Find Lumpkin County Bankruptcy Records

Lumpkin County bankruptcy records are maintained by the Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. Dahlonega is the county seat, known for its mountain setting and gold rush history, but bankruptcy is a federal matter handled outside the local courthouse. The Northern District has a divisional office in Gainesville that is closer to Lumpkin County than the main Atlanta office. If you need to look up a case, get copies of court papers, or check a filing status for someone in Lumpkin County, you go through the federal system. This page covers the tools, fees, and steps for accessing these records.

Northern District Court for Lumpkin County

All Lumpkin County bankruptcy cases go to the Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. The main courthouse is the Richard B. Russell Federal Building at 75 Ted Turner Drive SW, Room 1340, Atlanta, GA 30303. Phone: (404) 215-1000. The Gainesville divisional office at the Sidney O. Smith Federal Building is closer to Dahlonega and handles many north Georgia cases.

The Northern District also has offices in Newnan and Rome. Chief Judge Barbara Ellis-Monro leads the court. Vania S. Allen serves as Clerk. All offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. For Lumpkin County residents, the Gainesville office is the most practical choice for in-person business. The Atlanta office has the largest staff and handles the highest volume of cases in the district.

Searching Lumpkin County Bankruptcy Records

PACER gives you full online access to Lumpkin County bankruptcy records. Registration is free. Search the Northern District by debtor name or case number. Every document, motion, order, and docket entry shows up. The cost is $0.10 per page. PACER stays open at all hours.

When you are unsure of the district, use the PACER Case Locator. It searches every federal bankruptcy court in one pass. Enter a name and get results from all districts. Save your searches and track cases over time.

For free basic info, call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. Select the Northern District. Enter a name or case number. The automated system reads back the debtor name, case number, judge, filing date, chapter type, and current status. It runs 24 hours a day. Full documents are not available by phone, but it tells you quickly whether a Lumpkin County bankruptcy case exists.

Note: Public terminals at the Atlanta and Gainesville offices let you view records free of charge. Printing is $0.10 per page.

Lumpkin County Bankruptcy Record Fees

PACER costs $0.10 per page online. Viewing at the clerk office is free on public terminals. Printing is $0.10 per page. In-person or mail copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 per document. A court search without a case number costs $34.00.

Use Form B1320 for search requests. Pay by check or money order to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Cash is taken at the counter. Personal checks are accepted for pro se filers only. These fees are standard across all Northern District offices for Lumpkin County records.

Bankruptcy Types in Lumpkin County

Lumpkin County residents file under the Bankruptcy Code. Chapter 7 is liquidation. A trustee sells non-exempt assets and distributes the money to creditors. Most Chapter 7 cases from Lumpkin County close within a few months. Chapter 13 is a repayment plan lasting three to five years. The debtor keeps their assets while a trustee manages monthly payments to creditors.

Chapter 11 is for business reorganization. A company continues its operations while restructuring its debts under court supervision. Chapter 12 applies to family farmers and fishermen. All these filing types generate public records in the case docket, available through PACER or at the clerk office.

The Northern District case information page provides resources for understanding local court rules and accessing Lumpkin County bankruptcy records through the court's own website.

Georgia Exemptions for Lumpkin County Filers

Georgia opted out of federal exemptions. Lumpkin County filers use the state list under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption is $21,500, or $43,000 for married couples filing jointly when the property is in one spouse's name. Vehicles are exempt up to $5,000. Tools of trade get $1,500. Jewelry is protected up to $500.

The wildcard exemption covers $1,200 plus up to $10,000 of unused homestead. 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, unemployment, veterans' benefits, retirement accounts, alimony, and child support. The 730-day residency rule means you must live in Georgia two full years before filing.

Between filings: eight years from Chapter 7 to Chapter 7, four years from Chapter 7 to Chapter 13, two years between Chapter 13 discharges.

Lumpkin County State Records

The Lumpkin County Superior Court Clerk in Dahlonega maintains state court records. Civil cases, criminal filings, deeds, liens, and UCC records are all kept locally. Bankruptcy records are not stored at the county level. Still, county filings can tie into bankruptcy proceedings. A lien recorded in Lumpkin County might appear as a creditor claim in a federal case. After a discharge, the county lien record remains until formally released.

The GSCCCA provides online access to statewide deed and lien records. Comparing GSCCCA data with PACER gives a broader picture of a Lumpkin County debtor's financial situation.

Archived Lumpkin County Bankruptcy Cases

Old closed cases transfer from PACER to the National Archives. Call the Northern District at (404) 215-1000 for reference numbers needed to order archived Lumpkin County bankruptcy records from NARA. You will need the accession number, location, and box number. Allow additional time for these requests.

Nearby Counties

Lumpkin County is in the north Georgia mountains. All of its neighbors are in the Northern District for bankruptcy purposes. Check the debtor's address when they filed to make sure you search the right county.