Fulton County Bankruptcy Records

Fulton County generates more bankruptcy filings than any other county in Georgia. The county seat is Atlanta, which also serves as home to the Northern District of Georgia's main bankruptcy court office. Searching for Fulton County bankruptcy records is straightforward because the federal court is located right here. PACER offers round-the-clock online access to case dockets and filings, while the free McVCIS phone line provides basic case information at no cost. Whether the filing involves a Chapter 7 liquidation or a Chapter 13 repayment plan, all Fulton County bankruptcy records sit in the federal system.

Fulton County Bankruptcy Court in Atlanta

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia has its main office right in Fulton County. The court is at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building, 75 Ted Turner Drive SW, Room 1340, Atlanta, GA 30303. Call (404) 215-1000 during business hours. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

This is the headquarters for the entire Northern District, which covers 46 counties. But Fulton County is the busiest. Atlanta's population and economic activity produce a large share of the district's bankruptcy cases. Chief Judge Barbara Ellis-Monro presides over the court. Clerk of Court Vania S. Allen runs daily operations and manages all case records. The Northern District also has offices in Gainesville, Newnan, and Rome, but for Fulton County residents, the Atlanta office is the primary location.

The case information page links directly to PACER and other tools for searching Fulton County bankruptcy records.

How to Search Fulton County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the main tool. Registration is free. Search by name, case number, or other party details. You get full dockets, all filed documents, court orders, and real-time updates for Fulton County cases. Each page costs $0.10 to view or download. Single documents of 30 pages or fewer are capped at $3.00.

The PACER Case Locator searches across every federal court in the nation. Fulton County has a large transient population. People move in and out of Atlanta constantly. The Case Locator finds cases filed in other districts if someone later moved to Fulton County, or cases from people who left Fulton County and filed somewhere else.

McVCIS offers free phone access. Call 1-866-222-8029. The automated voice system provides case numbers, filing dates, chapter type, assigned judge, trustee name, and status. Select the Northern District of Georgia from the prompts. Available around the clock.

In person at the Atlanta courthouse, walk in and use the public computer terminals. Viewing is free. Printing costs $0.10 per page. Staff can help you navigate the system if you need it.

Fulton County Bankruptcy Fees and Costs

PACER charges $0.10 per page for all online access. Terminal viewing at the courthouse: free. Terminal printing: $0.10 per page. Copies by mail or in person: $0.50 per page. Certified copies: extra $12.00 per document.

When you do not have a case number and need the court to search, the fee is $34.00. File Form B1320 with your payment. Checks and money orders should be made to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." The Atlanta office accepts cash for in-person transactions. Personal checks are only taken from pro se filers.

Note: McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029 is always free for basic Fulton County case lookups.

Fulton County Bankruptcy Exemptions

Georgia opted out of the federal exemption schedule. Fulton County filers use state rules from O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. Here are the key amounts:

• Homestead: $21,500 (up to $43,000 for married couples)
• Motor vehicle: $5,000
• Personal property: $5,000 total, $300 per item cap
• Jewelry: $500
• Tools of trade: $1,500
• Wildcard: $1,200 plus up to $10,000 unused homestead
• Personal injury: $7,500

Property values in Fulton County tend to be higher than the state average, especially in Atlanta and its surrounding areas. The $21,500 homestead exemption may not cover the full equity in many Fulton County homes, which is an important consideration for anyone filing Chapter 7 here. Workers compensation is fully exempt under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84. Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment compensation, alimony, child support, and retirement accounts are all fully protected in Fulton County bankruptcy cases.

Fulton County Residency and Refiling Rules

You need 730 days of Georgia residency to use the state's exemptions. Fulton County draws people from all over the country. Many new Atlanta residents discover they cannot use Georgia's exemption list because they have not hit the two-year mark yet. In that case, the exemptions from the prior state apply.

Refiling limits under 11 U.S.C. are strict. Eight years must pass between Chapter 7 filings. Four years from Chapter 7 to Chapter 13. Chapter 13 after Chapter 13 is two years. The four bankruptcy types filed in Fulton County are Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, and Chapter 13. Due to the size of the Atlanta economy, Chapter 11 business reorganization cases are more common in Fulton County than in most other Georgia counties.

Fulton County State Court and the GSCCCA

The Fulton County Superior Court Clerk in Atlanta keeps state-level records. Civil lawsuits, criminal cases, property deeds, UCC filings, and lien records are maintained there. None of these are bankruptcy files. But there is frequent overlap. Liens, judgments, and property transfers in Fulton County often tie back to federal bankruptcy proceedings.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority gives online access to state records from all 159 Georgia counties. You can search property records, deed indexes, and lien information for Fulton County through their portal. When you need actual bankruptcy case documents, the Northern District federal court is the only source. The screenshot below shows the court website.

Closed Fulton County bankruptcy cases are eventually moved to NARA for archival storage. Call the Atlanta clerk office at (404) 215-1000 to get the accession number and box number you need before ordering from NARA.

Cities in Fulton County

Fulton County contains several major cities. Atlanta is the state capital and the largest city in Georgia. All of these cities are served by the Northern District for bankruptcy matters, and their cases go through the Atlanta office.

Nearby Counties

Fulton County sits at the center of the Atlanta metro area. The surrounding counties are all within the Northern District and share the same federal bankruptcy court.