Calhoun County Bankruptcy Records Search

Bankruptcy records for Calhoun County residents are stored in the federal court system and handled by the Middle District of Georgia. Morgan serves as the county seat in this small southwest Georgia county, but no bankruptcy cases are processed locally. The federal bankruptcy court in Macon maintains all filings, docket entries, and court orders for Calhoun County. Public access to these bankruptcy records is available online through PACER, by phone using the McVCIS system at no charge, or in person at a federal clerk office.

Federal Court for Calhoun County

Calhoun County falls within the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. The main office is at 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201. Phone: 478-752-3506. The Columbus office at 901 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31902 (phone 706-649-7837) is another staffed location that may be closer for some Calhoun County residents.

The Middle District holds hearings in Albany at the C.B. King U.S. Courthouse, 201 West Broad Avenue. Albany is closer to Calhoun County than Macon. However, that office only opens for scheduled hearings. It does not maintain regular staff hours. All filings from Calhoun County go to the Macon office. Chief Judge Austin E. Carter leads the court. Kyle George is the Clerk.

Searching Calhoun County Records

Online access is through PACER. Free to register. Search the Middle District of Georgia by debtor name or case number. Results include the full docket sheet, every document filed in the case, and current case status. PACER runs at all hours and charges $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 for documents up to 30 pages.

Call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029 for free case data. Available all day, every day. The phone system provides case numbers, debtor names, chapter type, judge, trustee, and filing date for Calhoun County cases. Select the Middle District from the menu.

The PACER Case Locator does a nationwide search across all federal courts. If you're not sure where a Calhoun County resident filed, this tool finds it.

Calhoun County Exemptions in Bankruptcy

Georgia requires state exemptions only. Federal exemptions are off the table. O.C.G.A. 44-13-100 sets what Calhoun County filers can keep. Homestead: $21,500 for an individual, up to $43,000 for some married couples. Vehicle: $5,000. Personal property: $5,000 total (no item above $300). Jewelry: $500. Work tools: $1,500.

The wildcard of $1,200 covers any asset. Unused homestead up to $10,000 stacks on top. Workers comp is fully exempt under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84. Social Security, unemployment, veterans benefits, alimony, and child support are all protected in full. Retirement accounts are safe.

Under 11 U.S.C., you must have 730 days of Georgia residency before filing. Calhoun County residents who moved from out of state less than two years ago may need to use their prior state's exemptions.

Bankruptcy Record Fees

PACER costs $0.10 per page online. Cap of $3.00 per document at 30 pages or under. Free viewing at public terminals in the Macon or Columbus offices. Terminal printing: $0.10. Mail and in-person copies: $0.50 per page. Certified copies: $12.00 extra each.

A case search without a number runs $34.00 via Form B1320. Pay with money order or certified check to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." McVCIS phone lookups are free for all Calhoun County records.

Note: PACER may waive quarterly totals under $30.

State Records in Calhoun County

The Calhoun County Clerk of Superior Court in Morgan keeps state records: civil cases, criminal filings, deeds, and liens. These are not bankruptcy files. But state-level records in Calhoun County can overlap with a federal bankruptcy case. Property liens and civil judgments may appear in a debtor's bankruptcy petition. The GSCCCA website provides statewide access to state court records.

The image below shows the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court homepage. All Calhoun County bankruptcy cases are filed with and managed by this court.

This website has search tools, fee information, and office locations for the court serving Calhoun County.

Bankruptcy Case Types in Calhoun County

Most filings from Calhoun County fall under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Chapter 7 is liquidation, where non-exempt assets are sold and eligible debts get discharged. It is the faster path, usually finishing in three to four months. Chapter 13 sets up a payment plan over three to five years that lets the debtor keep property while catching up on debts.

Chapter 12 is available for family farmers and fishermen in Calhoun County. Given the county's agricultural character, this chapter may apply to some filers. Chapter 11 covers business reorganization. All case types generate public records searchable through PACER and the federal court system.

Archived Calhoun County Cases

After several years, closed cases from Calhoun County transfer to the National Archives. Call the Macon clerk at 478-752-3506 for the accession and box numbers needed to order from NARA. This process takes several weeks. Recently closed cases usually stay on PACER and don't need a separate request.

Nearby Counties

Calhoun County is in southwest Georgia. These neighboring counties are also within the Middle District for bankruptcy proceedings.