Bankruptcy Records in Hancock County

Hancock County bankruptcy records are maintained by the federal courts. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Georgia handles all bankruptcy filings from this rural east-central Georgia county with its seat in Sparta. The local courthouse does not store these records. You can search Hancock County bankruptcy cases through PACER online or use the free McVCIS phone service for basic case details. The Middle District Macon office manages all filings, and every petition, schedule, and court order is kept on file there for public access.

Middle District Court Serving Hancock County

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Georgia handles all Hancock County filings. The Macon office at 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201 is the primary staffed location. Call 478-752-3506 to reach the clerk. The Columbus office at 901 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31902 is another staffed option with phone 706-649-7837.

For Hancock County residents, Macon is the closest staffed office. The district holds hearings in Athens and other locations too, but those offices are only staffed when hearings occur. Chief Judge Austin E. Carter presides over the Middle District. Kyle George serves as Clerk. Hancock County is among the 69 counties served by this court.

How to Search Hancock County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the best online tool for finding Hancock County bankruptcy records. Registration is free. Search by debtor name or case number. The system returns docket entries, filed documents, and current case status. It is available at all hours, every day of the year.

The PACER Case Locator is another useful tool. It searches all federal courts at once. If you are unsure which district has the case, or if the debtor may have filed in a different state, this tool will find it.

Call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029 for free information. Select the Middle District of Georgia. The automated system gives you the debtor name, case number, chapter, filing date, assigned judge, trustee, and current status. It runs 24 hours a day. No document copies come through the phone line, but it confirms that a Hancock County case exists.

Hancock County Bankruptcy Record Costs

PACER charges $0.10 per page for viewing and downloading. Documents under 31 pages are capped at $3.00. Viewing records at the courthouse on public terminals is free. Printing is $0.10 per page.

In-person and mail copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 each. If you need a name search because you lack a case number, use Form B1320 with a $34.00 fee. Payment goes by money order or certified check payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." The Macon office takes cash for walk-in requests.

Note: The $3.00 cap on PACER applies per document, not per search session.

Exemptions for Hancock County Bankruptcy Filers

Georgia uses its own exemption schedule, not the federal one. Hancock County residents follow O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption protects up to $21,500 of equity in a primary residence. A married couple can shield $43,000 if the home is in only one spouse's name. The motor vehicle exemption is $5,000.

Personal property is covered up to $5,000 total, with no item exceeding $300 in value. Jewelry gets a $500 exemption. Tools used for work are protected to $1,500. The wildcard of $1,200 covers any asset type, and you can add up to $10,000 of unused homestead exemption on top of it. Workers compensation, Social Security, unemployment, and veterans benefits are fully exempt. These amounts apply across all Hancock County bankruptcy cases.

Types of Bankruptcy Filed in Hancock County

Chapter 7 liquidation is the most common type filed by Hancock County residents. Non-exempt property is sold to pay debts, and remaining balances are discharged. This usually takes three to four months. Chapter 13 sets up a payment plan over three to five years. The debtor keeps their property and pays debts from income.

Chapter 12 is for family farmers and fishermen. Given the agricultural landscape of Hancock County, this chapter may apply to some local filers. Chapter 11 handles business reorganization and is less typical for individuals. All case types are stored in the Middle District system and searchable through PACER. Under 11 U.S.C., anyone can access these public records.

Hancock County Clerk and State Records

The Hancock County Clerk of Superior Court in Sparta manages state court records only. Civil cases, criminal records, deeds, liens, and other state filings are stored there. Bankruptcy records are not. The federal court handles those. However, state-level records from Hancock County can relate to a bankruptcy case. A property lien or civil judgment might be listed in a debtor's federal filing.

Use the Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority to search Hancock County state records online. For bankruptcy case files, go through PACER or the Middle District clerk office in Macon.

The Middle District court website shown here is where Hancock County bankruptcy cases are filed and maintained.

Archived Hancock County Bankruptcy Cases

Closed bankruptcy cases from Hancock County get transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration over time. If a case does not show up in PACER, contact the Macon clerk at 478-752-3506. They will confirm the archive status and provide the case number, accession number, location number, and box number needed for NARA. Allow several weeks for delivery of archived records.

Residency and Re-Filing Rules

Georgia exemptions require 730 days of residency before your filing date. Hancock County residents who moved in from another state less than two years ago may have to use that state's exemptions. The re-filing gaps are eight years for Chapter 7 to Chapter 7, four years for Chapter 7 to Chapter 13, and two years for consecutive Chapter 13 filings. These rules come from federal law and apply to every case in the Middle District.

Nearby Counties

Hancock County is in east-central Georgia, bordering several counties across the Middle and Southern districts. Bankruptcy records from neighboring counties can be found through the same PACER search process.