Access Lamar County Bankruptcy Records

Lamar County bankruptcy records are filed and stored through the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. The courthouse in Barnesville handles state matters, but bankruptcy is federal. Every Chapter 7, Chapter 13, or other bankruptcy case tied to a Lamar County resident goes through the federal system with offices in Macon and Columbus. You can search Lamar County bankruptcy records online, by phone, or by visiting a clerk office. This page explains how each method works, what it costs, and what kind of information you will find in these federal court files.

Lamar County Federal Court Details

The Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court handles Lamar County bankruptcy filings. The Macon office at 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201 is the closest staffed location. Call 478-752-3506 for questions. The Columbus office at 901 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31902 also takes filings, with a phone number of 706-649-7837.

Kyle George is the Clerk and Chief Judge Austin E. Carter runs the court. Macon and Columbus are the only regularly staffed offices in the Middle District. Other locations hold hearings on set dates. For Lamar County residents in Barnesville, Macon is about 45 minutes away and is the primary place to handle in-person needs for bankruptcy records.

Searching Lamar County Bankruptcy Records

Start with PACER for online searches of Lamar County bankruptcy records. Registration is free. Once in, search the Middle District by debtor name or case number. Every document from the original petition to the final discharge shows up in the case docket. PACER costs $0.10 per page and is available at all hours.

The PACER Case Locator works when you do not know which district handled a filing. It searches all federal bankruptcy courts in one go. Put in a name and see results from every district. Bookmark cases and save searches you repeat often.

For a free option, call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. Pick the Middle District from the menu. Enter a name or case number. The system reads back basic details including the debtor name, case number, judge, filing date, chapter, and status. It runs day and night. Full documents are not available by phone, but it confirms whether a Lamar County bankruptcy record exists.

In-person access is available at the Macon clerk office. Public terminals let you browse records free. Printing is $0.10 per page.

Fees for Lamar County Records

PACER charges $0.10 per page. Free viewing is possible at the clerk office on public terminals. Printing at the office is $0.10 per page. In-person or mail copy requests cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies run an extra $12.00 per document.

A court search without a case number costs $34.00. Submit Form B1320 with payment. Make checks payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Money orders and certified checks are accepted. Cash works at the counter. These fees apply to all Lamar County bankruptcy record requests through the Middle District.

Bankruptcy Filing Types in Lamar County

Lamar County residents file under the Bankruptcy Code, Title 11 of the U.S. Code. Chapter 7 is the most common path. It wipes out eligible debts by liquidating non-exempt property. A trustee sells what qualifies and distributes the money. Most cases close in under six months.

Chapter 13 lets filers keep their assets. They pay creditors through a plan lasting three to five years. Monthly payments go to a trustee who divides the funds among creditors. Chapter 11 applies to businesses that want to restructure. Chapter 12 covers family farmers and fishermen. Every case type creates public records that are searchable through PACER and at the Macon clerk office.

Georgia Exemptions for Lamar County Filers

Georgia opted out of the federal exemptions. Lamar County filers follow the state list in O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. Key amounts include:

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

Income that is fully protected includes Social Security, workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, veterans' benefits, unemployment, and retirement accounts. Child support and alimony are safe from creditors too. A debtor must have lived in Georgia for 730 days to use these exemptions. Re-filing wait times are eight years for Chapter 7 to Chapter 7, four years for Chapter 7 to Chapter 13, and two years for back-to-back Chapter 13 filings.

Lamar County State Court Records

The Superior Court Clerk in Barnesville maintains state records for Lamar County. Deeds, liens, civil cases, and criminal filings are all there. These records do not include bankruptcy filings, but they can overlap. A lien recorded in Lamar County may show up as a creditor claim in a federal bankruptcy case. After discharge, the county lien record remains until formally released.

Search statewide deed and lien data through the GSCCCA. Pairing that data with PACER records gives a more complete picture of a Lamar County debtor's situation.

Archived Lamar County Bankruptcy Cases

Closed cases get sent to the National Archives after they age out of PACER. Call the Macon office at 478-752-3506 to get the accession number, location, and box number for an old Lamar County bankruptcy record. Then place your order through NARA directly. This process is slower than online searches, so allow extra time.

Note: Always contact the clerk office first before ordering from NARA to get the right reference numbers.

Nearby Counties

Lamar County is south of Atlanta in central Georgia. Its neighbors are in the Middle District and the Northern District. The debtor's address at the time of filing controls which court has the case.