Emanuel County Bankruptcy Record Search

Emanuel County bankruptcy records are filed and maintained in the federal court system. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia handles all cases from this county. Swainsboro's courthouse manages state-level records only. If you need to look up a bankruptcy filing, docket sheet, or discharge order from Emanuel County, the search goes through the Southern District. PACER provides online access to these records at any time. The free McVCIS phone system can also help you find basic case information without spending anything.

Southern District Serving Emanuel County

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia processes every Emanuel County bankruptcy case. Three staffed offices serve the district. Savannah is at 124 Barnard Street, Second Floor, GA 31401, phone (912) 650-4100. Augusta is at 600 James Brown Blvd, GA 30901, phone (706) 823-6000. Brunswick is at 801 Gloucester Street, Third Floor, GA 31520, phone (912) 280-1376.

The Statesboro office at 52 North Main Street, Statesboro, GA 30458 is closest to Emanuel County. But it is not always staffed. It opens only when hearings are set. Mail records requests to the Savannah or Augusta offices. Chief Judge Hon. Michele J. Kim leads the court. Dana M. Wilson is the Clerk of Court.

Note: For mail correspondence about Emanuel County cases, use the Savannah address at PO Box 8347, Savannah, GA 31412.

Searching Emanuel County Bankruptcy Records Online

PACER is the primary search tool for Emanuel County bankruptcy records. Set up a free account to begin. You can search by debtor name or case number. The system gives you full docket sheets, all filed documents, hearing information, and current status. PACER runs 24 hours a day and updates as the court processes new filings.

The PACER Case Locator covers all federal courts. It is useful when an Emanuel County resident might have cases in more than one district or state. Enter a name and it finds every match across the federal system.

Call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029 for free information. Select the Southern District from the prompts. You get the debtor name, case number, filing date, chapter type, judge, trustee, and case status. No fee. Available any time.

Emanuel County Record Fees

PACER charges $0.10 per page for searches and downloads. A document of 30 pages or fewer caps at $3.00. Viewing records at the clerk office public terminals is free. Printing costs $0.10 per page at those terminals. Mail and in-person copy requests are $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 per document.

A clerk-conducted search costs $34.00 when you do not have a case number. Use Form B1320 to make the request. Payment goes by money order or certified check made out to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court."

Bankruptcy Exemptions in Emanuel County

Georgia requires its state exemptions for all bankruptcy filings. Federal exemptions are not an option. Under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100, Emanuel County residents can protect their home equity up to $21,500. A married couple gets $43,000 if the property is in one spouse's name only. The vehicle exemption is $5,000.

Personal property caps at $5,000 total, with no single item over $300. Jewelry is exempt to $500. Tools of the trade are protected to $1,500. The wildcard exemption is $1,200 and can grow by up to $10,000 of unused homestead exemption. Fully exempt benefits with no cap include Social Security, workers compensation, unemployment, veterans pay, alimony, and child support. These cannot be touched in an Emanuel County bankruptcy case.

Types of Emanuel County Bankruptcy Cases

Chapter 7 liquidation is the most common filing type in Emanuel County. Non-exempt assets are sold to pay creditors. The remaining debt is erased. Most cases close in three to four months.

Chapter 13 is a repayment plan over three to five years. Debtors keep their property and pay from their income. It works for people who earn regular wages but fell behind on debts. Chapter 12 is designed for family farmers and fishermen, which can matter in a largely rural county like Emanuel. Chapter 11 covers business reorganization. All chapters create records in the Southern District system. Every case can be searched on PACER. The Bankruptcy Code under 11 U.S.C. governs all filings.

Emanuel County Clerk and State Records

The Emanuel County Clerk of Superior Court in Swainsboro manages state court records. Civil and criminal cases, property deeds, liens, and plat records are stored at the courthouse. Bankruptcy records are not kept locally. The clerk office cannot look up federal cases for you.

State records from Emanuel County might overlap with a bankruptcy filing. A property lien could appear in both the county records and a federal case. A deed transfer tied to a liquidation might be at the clerk office. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority offers online access to state court records statewide. For bankruptcy case files, use the federal system through PACER or the Southern District clerk.

The screenshot below shows the Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court website where Emanuel County cases are filed.

The court website has links to case access, court locations, and filing procedures for all Southern District counties.

Residency Rules and Filing Limits

To use Georgia exemptions, an Emanuel County resident must have lived in the state for 730 days. That is two years. People who moved here from another state less than two years ago may have to use their former state's exemptions.

Re-filing is restricted after discharge. Here are the wait times:

• Chapter 7 after Chapter 7: 8 years
• Chapter 13 after Chapter 7: 4 years
• Chapter 13 after Chapter 13: 2 years

The clock starts from the date the prior case was filed, not when it was discharged.

Archived Emanuel County Cases

Old closed Emanuel County bankruptcy records are sent to the National Archives and Records Administration. If PACER does not have the case, contact the Southern District at (912) 650-4100. The clerk provides the accession number, location number, and box number needed to order from NARA. Allow several weeks for processing.

Nearby Counties

Emanuel County is in east central Georgia. Its neighbors are in the Southern District. Records for each are accessible through PACER and the Southern District clerk offices.