When you need a records search and lack the case number, the fee is $34.00. Fill out Form B1320 and pay by money order or certified check. McVCIS phone calls are free for Butts County case information.

Butts County State Court Records

The Butts County Clerk of Superior Court in Jackson manages state records. These include civil lawsuits, criminal case files, property deeds, and liens. Bankruptcy is federal, so the local clerk does not have those records. But state filings from Butts County can connect to a bankruptcy case. Property liens and civil judgments sometimes appear in a debtor's bankruptcy petition. The GSCCCA provides statewide access to state-level records.

The image below shows the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court homepage, the federal court that processes all Butts County bankruptcy cases.

Visit this website for case search tools, forms, and contact details for the court that handles Butts County filings.

Archived Records and Re-filing Rules

Closed Butts County bankruptcy cases eventually go to the National Archives (NARA). To get copies, contact the Macon clerk at 478-752-3506 for the reference information you need, then order from NARA directly. Plan for several weeks.

Re-filing limits set by federal law apply to all Butts County residents. You must wait eight years between Chapter 7 discharges. A Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 gap is four years. Chapter 13 to Chapter 13 requires two years. These time frames are not negotiable.

Note: Most recently closed cases are still available on PACER without needing a NARA request.

Nearby Counties

Butts County is in central Georgia between Atlanta and Macon. Neighboring counties fall under both the Northern and Middle Districts for bankruptcy purposes.