Access McIntosh County Bankruptcy Records

McIntosh County bankruptcy records fall under the Southern District of Georgia, which covers 43 counties along the coast and in the southeast part of the state. The county seat is Darien, a small coastal town. No bankruptcy filings are kept at the local courthouse. Every case goes through the federal bankruptcy court system, with offices in Brunswick, Savannah, and Augusta. Searching for McIntosh County bankruptcy records can be done from any computer with PACER access, or by calling the free McVCIS phone line for basic information about a case.

Southern District Court for McIntosh County

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia handles all McIntosh County bankruptcy cases. This district covers the southeastern portion of the state. The court has three staffed offices, and the Brunswick location is the closest to McIntosh County.

The Brunswick office is at 801 Gloucester Street, 3rd Floor, Brunswick, GA 31520. Phone: (912) 280-1376. The Savannah office at 124 Barnard Street, 2nd Floor, Savannah, GA 31401 is another option. Call (912) 650-4100. The Augusta office serves the western side of the district at 600 James Brown Blvd, Augusta, GA 30901, phone (706) 823-6000. Chief Judge Michele J. Kim oversees the Southern District, and Dana M. Wilson serves as Clerk of Court.

For mail, send correspondence to PO Box 8347, Savannah, GA 31412, or to the Brunswick street address directly.

Searching McIntosh County Bankruptcy Cases Online

PACER is the main search tool for McIntosh County bankruptcy records. It is free to register. After you create an account, you can search by debtor name or case number. The system pulls up full docket sheets, every filed document, hearing dates, and the current case status. Each page costs $0.10, with a $3.00 cap on documents under 30 pages.

The PACER Case Locator searches all federal courts nationwide. McIntosh County is a small county, and some residents may have filed in a different district. The Case Locator will find the case no matter where it was filed. You just need a name to search.

For free information, call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. Pick the Southern District of Georgia when prompted. The system reads back case numbers, chapter type, filing date, judge name, trustee, and status. No charge. Available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

McIntosh County Bankruptcy Exemptions

Georgia does not use the federal exemption list. The state has its own rules under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. All McIntosh County filers must follow these limits. The homestead exemption protects $21,500 in home equity. Married couples can claim up to $43,000 when the property is in one spouse's name. Vehicle equity up to $5,000 is safe.

Personal property gets a total exemption of $5,000, with each item capped at $300. Jewelry is safe up to $500. Work tools get $1,500 in protection. The wildcard exemption of $1,200 covers any type of asset, and you can add up to $10,000 from unused homestead to that amount.

Fully exempt income in McIntosh County includes workers compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, Social Security benefits, veterans benefits, unemployment compensation, and alimony or child support. Retirement accounts such as 401(k), 403(b), and IRA plans are also fully shielded in any McIntosh County bankruptcy case. These protections have no dollar cap.

Fees for McIntosh County Record Access

PACER access is $0.10 per page for McIntosh County bankruptcy records. At the Brunswick or Savannah clerk offices, public computer terminals let you view case files at no cost. Printing from the terminals costs $0.10 per page. Copies requested in person or by mail are $0.50 per page, and certified copies carry an additional $12.00 fee.

If you do not have a case number, the court charges $34.00 for a search. Submit Form B1320 with a money order or certified check made to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." The Brunswick office at (912) 280-1376 can answer questions about this process for McIntosh County residents.

McIntosh County Filing Types and Limits

Chapter 7 is the most common type of bankruptcy filed by McIntosh County residents. Assets beyond the exemption limits are sold to pay creditors, and remaining debts are discharged. Most people keep all their property. Chapter 13 is for wage earners who want to pay debts back over three to five years while keeping their home and car.

Chapter 11 covers business reorganization. Chapter 12 is for family farmers and fishermen. Given that McIntosh County sits on the coast, Chapter 12 could apply to fishing operations in the area. Under federal law at 11 U.S.C., the refiling limits are eight years between Chapter 7 cases, four years from Chapter 7 to Chapter 13, and two years between Chapter 13 filings.

You need 730 days of Georgia residency to use the state exemptions. If you moved to McIntosh County less than two years ago, you might have to use your former state's rules instead.

McIntosh County Clerk and Archived Records

The McIntosh County Superior Court Clerk in Darien handles state-level court filings. Civil cases, criminal records, deeds, and liens are maintained there. The GSCCCA website provides online search access to state records from all Georgia counties. For bankruptcy documents, the Southern District federal court is the only source.

The Southern District court website is shown below. This is where McIntosh County bankruptcy searches begin for anyone looking online.

Closed McIntosh County cases eventually move to NARA for archival storage. You will need the case number, accession number, location number, and box number before placing a request. Call the Southern District clerk at (912) 650-4100 or (912) 280-1376 to get those details.

Note: The Brunswick office is the closest Southern District location to McIntosh County for in-person record requests.

Nearby Counties

McIntosh County is on the Georgia coast. These neighboring counties are also part of the Southern District and use the same federal bankruptcy court system for their filings.