Search Mitchell County Bankruptcy Records

Mitchell County bankruptcy records are maintained by the federal court system, not the local courthouse in Camilla. The Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court handles all filings from this southwest Georgia county. You can search Mitchell County bankruptcy cases through PACER online, by phone with McVCIS, or in person at the clerk office in Macon. Each of these methods gives access to case dockets, filing dates, and court documents. Records are public and available at any time through the electronic system.

Middle District Court for Mitchell County

Mitchell County is part of the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. This district stretches across 69 counties in central and southwest Georgia. The main staffed office is at the Thomas Jefferson Federal Building, 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201. Phone: 478-752-3506. A second staffed office is in Columbus at One Arsenal Place, 901 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31902, reachable at 706-649-7837.

The court also holds hearings in Albany at the C.B. King U.S. Courthouse, 201 West Broad Avenue. Albany is the closest hearing location to Mitchell County. But that office is only open during scheduled hearings. It is not staffed on a regular basis. All new filings from Mitchell County should be mailed to the Macon office.

Chief Judge Austin E. Carter presides over Middle District cases. Kyle George is the Clerk of Court. More details on the court's operations are on the Middle District court info page.

How to Search Mitchell County Cases

PACER is the main tool for looking up Mitchell County bankruptcy records online. Registration is free. You search by debtor name or case number and get full docket sheets, filed documents, and case details. The cost is $0.10 per page, with a cap of $3.00 on single documents that are 30 pages or less. PACER runs around the clock, every day of the year.

If you are not sure which district a Mitchell County resident filed in, use the PACER Case Locator. It searches all federal courts at once. Type a name and it shows results from every district in the country. This is helpful when someone may have moved to Mitchell County from somewhere else.

McVCIS is a free phone option. Call 1-866-222-8029 from any touch tone phone. Pick the Middle District of Georgia when prompted. The system gives you the debtor name, case number, filing date, chapter type, judge, trustee, and current status. No charge at all. It runs 24 hours a day except during maintenance windows.

Note: McVCIS gives general case info and is not the official court record.

Mitchell County Bankruptcy Filing Types

Bankruptcy cases in Mitchell County fall under one of four chapters. Chapter 7 is a full liquidation. A trustee sells non-exempt assets to pay creditors, and most remaining debt gets wiped out. This is the most common type filed in the Middle District. The process usually takes three to six months from start to finish.

Chapter 13 is a payment plan. The debtor keeps their property and pays back some or all debts over three to five years. Mitchell County filers who have steady income often choose this route. It lets them catch up on mortgage payments or car loans without losing those assets.

Chapter 11 is for businesses or individuals with large debts. It allows the debtor to reorganize and keep operating while repaying creditors under a court plan. Chapter 12 is set aside for family farmers and fishermen. Given the agricultural nature of Mitchell County, Chapter 12 filings do occur here from time to time. Each chapter type appears in the court records with its own designation.

Mitchell County Bankruptcy Court Fees

PACER charges $0.10 per page for searches and document views. Viewing records on the public computer terminals at the Macon clerk office costs nothing. Printing at those terminals is $0.10 per page.

If you request copies by mail or in person, the fee is $0.50 per page. Certified copies of Mitchell County bankruptcy documents cost an extra $12.00 per document. When you don't have a case number, the clerk can run a records search for $34.00. You fill out Form B1320 and pay with a money order or certified check made out to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court."

Georgia Exemptions for Mitchell County

Georgia has opted out of federal bankruptcy exemptions. All Mitchell County filers must use the state exemption list under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption protects up to $21,500 in home equity. A married couple filing together can shield $43,000 if the home is in one spouse's name. The motor vehicle exemption is $5,000. Personal property is capped at $5,000 total, but each item must be worth $300 or less.

The wildcard exemption adds flexibility. It gives $1,200 that can be applied to any property. If you don't use the full homestead exemption, up to $10,000 of the unused amount can be stacked on top. Mitchell County renters benefit from this because they have no home equity to protect. Jewelry is exempt up to $500. Tools of the trade are protected up to $1,500.

Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment pay, and workers comp under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84 are fully exempt with no dollar cap. Alimony and child support payments are also safe. Most retirement accounts, including 401(k) and IRA plans, are protected too.

Note: You must have lived in Georgia for at least 730 days before filing to claim these exemptions.

Mitchell County Clerk and State Records

The Mitchell County Superior Court Clerk manages state-level records in Camilla. That office handles civil cases, criminal filings, property deeds, liens, and vital records. None of these are bankruptcy filings, but they can overlap. A property lien recorded in Mitchell County might show up in a debtor's bankruptcy petition. A deed transfer could result from a bankruptcy court order.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority provides an online search tool for state court records across all Georgia counties. You can use it to look up Mitchell County property records, civil filings, and other documents that might relate to a bankruptcy case. The local clerk office in Camilla is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

The Middle District Bankruptcy Court homepage below shows where Mitchell County residents access federal filing information and case records online.

This court site has links to filing forms, fee schedules, and case search tools that apply to all Mitchell County bankruptcy matters.

Archived Mitchell County Bankruptcy Cases

Closed bankruptcy cases from the Middle District get sent to the National Archives and Records Administration after a period of years. To get copies of an older Mitchell County case, contact the Macon clerk office first at 478-752-3506. They can provide the accession number, box number, and location details you need. Then you order directly from NARA. Processing typically takes a few weeks.

Having the case number ready speeds things up. If you don't know the case number, the clerk can search for it, though the $34.00 search fee applies. Keep in mind that very old cases may only be available through NARA and not on PACER.

Nearby Counties

Mitchell County shares borders with several southwest Georgia counties. Most are also in the Middle District, so the same federal court handles their bankruptcy filings too.