DeKalb County Bankruptcy Records

DeKalb County bankruptcy records are maintained by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia, not at the county courthouse in Decatur. As one of the most populated counties in the metro Atlanta area, DeKalb sees a high volume of bankruptcy filings each year. All of these cases go through the federal system. You can search DeKalb County bankruptcy records online through PACER, call the free McVCIS phone line for basic case details, or visit the clerk office at the federal courthouse in downtown Atlanta. The court is just minutes from the DeKalb County line.

Northern District Court for DeKalb County

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia processes all DeKalb County bankruptcy cases. The Atlanta office is right next door to DeKalb County at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building, 75 Ted Turner Drive SW, Room 1340, Atlanta, GA 30303. Phone is (404) 215-1000. The proximity makes this court very accessible for DeKalb County residents who want to visit in person.

Hon. Barbara Ellis-Monro is the Chief Judge. Vania S. Allen serves as Clerk of Court. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. DeKalb County is one of 46 counties in this district. The court also has offices in Gainesville, Newnan, and Rome, but the Atlanta location handles the vast majority of DeKalb County matters. You can access case information through the court website from anywhere.

How to Search DeKalb County Bankruptcy Cases

PACER is the fastest and most complete way to find DeKalb County bankruptcy records. Registration is free. Once you have an account, you can search by debtor name, case number, or Social Security number through the clerk office. PACER gives you full docket sheets, every filed document, hearing dates, and the current status of any case. It updates in real time as the court processes new filings from DeKalb County.

Given the large number of bankruptcy cases that come out of DeKalb County, the PACER Case Locator can be especially helpful. It searches across all federal courts nationwide. This matters in DeKalb County because residents sometimes file in different divisions or have prior cases from other states. One search pulls up everything.

McVCIS is free and works by phone. Call 1-866-222-8029 at any time. Select the Northern District of Georgia. The automated system gives you the debtor name, case number, filing date, chapter type, judge, trustee, attorney, and status. It does not provide document copies, but it confirms if a DeKalb County bankruptcy case exists.

DeKalb County Bankruptcy Fees

PACER runs $0.10 per page for all searches and downloads. The cap is $3.00 per document for anything 30 pages or less. Public terminals at the Atlanta clerk office let you view DeKalb County records at no charge. Printing costs $0.10 per page at those terminals.

Copy requests sent by mail or made in person are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost an additional $12.00 per document. If you need the clerk to find a case and you lack the number, submit Form B1320 with a $34.00 search fee. Pay by money order or certified check to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court."

Note: Viewing records at the public terminals in the Atlanta courthouse is always free for DeKalb County residents.

Bankruptcy Types in DeKalb County

DeKalb County sees filings across all major chapters. Chapter 7 liquidation is the most common. Assets that are not exempt get sold, and the rest of the debt is discharged. Most Chapter 7 cases in DeKalb County close within three to four months.

Chapter 13 is popular too, especially among homeowners who want to catch up on mortgage payments. The debtor keeps their house and other property while paying through a plan that runs three to five years. Chapter 11 is used by businesses in DeKalb County that want to reorganize. Chapter 12 covers family farmers and fishermen but is rare in this suburban area. Under 11 U.S.C., all bankruptcy records are public. Anyone can search for DeKalb County filings through PACER regardless of their connection to the case.

DeKalb County Exemptions in Bankruptcy

Georgia opted out of federal exemptions. DeKalb County filers use state exemptions listed in O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption protects up to $21,500 in a home. For married couples filing together with the home in one spouse's name, the amount is $43,000. Vehicles are exempt up to $5,000.

Personal property gets a $5,000 total exemption, but each individual item must be worth $300 or less. Jewelry caps at $500. Work tools are protected up to $1,500. The wildcard of $1,200 can apply to any asset. You can add up to $10,000 of unused homestead exemption to that wildcard amount. Social Security, veterans benefits, workers compensation, unemployment pay, and child support are all fully exempt with no dollar cap.

DeKalb County Clerk and State Records

The DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court in Decatur manages state court records. This office handles civil and criminal cases, real estate deeds, liens, and other local filings. It does not store bankruptcy records. But there can be overlap. A property lien in DeKalb County might relate to a federal bankruptcy case. The deed records at the clerk office could show transfers tied to a bankruptcy proceeding.

Search statewide records through the Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority. This tool covers property records, UCC filings, and court documents across all Georgia counties. For the bankruptcy filing itself, always use the federal system.

The screenshot below shows the Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court homepage. DeKalb County cases are filed and stored here.

The court site has links to electronic filing, case lookup tools, and local rules for all Northern District counties including DeKalb.

Residency and Filing Rules

DeKalb County residents must have lived in Georgia for at least 730 days (two years) before filing to claim state exemptions. Given the transient nature of metro Atlanta, this rule comes up often. If you moved to DeKalb County from another state within the past two years, you might have to use your former state's exemption schedule.

Re-filing rules apply too. Chapter 7 to Chapter 7 is an eight-year wait. Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 takes four years. Chapter 13 to Chapter 13 requires two years between filings. The wait starts from the filing date of the previous case, not the discharge date.

Archived DeKalb County Records

Older closed cases from DeKalb County may be stored with the National Archives and Records Administration. Call (404) 215-1000 to check. If the case has been sent to NARA, the clerk staff will give you the details you need to place an order. You will need the case number, accession number, location number, and box number. Allow several weeks for NARA to process the request.

Nearby Counties

DeKalb County sits in the heart of metro Atlanta and borders several large counties. All are in the Northern District, so bankruptcy records for each are accessible through the same PACER system and clerk office.