Jones County Bankruptcy Records

Jones County bankruptcy records are kept by the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court, not the local clerk office in Gray. Federal law governs all bankruptcy filings, which means these cases never pass through the state court system. The Middle District main office in nearby Macon handles Jones County cases directly. If you need to search for a filing, get copies of court documents, or check whether someone in Jones County has an active bankruptcy case, you will go through the federal system. Here is what you need to know about searching these records, the costs involved, and the different ways to access them.

Middle District Court for Jones County

The Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court handles all Jones County bankruptcy cases. The main office is at the Thomas Jefferson Federal Building, 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201. The phone number is 478-752-3506. Macon is the closest staffed office for Jones County residents. A second staffed office is in Columbus at One Arsenal Place, 901 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31902, reachable at 706-649-7837.

Chief Judge Austin E. Carter leads the Middle District. Kyle George serves as Clerk. Both the Macon and Columbus offices are open Monday through Friday. Only these two offices are regularly staffed. Other locations in the district, including Athens, Albany, Thomasville, and Valdosta, hold hearings on scheduled dates only. Jones County cases are almost always handled through the Macon office given its proximity to Gray.

Searching Jones County Bankruptcy Records

The best way to find Jones County bankruptcy records online is through PACER. Sign up for free and then search the Middle District database. Enter a debtor name or case number. Every petition, schedule, motion, and court order tied to the case appears in the docket. The fee is $0.10 per page. PACER never closes, so you can search any time.

Use the PACER Case Locator if you are not certain the case was filed in the Middle District. This national index searches all federal bankruptcy courts at once. A single name search pulls up matching cases from every district in the country.

You can also call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029 for free. This automated system provides the debtor name, case number, judge, filing date, chapter type, and current status. Select the Middle District from the phone prompts and enter a name or case number. It runs 24 hours a day. Full documents are not available through McVCIS, but it quickly tells you whether a Jones County bankruptcy case is on file.

Jones County Bankruptcy Fees

PACER costs $0.10 per page for online access to Jones County bankruptcy records. The public terminals at the Macon clerk office allow free viewing. Printing from the terminals costs $0.10 per page.

In-person copies and mail requests cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are an extra $12.00 per document. A court-conducted search runs $34.00 when you do not have a case number. Fill out Form B1320 and include payment by check or money order to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Cash is accepted at the counter only.

Note: PACER registration is free, and the quarterly fee waiver kicks in if your total charges stay under $30.

Types of Jones County Bankruptcy Filings

Bankruptcy cases from Jones County fall under four main chapters of the federal Bankruptcy Code. Chapter 7 is the most straightforward. It liquidates non-exempt assets. The trustee sells what can be sold, pays creditors, and the debtor gets a discharge of remaining debts. Most Chapter 7 cases close in a matter of months. Chapter 13 takes longer. The debtor keeps all property and pays creditors through a three-to-five-year plan approved by the court.

Chapter 11 applies mainly to businesses. A company in Jones County can reorganize its debts while continuing to operate. Chapter 12 is tailored for family farmers and fishermen. Each of these filing types generates court records that are available to the public through PACER and at the clerk's office in Macon.

Georgia Exemptions in Jones County Cases

Georgia has its own set of bankruptcy exemptions. Jones County filers must use the state list under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100, not the federal one. The homestead exemption is $21,500, or $43,000 for a married couple when the property is in one spouse's name alone. Vehicles are exempt up to $5,000. Trade tools are protected up to $1,500, and jewelry up to $500.

The wildcard exemption gives $1,200 for any property. If you have not used all of your homestead exemption, you can add up to $10,000 of the unused portion to the wildcard. Personal property is exempt up to $5,000 total, but each item must be worth $300 or less. Social Security, workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, unemployment, and veterans' benefits are fully exempt. Retirement accounts and alimony are protected as well.

The 730-day residency rule means you must live in Georgia for two full years before filing to use these exemptions. Jones County residents who moved from out of state recently should check whether they qualify.

Related Records at the Jones County Clerk

The Jones County Superior Court Clerk in Gray handles state court records. Civil suits, criminal cases, deed filings, liens, and UCC records are all maintained at the county level. While the clerk does not store bankruptcy records, these state filings often relate to bankruptcy cases. A creditor lien recorded in Jones County may become part of a bankruptcy claim. After the debtor receives a discharge, the lien record remains in county files until someone files a release.

The GSCCCA provides a statewide portal for searching deed and lien records. Use it alongside PACER to get a complete picture of a Jones County debtor's finances. This is especially important when real property is at stake in the case. The Middle District also posts court information including local rules and forms on its website.

Archived Cases from Jones County

Closed cases leave PACER after some time. The Middle District sends them to the National Archives. If you need an old Jones County bankruptcy record, contact the Macon clerk at 478-752-3506. Get the accession number, location number, and box number. Then order through NARA's website. Expect the process to take more time than pulling current records from PACER.

Nearby Counties

Jones County is in central Georgia, just east of Macon. Most of its neighbors are in the Middle District. Check the debtor's address when filing to make sure you are looking in the right place for bankruptcy records.