Access Dougherty County Bankruptcy Records

Dougherty County bankruptcy records are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Georgia. The county seat of Albany has its own federal courthouse where bankruptcy hearings take place. This is the C.B. King U.S. Courthouse at 201 West Broad Avenue, Albany, GA 31701. While case filings go through the Macon office, having a local hearing location makes the process more convenient for Dougherty County residents. You can search bankruptcy records online through PACER around the clock or call the free McVCIS phone system for quick case lookups.

Middle District Court and Dougherty County

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Georgia has jurisdiction over all Dougherty County bankruptcy cases. The main office is in Macon at the Thomas Jefferson Federal Building, 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201. Phone is 478-752-3506. The Columbus office at One Arsenal Place, 901 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31902 is also fully staffed at 706-649-7837.

Dougherty County benefits from having a hearing office right in Albany. The C.B. King U.S. Courthouse at 201 West Broad Avenue holds bankruptcy hearings for local cases, saving residents a long trip to Macon. The Albany office is not regularly staffed though. It only opens when hearings are on the schedule. All new filings and records requests from Dougherty County should be mailed to the Macon location. Hon. Austin E. Carter serves as Chief Judge. Kyle George is the Clerk.

Note: Mail all new Dougherty County bankruptcy filings to the Macon office, not the Albany courthouse.

Searching Dougherty County Bankruptcy Cases

PACER is the best tool for searching Dougherty County bankruptcy records from home. Create a free account. Search by debtor name or case number. The system pulls up docket sheets, filed motions, orders, discharge documents, and current status. Results update as the court processes new filings. PACER is live 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The PACER Case Locator searches every federal court in the country at once. This is helpful when a Dougherty County resident may have filed in another district or state previously. One search shows all matches.

For free access, call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. The automated phone system covers all federal bankruptcy courts. Select the Middle District of Georgia. Enter a name or case number. McVCIS reads back the debtor name, case number, filing date, chapter type, judge, trustee, attorney name, and case status. The system runs all day and all night. No registration and no fee.

Dougherty County Record Fees

Online access through PACER costs $0.10 per page. That applies to searches, docket views, and document downloads. A document of 30 pages or less has a $3.00 cap. Public terminals at the clerk office in Macon let you view records for free. Printing from those terminals is $0.10 per page.

Copy requests by mail or in person cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 per document. If the clerk needs to search for a Dougherty County case because you lack a number, that costs $34.00. Use Form B1320 for the request. Payment is by money order or certified check payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Cash is accepted in person at the Macon or Columbus offices.

Bankruptcy Types in Dougherty County

Most filings from Dougherty County are Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Chapter 7 is liquidation. Non-exempt assets get sold to pay creditors, and then remaining debts are discharged. The case moves fast, often done in three to four months. It is the simplest form of bankruptcy.

Chapter 13 lets Dougherty County residents keep their property while paying off debts over three to five years. The court approves a repayment plan based on the debtor's income. This works well for people who earn steady wages but fell behind. Chapter 12 is available for family farmers and fishermen in the area. Chapter 11 covers business cases where a company wants to reorganize rather than shut down. All chapter types produce searchable records in the Middle District system. The federal Bankruptcy Code under 11 U.S.C. governs each case type.

Dougherty County Georgia Exemptions

Georgia does not allow federal bankruptcy exemptions. Dougherty County filers must use the state exemption list under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption protects $21,500 in a home. Married couples can shield $43,000 if the home is titled to one spouse only. The motor vehicle exemption is $5,000.

Personal property gets a $5,000 total, with no item over $300. Jewelry has a $500 cap. Tools of the trade are protected up to $1,500. The wildcard exemption is $1,200, and up to $10,000 of unused homestead can be added. Fully exempt benefits include Social Security, workers compensation, unemployment, veterans benefits, and alimony or child support. These have no dollar ceiling in Dougherty County bankruptcy cases.

Dougherty County Clerk and State Court

The Dougherty County Clerk of Superior Court in Albany handles state court records only. This includes civil cases, criminal filings, deeds, and liens. Bankruptcy records are federal and kept by the Middle District court. The two systems are separate.

However, state records from Dougherty County can relate to a bankruptcy case. A property lien might appear at both the county clerk office and in the federal bankruptcy file. Deed transfers connected to a liquidation might be recorded at the county level. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority provides online access to state court records statewide, including Dougherty County deed and lien information.

Here is the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court homepage. Dougherty County cases are filed and stored through this court.

The site offers case access, court information, and filing details for all 69 counties in the Middle District.

Filing Requirements for Dougherty County

To use Georgia exemptions, you must have lived in the state for at least 730 days. That is two years. Dougherty County residents who moved from out of state within the last two years might need to use their former state's exemptions. Re-filing limits also apply after discharge:

• Chapter 7 to Chapter 7: wait 8 years
• Chapter 7 to Chapter 13: wait 4 years
• Chapter 13 to Chapter 13: wait 2 years

These waiting periods start from the original filing date. Not the discharge date.

Archived Dougherty County Records

Closed Dougherty County bankruptcy cases are transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration after being closed for some time. If you cannot find a case on PACER, contact the Middle District clerk at 478-752-3506. They will provide the accession number, location number, and box number needed to request copies from NARA. Allow several weeks for processing.

Nearby Counties

Dougherty County is in southwest Georgia. The neighboring counties are all in the Middle District, and their bankruptcy records are accessible through the same court system and PACER.

Albany Bankruptcy Resources

Albany is the county seat of Dougherty County and the largest city in the area. Residents of Albany searching for local bankruptcy resources can find information about the C.B. King U.S. Courthouse, legal aid services, and how to access records through the Middle District court system on our Albany bankruptcy records page.