Candler County Bankruptcy Records

Candler County bankruptcy records are filed and stored at the federal level through the Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. Residents of Candler County who need to search for bankruptcy filings, look up case details, or get copies of court documents can do so through the federal court system. The county seat is Metter. The county clerk does not keep bankruptcy case files since these are handled by federal courts. This page walks you through how to find and access bankruptcy records tied to Candler County cases, what tools are out there, and what fees you might run into along the way.

Candler County Federal Court Access

All bankruptcy cases from Candler County go to the Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. This is a federal court. State and county courts in Metter do not handle bankruptcy filings. The Southern District has staffed offices in Savannah, Augusta, and Brunswick. There is also a hearing location in Statesboro, which is the closest to Candler County, though it is not always staffed. For most case work, you will deal with the Savannah office.

The Savannah office sits at 124 Barnard Street, Second Floor, Savannah, GA 31401. You can reach them at (912) 650-4100. Hours are Monday through Friday, and staff can help with questions about filing, case status, or getting copies of bankruptcy records from Candler County cases. If you plan to go in person, call first to make sure they can help with what you need that day.

How to Search Candler County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the main way most people look up bankruptcy records for Candler County. It stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. You can use it at pacer.uscourts.gov from any computer or phone. It costs $0.10 per page to view case files and documents. You need an account, but signing up is free. Once logged in, you can search by name or case number to find bankruptcy filings from Candler County or any other county in the Southern District.

Not sure which court handled a case? The PACER Case Locator lets you search across all federal courts at once. This tool is good when you know a name but not the district. It pulls results from bankruptcy, district, and appellate courts across the country. You can save searches and bookmark cases you check on often.

There is also a free phone option. McVCIS is an automated voice system at 1-866-222-8029. It runs all day, every day. You can get basic case info like the debtor name, filing date, case number, chapter type, and case status. It will not give you full documents, but it works well for a quick check on a Candler County bankruptcy case.

Bankruptcy Records Fees in Candler County

Fees for bankruptcy records depend on how you get them. Online through PACER, the cost is $0.10 per page. This covers searches, docket views, and document downloads. If you go to the clerk office in person, you can view records on public computer terminals for free. Printing at those terminals costs $0.10 per page as well.

Need copies by mail or in person? Those cost more. The fee is $0.50 per page for copies requested at any of the Southern District offices or sent by mail. Certified copies add $12.00 per document on top of the copy cost. If you need the court to search for a case and you do not have the case number, they charge $34.00 for that search. You can use Form B1320 to make that request for Candler County records.

Payment goes to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Money orders and certified checks work. Cash works in person. Personal checks are only for pro se filers in most cases.

Candler County Bankruptcy Filing Types

Bankruptcy cases filed in Candler County fall under federal law, specifically Title 11 of the United States Code. Most people file under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Chapter 7 is a liquidation. The court sells non-exempt assets to pay debts. Chapter 13 sets up a repayment plan over three to five years. Both types create records you can search through PACER.

Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 filings also show up in Candler County records, though less often. Chapter 11 is for business reorganization. Chapter 12 is for family farmers and fishermen, which can apply in rural parts of Georgia like Candler County. Each chapter has its own rules, forms, and timelines. The records for all of them are stored the same way in the federal court system.

Note: Georgia has opted out of federal bankruptcy exemptions, so Candler County filers must use state exemptions under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100.

Georgia Exemptions for Candler County Filers

When someone in Candler County files for bankruptcy, they can protect certain property from creditors. Georgia uses its own set of exemptions rather than the federal ones. The homestead exemption lets a filer keep up to $21,500 in home equity. A married couple filing jointly may protect up to $43,000 if the home is in one spouse's name. This matters a lot for Candler County residents who own property.

Other key exemptions include $5,000 for a motor vehicle, $1,500 for tools of the trade, and $500 for jewelry. Personal property is exempt up to $5,000 total as long as each item is worth $300 or less. There is also a wildcard exemption of $1,200 plus up to $10,000 of any unused homestead exemption. These amounts are set by state law and apply to all bankruptcy cases in Candler County and the rest of Georgia.

Some income is fully exempt with no dollar limit. Workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, Social Security, veterans benefits, and alimony or child support are all protected. Retirement accounts like 401(k) plans and IRAs are also safe in most cases. These protections come from O.C.G.A. 34-9-84 and related statutes.

Archived Candler County Bankruptcy Cases

Older bankruptcy cases from Candler County may not be on PACER anymore. After a case has been closed for a while, the court moves it to the National Archives and Records Administration. NARA stores these records long term. To get copies, you need the case number, accession number, location number, and box number.

How do you get those details? Call the Southern District clerk office at (912) 650-4100. Give them whatever info you have on the case, and they can look up the NARA details for you. Once you have those numbers, you order copies straight from NARA. This process takes more time than a PACER search, but it is the only way to get very old Candler County bankruptcy records that have been moved off the court's active system.

Candler County Court Records and Related Filings

While bankruptcy records come from the federal court, the Candler County Superior Court Clerk in Metter handles state-level records. These include civil cases, criminal cases, real estate records, and liens. Sometimes a bankruptcy filing in Candler County will reference a lien or a civil judgment from the state court. You may need to check both systems to get the full picture.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority runs a statewide database for deed records, liens, and other filings. If a bankruptcy case from Candler County involves property transfers or secured debts, you can cross-reference those records through the GSCCCA portal. It is a good tool when you need to see what liens existed before or after a bankruptcy filing.

Nearby Counties

These counties sit next to Candler County in southeast Georgia. All of them are in the Southern District for bankruptcy filings. If you are not sure which county a case was filed under, check the debtor's address at the time of filing.