Echols County Bankruptcy Filings

Echols County bankruptcy records are maintained by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Georgia. The courthouse in Statenville handles state court matters only and does not store bankruptcy filings. As one of the least populated counties in Georgia, Echols County sees fewer bankruptcy cases than most, but every filing still goes through the federal court system. You can search for these records through PACER online, by phone using the free McVCIS line, or in person at the Middle District clerk offices in Macon or Columbus.

Middle District Court Serving Echols County

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Georgia processes all Echols County bankruptcy cases. The main office is at 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201. Call 478-752-3506. The Columbus office at 901 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31902 is also staffed at 706-649-7837. Both handle records requests.

For Echols County residents, the Valdosta hearing office is the closest court location. The Middle District holds hearings at the U.S. Courthouse at 401 N. Patterson Street in Valdosta, but only when cases are scheduled. That office is not regularly staffed. All filings and records requests should go to Macon. Chief Judge Hon. Austin E. Carter presides over the Middle District, with Kyle George as Clerk.

Note: The Valdosta hearing office is closest to Echols County but only operates during scheduled sessions.

Searching Echols County Bankruptcy Records

The best way to search Echols County bankruptcy records is through PACER. Registration is free. Search by name or case number. PACER shows the full docket, filed documents, hearing information, and case status. The system is available 24 hours a day, which matters for a rural county like Echols where the nearest staffed clerk office is far away.

Use the PACER Case Locator to search all federal courts at once. It helps when you are not sure which district has the case.

McVCIS provides free phone access. Call 1-866-222-8029. Select the Middle District of Georgia. Get the debtor name, case number, filing date, chapter type, judge, trustee, and case status. No charge. Runs all day.

Fees for Echols County Records

PACER charges $0.10 per page. Documents of 30 pages or fewer cap at $3.00. Public terminals at the clerk office allow free viewing. Printing costs $0.10 per page at those terminals.

Copies by mail or in person run $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 per document. A records search without a case number costs $34.00. Fill out Form B1320 and send payment by money order or certified check payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court."

Echols County Exemptions Under Georgia Law

Georgia opted out of federal bankruptcy exemptions. Echols County residents must follow the state exemption schedule under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption protects up to $21,500 in a residence. Married couples filing together can shield $43,000 if the home is titled to just one spouse. Vehicles are exempt up to $5,000.

Personal property gets a $5,000 total cap with a $300 limit per item. Jewelry is exempt to $500. Tools of the trade are protected to $1,500. The wildcard exemption of $1,200 can apply to anything, and you can add up to $10,000 of unused homestead to it. Benefits that are fully exempt include Social Security, workers compensation, unemployment, veterans benefits, and child support. No cap on those.

Types of Bankruptcy in Echols County

Chapter 7 is the most common filing. It is liquidation. Non-exempt assets get sold, and the rest of the debt is discharged. The process usually takes about three to four months. Quick and straightforward for most individuals.

Chapter 13 is a repayment plan over three to five years. The debtor holds onto their property and pays back debts based on income. Chapter 12 is designed for family farmers and fishermen. Given the agricultural nature of Echols County, Chapter 12 may come up more than in urban areas. Chapter 11 is for business reorganization. All case records are stored in the Middle District system. You can search them on PACER. The Bankruptcy Code under 11 U.S.C. governs each chapter.

Echols County Clerk Office

The Echols County Clerk of Superior Court in Statenville manages state records. Civil cases, criminal filings, property deeds, and liens are all stored locally. Bankruptcy records are federal and not kept at the county level.

State records from Echols County can have ties to bankruptcy cases. A lien or deed transfer in the county might relate to a federal bankruptcy filing. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority provides statewide search access for these state-level records. For the bankruptcy case itself, use PACER or contact the Middle District clerk in Macon.

The image below shows the Middle District court homepage where Echols County bankruptcy cases are filed and maintained.

This court website links to filing information, case access, and local rules for all 69 counties in the Middle District including Echols.

Residency and Re-Filing for Echols County

A full 730 days of Georgia residency is required to use state exemptions in a bankruptcy filing. That is two years. Echols County residents who moved from out of state within that time frame may need to use their prior state's exemptions instead. Re-filing restrictions are also in place. Eight years must pass between Chapter 7 filings. Four years between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Two years between Chapter 13 filings.

Archived Echols County Cases

Closed Echols County bankruptcy cases eventually get sent to the National Archives and Records Administration. If the case is not on PACER, it may be at NARA. Call the Middle District at 478-752-3506 for the accession number, location number, and box number. You need all of those to request copies from NARA. The process takes a few weeks.

Nearby Counties

Echols County is in far south Georgia along the Florida border. Its neighbors are split between the Middle and Southern districts. Verify the district for each county before searching for records.