Chattahoochee County Bankruptcy Records

Chattahoochee County bankruptcy records are handled by the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court, with the closest staffed office in Columbus. Cusseta is the county seat, and the county sits along the Alabama state line in west-central Georgia. Because bankruptcy is federal jurisdiction, these records are not available at the Chattahoochee County courthouse. Anyone looking for case filings, docket information, or copies of bankruptcy documents from Chattahoochee County will need to go through the federal system. This page lays out how to search for these records, what the process looks like, and what costs you should expect.

Middle District Court for Chattahoochee County

The Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court serves 69 counties in the central and southwestern parts of the state. Chattahoochee County is one of them. The district has two staffed offices: Macon and Columbus. For Chattahoochee County residents, Columbus is the closer option.

The Columbus office is at One Arsenal Place, 901 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31902. Call 706-649-7837 for questions about filings or records. The Macon office is at the Thomas Jefferson Federal Building, 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201, phone 478-752-3506. Chief Judge Austin E. Carter oversees the district, and Kyle George serves as the clerk.

Only the Macon and Columbus offices have regular staff. Other locations in the Middle District, like Albany, Athens, Thomasville, and Valdosta, only have staff when hearings are being held. For Chattahoochee County matters, work with the Columbus office.

How to Search Chattahoochee County Bankruptcy Records

Online searching through PACER is the most convenient way to find Chattahoochee County bankruptcy records. PACER is the federal court system's electronic records portal. Register for free, then search by debtor name or case number. You see every document filed in the case: petitions, schedules, motions, orders, and discharges. It costs $0.10 per page.

The PACER Case Locator lets you search all federal courts at once. If you only know a person's name and not which court they used, start here. You can also call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029 for free basic case info by phone. The automated system runs 24 hours a day and provides the debtor name, case number, judge, filing date, chapter, and status for any Chattahoochee County case in the system.

Chattahoochee County Bankruptcy Fees

Record access fees depend on the method you choose. PACER charges $0.10 per page for online viewing. Walk into the Columbus or Macon clerk office and you can view records on public terminals for free. Printing at the clerk office is $0.10 per page.

Copies requested in person or by mail cost $0.50 per page. Certified documents are $12.00 extra per certification. A case search without a case number runs $34.00, and you submit Form B1320 to request it. Make payments to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court" using a money order or certified check. Cash is accepted at the window.

Note: Personal checks are generally only accepted from pro se filers.

Bankruptcy Chapters for Chattahoochee County Filers

Bankruptcy law comes from Title 11 of the U.S. Code. Individual filers in Chattahoochee County most often use Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Chapter 7 wipes out most debts through liquidation. A trustee sells non-exempt assets and distributes the proceeds. Chapter 13 sets up a repayment plan over three to five years. The debtor keeps their property and makes monthly payments through a trustee.

Chattahoochee County is a small, rural county. Most individual filings here are Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Business filings under Chapter 11 are less frequent. Chapter 12, which covers family farmers and fishermen, occasionally appears. All of these filings create public records accessible through PACER and the clerk office.

Georgia Exemptions in Chattahoochee County

Georgia has opted out of the federal bankruptcy exemptions. Every filer in Chattahoochee County uses the state exemption list under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption covers up to $21,500 in home equity. A motor vehicle is exempt up to $5,000. Work tools are protected up to $1,500. Jewelry is exempt up to $500. Personal property is exempt up to $5,000 total with a $300 cap per item.

The wildcard exemption allows $1,200 plus up to $10,000 of unused homestead exemption. Certain income is fully exempt regardless of amount: Social Security, veterans benefits, workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, unemployment pay, and alimony or child support. Retirement accounts are also protected in most cases. Filers must have lived in Georgia for at least 730 days to use these exemptions.

Archived Records from Chattahoochee County

Closed bankruptcy cases eventually move from the court to the National Archives and Records Administration. If a Chattahoochee County case is no longer on PACER, it may have been archived with NARA. Call the Middle District clerk at 706-649-7837 or 478-752-3506 to get the accession number and other details you need to order the records from NARA.

The NARA ordering process is slower than using PACER. Budget extra time if you need very old Chattahoochee County bankruptcy records.

Chattahoochee County Related Filings

State court records in Chattahoochee County are at the Superior Court Clerk in Cusseta. These include civil cases, criminal records, deeds, and liens. The GSCCCA offers a statewide search for property records and lien filings. Cross-checking these with federal bankruptcy records can help when a case involves real estate or secured debts in Chattahoochee County.

For court rules and procedures specific to the Middle District, visit the court information page. It covers filing requirements, local rules, and office hours for all divisional offices in the district.

Nearby Counties

Chattahoochee County is in west-central Georgia on the Alabama border. The neighboring counties are also in the Middle District for bankruptcy filings.