Clayton County Bankruptcy Records

Clayton County bankruptcy records are filed through the Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court based in Atlanta. Jonesboro is the county seat. Clayton County is part of the south metro Atlanta area and has a large population, so bankruptcy filings from here are common. All of these cases are federal matters. You will not find bankruptcy records at the Clayton County courthouse or the state court clerk's office. This page gives you the details on how to find, search, and get copies of Clayton County bankruptcy records through every channel available, along with fee breakdowns and legal background that applies to local filers.

Clayton County Federal Court Details

The Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court processes all Clayton County bankruptcy filings. The main office is at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building, 75 Ted Turner Drive SW, Room 1340, Atlanta, GA 30303. Clayton County is very close to downtown Atlanta, making this the most convenient court office. Call (404) 215-1000 for general questions.

The clerk of court is Vania S. Allen. Chief Judge Barbara Ellis-Monro heads the district. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Public terminals inside the clerk office let you view Clayton County bankruptcy records for free. Staff can assist with copy requests and other record needs.

How to Search Clayton County Bankruptcy Cases

The most direct way is PACER. This is the federal judiciary's electronic records portal. Sign up for a free account and search by debtor name or case number. All filed documents appear in the results: petitions, schedules of assets and debts, motions, court orders, and the final discharge or dismissal. PACER charges $0.10 per page. It is available 24/7.

If you need to search beyond the Northern District, the PACER Case Locator covers every federal court. This tool is good when someone may have filed in another state or moved to Clayton County from a different part of Georgia. Enter a name, and it pulls up all matching bankruptcy cases nationwide.

You can also call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. This is a free, automated phone system. It runs all day, every day. Select the Northern District of Georgia and search by name or case number. You get back the debtor name, case number, judge, filing date, chapter, asset status, attorney, trustee, and case status. It does not give full documents, but it works well as a quick check for Clayton County filings.

Clayton County Bankruptcy Fees

Costs depend on how you access the records. PACER charges $0.10 per page for online viewing and document downloads. The public computer terminals at the Atlanta clerk office are free to use for viewing. Printing from those terminals is $0.10 per page. In-person and mail copy requests cost $0.50 per page.

Certified copies add $12.00 per document on top of the copy cost. If you need the court to run a search without a case number, the fee is $34.00. You can request this using Form B1320. Make payments to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." The court takes money orders, certified checks, and cash at the window.

Note: The McVCIS phone service costs nothing and is available at any hour.

Bankruptcy Chapters in Clayton County

Bankruptcy filings from Clayton County fall under the federal Bankruptcy Code, Title 11 U.S.C. Chapter 7 is the most common for individuals. It is a liquidation process. A trustee reviews assets, sells non-exempt items, and the qualifying debts get discharged. Many Clayton County Chapter 7 filers qualify as "no asset" cases, meaning they have nothing above exemption limits that can be sold.

Chapter 13 is common too, especially among homeowners in Clayton County. This chapter creates a payment plan lasting three to five years. The debtor keeps all property while making monthly payments through a trustee. It is the main tool for catching up on past-due mortgage or car payments. Chapter 11 covers businesses in the county that need to reorganize debts while staying open.

Filing restrictions apply. A Chapter 7 discharge cannot be followed by another Chapter 7 for eight years. Chapter 13 can follow a Chapter 7 after four years. Chapter 13 to Chapter 13 needs two years between filings.

Georgia Exemptions in Clayton County Filings

Georgia has opted out of federal exemptions. All Clayton County filers must use state exemptions under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption is $21,500. Married couples may protect up to $43,000 in certain situations. A vehicle is exempt up to $5,000. Tools needed for work are covered up to $1,500. Jewelry is protected up to $500. Personal property is exempt up to $5,000 total with a $300 cap per item.

The wildcard exemption provides $1,200 plus up to $10,000 of unused homestead value. Fully exempt income includes Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment, workers' compensation per O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, alimony, and child support. Retirement accounts are protected in most cases. The filer must have lived in Georgia at least 730 days before the filing date to use these exemptions.

Old Clayton County Bankruptcy Records

Closed cases that have been off the docket for years may have been sent to the National Archives and Records Administration. These records leave PACER once archived. To get them, call the Northern District clerk at (404) 215-1000. They can provide the accession number, location number, and box number you need to order the records from NARA.

NARA requests take longer than PACER searches. If you need old Clayton County records for a deadline, start early.

Related Clayton County Court Records

The Clayton County Superior Court Clerk in Jonesboro handles state court records. Civil lawsuits, criminal cases, property deeds, and liens are all at the county level. The GSCCCA offers statewide online search for deed records, liens, and UCC filings. Checking GSCCCA data alongside PACER results can show the full financial picture for a Clayton County debtor, especially when real property or secured debts are part of the bankruptcy case.

For local rules, forms, and filing guides in the Northern District, visit the case information page.

Nearby Counties

Clayton County is in the south Atlanta metro area. All bordering counties are in the Northern District for bankruptcy filings.