Find Dodge County Bankruptcy Records

Dodge County bankruptcy records are stored in the federal court system at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia. The county courthouse in Eastman does not hold these filings. Whether you need to look up a Chapter 7 liquidation case, a Chapter 13 repayment plan, or check the status of a discharge order, all records from Dodge County go through the Southern District. You can access them online through PACER, by phone using McVCIS at no cost, or by visiting a clerk office in person at one of the district's staffed locations.

Southern District Bankruptcy Court

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia serves Dodge County along with 42 other counties in the southeastern part of the state. The district has three staffed offices. Savannah is at 124 Barnard Street, Second Floor, Savannah, GA 31401, phone (912) 650-4100. Augusta is at the Federal Justice Center, 600 James Brown Blvd, Augusta, GA 30901, phone (706) 823-6000. Brunswick is at 801 Gloucester Street, Third Floor, Brunswick, GA 31520, phone (912) 280-1376.

For Dodge County, the Dublin office at 100 North Franklin Street, Dublin, GA 31021 is the closest location. However, that office is not always staffed. Mail should go to the Augusta or Savannah offices. Hon. Michele J. Kim is Chief Judge of the Southern District. Dana M. Wilson serves as Clerk of Court.

Note: The Dublin office only operates when hearings are scheduled there.

Dodge County Bankruptcy Record Search

Start with PACER for the most thorough search of Dodge County bankruptcy records. Create a free account to begin. You search by debtor name or case number and get results right away. PACER shows docket entries, filed documents, hearing schedules, and discharge orders. The system runs 24 hours a day.

Try the PACER Case Locator if you want to search all federal courts at the same time. A Dodge County resident might have a case in the Southern District and a prior filing in another state. The case locator pulls up everything in one search.

Call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029 for free case information. The automated system runs day and night. Select the Southern District of Georgia from the menu, then search by name or case number. You get the filing date, chapter, judge, trustee, attorney, and case status. No fee. No account. Just a phone.

You can walk into any staffed clerk office too. The public terminals let you view Dodge County bankruptcy dockets and documents free of charge. Printing from those terminals is $0.10 per page.

Fees for Dodge County Bankruptcy Records

PACER costs $0.10 per page. The fee applies to every search, view, and download. Documents of 30 pages or less have a $3.00 cap. Viewing on the public terminals at the clerk office is free. Mail and in-person copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 per document.

When you do not have a case number, you can request a search for $34.00. Fill out Form B1320 and include payment. Money orders and certified checks payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court" are accepted. Cash works for in-person payments at the clerk window.

Dodge County Exemptions in Bankruptcy

Georgia has its own exemption rules. The federal exemptions do not apply here. Under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100, Dodge County filers can protect these assets:

• Home equity up to $21,500 ($43,000 for married couples with one name on title)
• One vehicle up to $5,000
• Personal property up to $5,000 total, each item $300 or less
• Jewelry up to $500
• Work tools up to $1,500
• Wildcard of $1,200 plus up to $10,000 unused homestead

Benefits with no dollar limit include Social Security, workers compensation, unemployment, veterans payments, and child support. These are fully exempt in Dodge County bankruptcy cases and cannot be taken by creditors.

Types of Bankruptcy in Dodge County

Chapter 7 is the most filed chapter in Dodge County. It is a liquidation case where non-exempt property gets sold and most debts get erased. The whole process usually takes three to four months from filing to discharge.

Chapter 13 is a payment plan. You keep your assets but pay back debts over three to five years. It helps people in Dodge County who have regular earnings but fell behind on their bills. Chapter 12 is for family farmers and fishermen. It is designed for agricultural operations, which makes it relevant in a rural county like Dodge. Chapter 11 handles business reorganization and tends to cost more. Every case type generates records in the same Southern District system and can be looked up on PACER.

Dodge County Clerk and Local Records

The Dodge County Clerk of Superior Court in Eastman handles state-level records. Civil cases, criminal records, property deeds, and liens are stored at the courthouse. Bankruptcy records are not kept there. The clerk cannot look up federal bankruptcy cases for you.

That said, state records and bankruptcy filings can overlap. A lien on Dodge County property might connect to a bankruptcy case. A deed transfer could be part of a liquidation. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority offers a statewide search for property records and court filings. Use it for Dodge County state records, but turn to the federal system for bankruptcy files.

The image below shows the Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court website. This is where Dodge County bankruptcy records are filed and maintained.

The court site provides access to filing information, court procedures, and case lookup tools for all counties in the Southern District including Dodge.

Archived Dodge County Cases

Old closed cases from Dodge County eventually move to the National Archives and Records Administration. If PACER does not have the case, it is likely with NARA. Contact the Southern District clerk office first to get the accession number, location number, and box number. Then order copies directly from NARA. Allow a few weeks for processing. Call the Savannah office at (912) 650-4100 if you need help tracking down an older Dodge County bankruptcy record.

Nearby Counties

Dodge County is in central Georgia. Several neighboring counties also fall under the Southern District. Records for all of them are available through PACER and the Southern District clerk offices.