Fayette County Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records for Fayette County residents are kept in the federal court system, not at the county courthouse in Fayetteville. The Northern District of Georgia has jurisdiction over all bankruptcy filings from this area. You can search for Fayette County bankruptcy cases online through PACER any time of day or night. The free McVCIS phone system also provides basic case details without any charge. Located just south of Atlanta, Fayette County falls within easy reach of the main Northern District office, making in-person visits to view records a practical option for many residents.

Northern District Court for Fayette County

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia handles all Fayette County bankruptcy cases. The main office is in the Richard B. Russell Federal Building at 75 Ted Turner Drive SW, Room 1340, Atlanta, GA 30303. Phone is (404) 215-1000. Court hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Fayette County is one of 46 counties in this district. Because of its location south of Atlanta, the Newnan divisional office at P.O. Box 2328, Newnan, GA 30264 may be a closer option for some Fayette County residents. That office phone is (678) 423-3000. Chief Judge Barbara Ellis-Monro oversees the court, and Vania S. Allen serves as Clerk of Court managing all record keeping.

How to Search Fayette County Bankruptcy Records

Start with PACER for online access. It is free to set up an account. Once logged in, you search by name or case number to pull up Fayette County bankruptcy filings. The system shows full docket sheets, all filed documents, hearing dates, and case status. It costs $0.10 per page viewed.

The PACER Case Locator works best when you are not sure which court has the case. It searches every federal court in the country with one query. This is helpful for people who may have lived in Fayette County but filed in a different state. You type a name, and it shows all matching cases nationwide.

McVCIS gives you a third way to search. Call 1-866-222-8029 from any touch-tone phone. It is completely free. The automated system tells you the case number, chapter type, filing date, judge name, and current status. Pick the Northern District of Georgia when the prompts come up. It runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year except during short maintenance windows.

In person, you can visit the clerk office and use public computer terminals. Viewing is free. Printing from those terminals is $0.10 per page.

Fayette County Bankruptcy Exemptions

Georgia does not follow the federal exemption list. The state created its own under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. Every Fayette County bankruptcy filer must use these state rules. Here are the main limits:

• Homestead: up to $21,500 (married couples may get $43,000)
• Vehicle: $5,000 in equity
• Personal property: $5,000 total, each item $300 or less
• Jewelry: $500
• Tools of trade: $1,500
• Wildcard: $1,200 plus up to $10,000 unused homestead

Some benefits are fully protected with no dollar cap. Workers compensation is exempt under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84. Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment pay, and alimony all stay out of reach. Retirement plans including 401(k), 403(b), and IRA accounts are also fully exempt in Fayette County bankruptcy cases. These protections matter because Fayette County has a higher median income than much of Georgia, which sometimes affects how cases are handled under the means test.

Fees for Fayette County Record Copies

Online access through PACER costs $0.10 per page for Fayette County bankruptcy records. Documents under 30 pages are capped at $3.00 total. Copies you request by mail or in person at the court are $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 per document on top of the copy fee.

When you do not have a case number, the court charges $34.00 to run a search. Submit Form B1320 with payment by money order or certified check. Make it payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court."

Note: McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029 gives basic Fayette County case info at no cost.

Bankruptcy Types Filed in Fayette County

Chapter 7 is the most common type. It involves liquidation of non-exempt assets to pay off debts. Most Fayette County filers who qualify for Chapter 7 keep all of their property because it falls within the exemption limits. The process takes around four to six months from start to discharge.

Chapter 13 is a reorganization plan. Fayette County residents with steady income use it to pay back debts over three to five years while keeping their home and car. Chapter 11 applies mainly to businesses. It lets companies restructure while staying open. Chapter 12 is set aside for family farmers and fishermen, which applies to some of the rural parts of Fayette County.

Filing restrictions under federal law set gaps between cases. Eight years must pass between two Chapter 7 filings. Four years between a Chapter 7 and a Chapter 13. Two years between Chapter 13 filings. You also need to live in Georgia for 730 days to use the state's exemption schedule.

Fayette County State Court Records

The Fayette County Superior Court Clerk in Fayetteville handles state-level filings. Civil suits, criminal cases, property deeds, and liens are on file there. These are not bankruptcy records, but they overlap at times. A bankruptcy discharge can lead to lien releases or deed changes that show up in the county system.

The GSCCCA runs a statewide search portal for state court records across Georgia's 159 counties. Use it for property searches in Fayette County. For any actual bankruptcy documents, the Northern District case information page is where you need to go. The screenshot below shows the court's website.

Archived Fayette County bankruptcy cases may be at NARA. You need the case number, accession number, and box number. Contact the Northern District clerk at (404) 215-1000 to get those details before placing an order.

Nearby Counties

Fayette County borders several counties in the Atlanta metro area. All of the nearby counties below are part of the Northern District and use the same federal bankruptcy court for their filings.