Bankruptcy Records in Lincoln County

Lincoln County bankruptcy records are filed with the Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. Lincolnton, the county seat, is a small town near the South Carolina border, and the closest federal court office is in Augusta. The local Superior Court Clerk does not handle bankruptcy filings. If you want to search for a case, pull court documents, or check on a discharge connected to someone in Lincoln County, the federal court system is where you go. This page walks through each way to access Lincoln County bankruptcy records and what you should expect in terms of fees and filing details.

Lincoln County Federal Bankruptcy Court

The Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court handles every bankruptcy case from Lincoln County. The Augusta office at the Federal Justice Center, 600 James Brown Blvd, Augusta, GA 30901 is the closest staffed location. Call (706) 823-6000 for questions. Augusta is about 30 miles from Lincolnton, making it a short drive for in-person visits.

The district also operates staffed offices in Savannah at 124 Barnard Street, Second Floor (phone: (912) 650-4100) and Brunswick at 801 Gloucester Street, Third Floor (phone: (912) 280-1376). Chief Judge Michele J. Kim leads the court. Dana M. Wilson is the Clerk. All staffed offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Lincoln County residents will find the Augusta office most practical.

How to Search Lincoln County Bankruptcy Records

Start with PACER for the most thorough online search. Registration is free. Search the Southern District by name or case number. Every document in a Lincoln County bankruptcy case appears in the docket: petitions, schedules, motions, orders, and the discharge. The fee is $0.10 per page. PACER is available at any hour.

The PACER Case Locator searches all federal bankruptcy courts at once. Use it when you are not sure which district handled a filing. Enter a name and see results from every court in the country. Save cases you want to track.

For free case info by phone, dial McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. Pick the Southern District. The system reads back the debtor name, case number, judge, filing date, chapter, and status. It works around the clock. No documents come through, but it verifies if a Lincoln County bankruptcy record exists.

Walk into the Augusta clerk office for in-person access. Public terminals are free to use. Printing is $0.10 per page.

Lincoln County Bankruptcy Record Fees

PACER charges $0.10 per page for online access to Lincoln County bankruptcy records. Free viewing is available on public terminals at the clerk office. Printing there costs $0.10 per page.

In-person or mail copy requests run $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 per document. A court-run search without a case number costs $34.00. Submit Form B1320 with your payment to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Accepted forms include money orders, certified checks, and cash at the counter.

Bankruptcy Filing Types in Lincoln County

Lincoln County cases are filed under the Bankruptcy Code, Title 11 of the U.S. Code. Chapter 7 is the most common path for individuals. It liquidates non-exempt assets to pay creditors. The case typically closes in a few months. Chapter 13 lets filers keep their property and repay debts over three to five years through a trustee-managed plan.

Chapter 11 applies to businesses going through a reorganization. Chapter 12 is designed for family farmers and fishermen. In a rural area like Lincoln County, Chapter 12 may apply more often than in metro areas. Each filing type creates a complete set of court records open to the public through PACER and at the Augusta clerk office.

Georgia Exemptions for Lincoln County

Georgia has opted out of federal bankruptcy exemptions. Lincoln County filers must use state exemptions under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. Key protections include:

• Homestead: up to $21,500
• Vehicle: up to $5,000
• Tools of trade: up to $1,500
• Jewelry: up to $500
• Wildcard: $1,200 plus up to $10,000 unused homestead

Income that is fully protected includes Social Security, workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, veterans' benefits, unemployment, retirement accounts, alimony, and child support. Personal property is exempt up to $5,000 total with a $300 cap per item. The 730-day residency rule means you must have lived in Georgia for two full years to use these exemptions. Re-filing limits are eight years for Chapter 7 to Chapter 7, four years from Chapter 7 to Chapter 13, and two years for back-to-back Chapter 13 filings.

Lincoln County State Court Records

The Lincoln County Superior Court Clerk in Lincolnton deals with state-level records. Civil lawsuits, criminal cases, deeds, liens, and UCC filings are maintained at the county courthouse. Bankruptcy filings are not part of this system. However, county records and federal bankruptcy records can intersect. A judgment lien recorded in Lincoln County may appear as a creditor claim in a bankruptcy petition. The county record stays on file until formally released, even after a discharge.

The GSCCCA provides online access to statewide deed and lien records. Use it alongside PACER to get a complete view of a Lincoln County debtor's financial picture, especially when property is a factor in the case.

Archived Lincoln County Bankruptcy Cases

Closed cases get sent to the National Archives after aging off PACER. Call the Augusta office at (706) 823-6000 to get the accession number, location number, and box number for an old Lincoln County bankruptcy record. Order through NARA directly. This takes longer, so plan ahead.

Note: Always contact the clerk first to get the correct reference numbers before placing a NARA order.

Nearby Counties

Lincoln County is on Georgia's eastern border. Its neighbors are in the Southern District. Confirm the debtor's home county at the time of filing before running a bankruptcy records search.