Find Bankruptcy Records in Franklin County

Franklin County bankruptcy records are part of the federal court system and sit under the jurisdiction of the Northern District of Georgia. The county seat is Carnesville, a small town in northeast Georgia. No bankruptcy cases are kept at the local courthouse. All filings, docket entries, and court orders are managed by the federal bankruptcy court. Residents of Franklin County can search for these records online through PACER, call the toll-free McVCIS number for basic case details, or drive to the nearest federal court office to look at documents on a public terminal free of charge.

Federal Bankruptcy Court for Franklin County

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia has full jurisdiction over Franklin County. The main office is at 75 Ted Turner Drive SW, Room 1340, Atlanta, GA 30303. Phone: (404) 215-1000. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Franklin County is in the northeast corner of the Northern District, making the Gainesville divisional office at the Sidney O. Smith Federal Building the closest option for in-person visits. Atlanta is a longer trip. Chief Judge Barbara Ellis-Monro leads the bench. Vania S. Allen serves as Clerk of Court and oversees all record management for the district's 46 counties, including Franklin.

The court's case information page has links to PACER and other search tools used for looking up Franklin County bankruptcy records.

Searching Franklin County Bankruptcy Cases

PACER is the best way to search online. Registration costs nothing. Once your account is set up, you can search Franklin County bankruptcy records by debtor name or case number. You see the full docket, every document that was filed, all court orders, and the current case status. Each page you pull up costs $0.10.

Not sure which court has the case? The PACER Case Locator searches every federal bankruptcy court in the country. Type in a name and it shows matching cases from all districts. This is good when someone may have filed before moving to Franklin County or after leaving.

McVCIS is the free phone option. Call 1-866-222-8029. Follow the voice prompts and pick the Northern District of Georgia. You get basic info: case number, chapter type, filing date, judge, trustee, and status. It runs every day, all day, with rare breaks for system work.

Exemptions in Franklin County Bankruptcy Cases

Georgia has opted out of the federal exemption schedule. Franklin County filers must use the state's own list under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption covers up to $21,500 in equity. If a married couple files and the home is in one spouse's name, they may claim $43,000. Vehicles are safe up to $5,000 in equity.

Other key exemptions for Franklin County residents include $5,000 in personal property with no single item over $300, $500 in jewelry, $1,500 in tools of trade, and a wildcard of $1,200 that can cover any asset. Unused homestead exemption can boost the wildcard by up to $10,000. Personal injury recoveries are protected to $7,500. Life insurance cash value up to $2,000 is also exempt.

Workers compensation stays fully exempt under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84. Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment pay, and retirement accounts all have full protection. These rules apply the same in Franklin County as in every other Georgia county.

Franklin County Bankruptcy Record Fees

PACER access costs $0.10 per page. Public terminal viewing at any clerk office is free. Printing from terminals: $0.10 per page. In-person or mail copies: $0.50 per page. Certified copies: $12.00 extra per document.

Do not have a case number? The court will search for $34.00. Download Form B1320, fill it out, and send it with a money order or certified check. Make it payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." McVCIS is free for basic Franklin County case lookups.

Filing Rules and Residency for Franklin County

To use Georgia exemptions in a Franklin County bankruptcy, you need 730 days of state residency. That means two full years. If you moved to Carnesville or anywhere in Franklin County less than two years ago, the exemptions from your prior state might apply instead. This rule trips up a lot of people who relocate.

Refiling limits come from federal law under 11 U.S.C. You must wait eight years between Chapter 7 filings. Chapter 13 after Chapter 7 needs a four-year gap. Two Chapter 13 cases require two years apart. Franklin County cases follow the same four types: Chapter 7 liquidation, Chapter 11 business reorganization, Chapter 12 for farmers, and Chapter 13 for repayment plans. Chapter 12 cases do come up here given the agricultural nature of the area.

Note: Chapter 12 may apply to farming operations in rural Franklin County, where agricultural income qualifies under federal rules.

Franklin County State Records and Archives

The Franklin County Superior Court Clerk in Carnesville maintains state court documents. Civil suits, criminal cases, property deeds, and lien filings are all there. These are not bankruptcy records. But connections exist. A deed transfer or lien release linked to a federal bankruptcy discharge may appear in the county records.

The GSCCCA offers a statewide search tool for state court records. It covers all 159 counties in Georgia, including Franklin. For bankruptcy documents, the federal court system is your only source. The screenshot below shows the Northern District website, which is where you begin any Franklin County bankruptcy search.

Archived Franklin County bankruptcy cases are stored at NARA. Before requesting copies from the archives, contact the Northern District clerk at (404) 215-1000 to obtain the case number, accession number, and location details you will need.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County is located in northeast Georgia. The neighboring counties share federal court coverage through the Northern District, and their bankruptcy records are handled by the same system.