Search Long County Bankruptcy Records

Long County bankruptcy records are stored in the federal court system under the Southern District of Georgia. Ludowici is the county seat, and while it has a local courthouse for state matters, bankruptcy cases are handled at the federal level only. Long County is a small, rural area in southeast Georgia, and its residents use the Savannah or Brunswick offices for in-person bankruptcy court business. This guide explains how to search for Long County bankruptcy records, the fees involved, what types of cases you might find, and which exemptions apply to local filers.

Federal Court for Long County Bankruptcy

The Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court covers Long County. The Savannah office at 124 Barnard Street, Second Floor, Savannah, GA 31401 is the nearest staffed location. Phone: (912) 650-4100. The Brunswick office at 801 Gloucester Street, Third Floor, Brunswick, GA 31520 is another option (phone: (912) 280-1376). The Augusta office is at 600 James Brown Blvd, Augusta, GA 30901 (phone: (706) 823-6000).

Dana M. Wilson is the Clerk of Court. Chief Judge Michele J. Kim leads the district. Both Savannah and Brunswick are within reasonable driving distance of Ludowici. All staffed offices are open Monday through Friday. The Waycross hearing location at 601 Tebeau Street may also hold hearings relevant to Long County, but it is not always staffed. Mail documents to Savannah or Augusta instead.

How to Find Long County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the primary way to search Long County bankruptcy records. Set up a free account and log in to the Southern District. Search by debtor name or case number. Every document appears in the docket. The fee is $0.10 per page. PACER runs around the clock.

Use the PACER Case Locator when you are not sure which court handled a case. This tool searches every federal bankruptcy court in the nation. Enter a name and see all matching results. Save searches and bookmark cases for monitoring.

McVCIS is a free phone service. Call 1-866-222-8029 and pick the Southern District. Enter a name or case number. You get the debtor name, case number, judge, filing date, chapter, and status. The line is up all day, every day. It does not deliver full documents, but it confirms whether a Long County bankruptcy case exists.

Long County Bankruptcy Record Costs

PACER costs $0.10 per page. Public terminals in the clerk office let you view records free. Printing from them is $0.10 per page. Copy requests by mail or at the counter run $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 per document.

A court-conducted search without a case number is $34.00. File Form B1320 with payment to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Money orders, certified checks, and cash at the counter are all accepted. These fees apply to all Long County bankruptcy records from the Southern District.

Note: PACER waives quarterly charges under $30, so small searches may cost nothing.

Types of Long County Bankruptcy Cases

Long County cases fall under the federal Bankruptcy Code. Chapter 7 is a liquidation process where non-exempt property gets sold. Creditors receive the proceeds. The debtor's remaining eligible debts are wiped out. Most Chapter 7 cases close in just a few months. Chapter 13 is a repayment plan. The debtor holds on to property and pays back debts over three to five years through a trustee.

Chapter 11 covers business reorganizations. Chapter 12 is for family farmers and fishermen, which can be relevant in rural Long County. Each filing creates a public record. The docket includes the petition, schedules, the proposed plan when applicable, all motions, court orders, and the final outcome.

Georgia Exemptions in Long County Filings

Georgia requires filers to use state exemptions instead of the federal ones. Long County residents follow O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption is $21,500. Vehicles get $5,000. Trade tools have a $1,500 exemption. Jewelry is protected up to $500. The wildcard covers $1,200 plus up to $10,000 of unused homestead exemption.

Personal property is exempt up to $5,000 total with a $300 per-item cap. Fully exempt income includes Social Security, workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, veterans' benefits, unemployment, retirement accounts, child support, and alimony. You must have lived in Georgia for 730 days before filing to claim these exemptions.

Re-filing limits apply. You must wait eight years between Chapter 7 discharges. From Chapter 7 to Chapter 13, the wait is four years. Between Chapter 13 filings, it is two years.

Long County Clerk and State Records

The Long County Superior Court Clerk in Ludowici keeps state court records: civil cases, criminal filings, deeds, liens, and property transfers. Bankruptcy records are not there. But these state records can connect to federal bankruptcy filings. A judgment lien in Long County might be listed as a creditor claim in a bankruptcy petition. The county record stays until someone files a release, even after the bankruptcy discharge.

Use the GSCCCA for statewide deed and lien searches. Pairing GSCCCA results with PACER data helps you see the full picture for a Long County debtor, particularly when real property is part of the case.

Archived Long County Bankruptcy Records

Closed cases eventually get sent from PACER to the National Archives. To request an old Long County bankruptcy record, call the Savannah clerk at (912) 650-4100. They provide the accession number, location number, and box number you need. Then order copies through NARA. Allow extra time since this is slower than a PACER search.

Nearby Counties

Long County is in southeast Georgia, inland from the coast. Its neighbors fall under the Southern District. Verify the debtor's home county at filing time before you run a bankruptcy records search.