Liberty County Bankruptcy Records

Liberty County bankruptcy records are managed by the Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. Hinesville is the county seat and home to Fort Stewart, which makes the local population more transient than in many Georgia counties. All bankruptcy filings from Liberty County go through the federal court system, not the local Superior Court Clerk. If you need to search for a case, get copies of court documents, or verify a discharge for someone in Liberty County, you will use federal tools and offices. Here is a complete look at how to access Liberty County bankruptcy records.

Southern District Court Serving Liberty County

The Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court handles all Liberty County bankruptcy cases. The Savannah office at 124 Barnard Street, Second Floor, Savannah, GA 31401 is the closest staffed location to Hinesville. Call (912) 650-4100 for questions. Augusta operates from 600 James Brown Blvd, Augusta, GA 30901 (phone: (706) 823-6000). Brunswick is at 801 Gloucester Street, Third Floor (phone: (912) 280-1376).

Savannah is roughly 40 miles from Hinesville, making it the practical choice for in-person visits from Liberty County. All three offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Chief Judge Michele J. Kim leads the court, and Dana M. Wilson serves as Clerk.

Finding Liberty County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the most direct way to search Liberty County bankruptcy records online. Sign up for a free account. Search the Southern District by debtor name or case number. The full docket appears with every filing, motion, schedule, and order. The cost is $0.10 per page. PACER runs 24 hours a day.

Not sure which court has the case? The PACER Case Locator checks all federal bankruptcy courts across the country with a single search. This is especially useful for Liberty County given the military community around Fort Stewart. People who were stationed there may have later filed in another state. The Case Locator finds those records no matter where they were filed.

The free phone alternative is McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. Choose the Southern District from the menu. Enter a name or case number. The system provides the debtor name, case number, judge, filing date, chapter type, and current status. Available all day, every day. It does not pull up full documents, but it quickly verifies whether a Liberty County bankruptcy case is on file.

You can also visit the Savannah clerk office in person. The public terminals let you view Liberty County bankruptcy records at no charge. Printing from the terminals costs $0.10 per page.

Fees for Liberty County Bankruptcy Records

Online access through PACER costs $0.10 per page. At the clerk office, viewing on public terminals is free. Printing runs $0.10 per page. In-person or mail copy requests are $0.50 per page. Certified copies carry an extra $12.00 fee per document.

When you do not have a case number and need the court to search, the fee is $34.00. Submit Form B1320 with a check or money order to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Cash is accepted at the counter. These fees apply to all Liberty County bankruptcy record requests through the Southern District.

Note: PACER quarterly totals under $30 are waived, so small searches may end up costing nothing.

Bankruptcy Types Filed in Liberty County

Cases from Liberty County are filed under the Bankruptcy Code. Chapter 7 liquidation is the most common. A trustee sells non-exempt assets and distributes the proceeds to creditors. The remaining debts are discharged. Most cases close within a few months. Chapter 13 allows the debtor to keep property and pay creditors through a court-approved plan over three to five years.

Chapter 11 applies to businesses seeking to reorganize. Chapter 12 covers family farmers and fishermen. All chapters produce public court records. Each case docket contains the petition, schedules of assets and debts, the plan where applicable, all motions and court orders, and the final discharge or dismissal.

Georgia Exemptions in Liberty County Cases

Georgia has its own exemption scheme. Liberty County filers use state exemptions under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100 instead of the federal list. The homestead protects $21,500 in equity. Vehicles are exempt up to $5,000. Trade tools get $1,500 of protection. Jewelry is safe up to $500. The wildcard is $1,200, plus up to $10,000 from unused homestead.

Fully exempt income includes Social Security, workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, unemployment, veterans' benefits, retirement accounts, alimony, and child support. Veterans' benefits are especially relevant for Liberty County residents tied to Fort Stewart. Personal property is exempt up to $5,000 with a $300 cap per item.

The 730-day residency rule applies. Military families who recently moved to Liberty County should check whether they meet Georgia's residency requirement for exemptions, as the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act may affect their options.

Liberty County Clerk and Related Records

The Superior Court Clerk in Hinesville handles state court records for Liberty County: civil suits, criminal cases, deeds, liens, and property filings. These are separate from federal bankruptcy records. Still, state and federal records connect at times. A lien recorded in Liberty County could show up in a bankruptcy proceeding. After the case closes, county records retain the lien until it is formally released.

The GSCCCA lets you search deed and lien records online for all Georgia counties. Using GSCCCA alongside PACER gives a more complete view of a Liberty County debtor's financial standing.

Archived Liberty County Cases

Old closed cases eventually move from PACER to the National Archives. For archived Liberty County bankruptcy records, call the Savannah clerk at (912) 650-4100. Get the accession, location, and box numbers. Then order through NARA. This is a slower process than PACER, so plan accordingly.

Nearby Counties

Liberty County sits along the Georgia coast. Its neighbors are all in the Southern District for bankruptcy purposes. Verify the debtor's address at the time of filing to confirm the right county for your records search.