Madison County Bankruptcy Records Search

Madison County bankruptcy records are part of the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court system. Danielsville is the county seat, and the county sits in northeast Georgia near Athens. The Middle District has a hearing location in Athens that brings the federal court closer to Madison County residents. Bankruptcy filings are federal, not state, so the clerk office in Danielsville does not maintain these records. This page walks you through every method for searching Madison County bankruptcy records, the costs you will face, and the rules that govern these filings.

Federal Court Serving Madison County

The Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court handles every Madison County bankruptcy filing. The staffed offices are in Macon at 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201 (phone: 478-752-3506) and Columbus at 901 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31902 (phone: 706-649-7837). Kyle George is the Clerk. Chief Judge Austin E. Carter leads the court.

The Athens hearing location at the U.S. Courthouse, 115 East Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 30601 is the closest court facility to Madison County. Hearings for local bankruptcy cases may take place here on scheduled dates. The Athens office is staffed only during hearings. Do not send filings to Athens. Mail everything to the Macon office. The nearby city of Athens in Clarke County is the regional center for Madison County residents dealing with federal court matters.

How to Search Madison County Bankruptcy Records

Start with PACER for online access. Registration is free. Search the Middle District by debtor name or case number. All documents in a Madison County bankruptcy case appear in the docket, including petitions, schedules, motions, and orders. The cost is $0.10 per page. PACER is available 24/7.

The PACER Case Locator works when you do not know which district handled a case. It searches every federal bankruptcy court nationwide. Enter a name and see all matching results. Save frequent searches and bookmark cases to track.

McVCIS is the free phone option. Dial 1-866-222-8029. Select the Middle District. Enter a name or number. You get the debtor name, case number, judge, filing date, chapter, and current status. The system runs around the clock. No documents come through, but it verifies whether a Madison County bankruptcy filing exists.

Walk into the Macon clerk office for in-person access. Public terminals provide free viewing. Printing is $0.10 per page.

Fees for Madison County Records

PACER charges $0.10 per page for online access to Madison County bankruptcy records. Free viewing is available at public terminals. Printing is $0.10 per page. Mail and counter copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 per document.

A court search without a case number is $34.00. Submit Form B1320 with payment. Make checks to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Money orders, certified checks, and cash at the counter are accepted.

Bankruptcy Types in Madison County

Madison County cases follow the Bankruptcy Code, Title 11 of the U.S. Code. The two most common types are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Chapter 7 is liquidation. A trustee sells non-exempt assets and pays creditors. The remaining eligible debts are discharged. Most cases close in a matter of months.

Chapter 13 lets the debtor keep property while repaying creditors through a plan lasting three to five years. A trustee manages the monthly payments. This works best for people with regular income who want to save a home or car. Chapter 11 applies to businesses reorganizing their debts. Chapter 12 covers family farmers and fishermen. Every chapter creates a public court record stored in the federal system.

Georgia Exemptions in Madison County Cases

Georgia filers use state exemptions, not the federal ones. Madison County residents follow O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. Key exemption amounts:

• Homestead: $21,500 ($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

Fully exempt income 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. You must have lived in Georgia for 730 days to use these exemptions. Re-filing limits are eight years for Chapter 7 to Chapter 7, four years for Chapter 7 to Chapter 13, and two years between Chapter 13 filings.

Madison County Clerk and State Records

The Madison County Superior Court Clerk in Danielsville handles state-level records. Civil lawsuits, criminal cases, deeds, liens, and UCC filings are maintained locally. Bankruptcy records are kept at the federal level only. But these records can intersect. A judgment lien recorded in Madison County may show up as a creditor claim in a bankruptcy petition. After discharge, the county lien remains until a release is filed.

Search statewide deed and lien records through the GSCCCA. Combine that data with PACER results for a complete view of a Madison County debtor's finances, especially when real property is at stake.

Archived Madison County Bankruptcy Records

Closed cases leave PACER after several years and go to the National Archives. For old Madison County bankruptcy records, call the Macon clerk at 478-752-3506. Get the accession number, location, and box number. Then place your order with NARA. Allow extra time for this process.

Note: Always get the reference numbers from the clerk before contacting NARA.

Nearby Counties

Madison County is in northeast Georgia. Its neighbors span both the Middle and Northern Districts. Always check which district covers a county before searching for bankruptcy records.