Murray County Bankruptcy Records

Murray County bankruptcy records fall under federal court jurisdiction. The Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court processes all filings from this northwest Georgia county. Chatsworth is the county seat, but the local courthouse has no role in bankruptcy matters. You can look up Murray County bankruptcy cases online through PACER, by phone using the free McVCIS system, or in person at the Northern District clerk offices. The Rome divisional office is the closest option. Records are public and available through the court's electronic systems every day.

Northern District Court for Murray County

The Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court serves Murray County and 45 other counties across north Georgia and the Atlanta metro area. The main office is at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building, 75 Ted Turner Drive SW, Room 1340, Atlanta, GA 30303. Phone: (404) 215-1000. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Murray County residents also have access to the Rome divisional office at 600 E. 1st Street, Room 339, Rome, GA 30161. Phone: (706) 291-5639. Rome is considerably closer to Chatsworth than Atlanta, which makes it the more practical option for in-person visits. The Gainesville office is another divisional location in the Northern District.

Chief Judge Barbara Ellis-Monro presides over the district. Vania S. Allen serves as Clerk of Court. Case details and court procedures for Murray County filings are available on the Northern District case information page.

Searching Murray County Bankruptcy Records

Use PACER for the quickest access to Murray County bankruptcy records. Create a free account. Search by name or case number. Results include docket entries, documents, and case status. The cost is $0.10 per page, with a $3.00 cap per document when the document is 30 pages or fewer.

The PACER Case Locator lets you check every federal court in one search. This is handy when a Murray County resident might have filed in another state or district. Enter the name and get results from courts nationwide.

McVCIS offers free phone access at 1-866-222-8029. Select the Northern District of Georgia from the menu. The system provides the debtor name, case number, chapter type, filing date, judge, trustee, and current status. It's available 24 hours a day, every day, from any phone.

Murray County Court Record Fees

PACER access is $0.10 per page. Viewing on public terminals at the Atlanta or Rome clerk offices is free. Printing at those terminals costs $0.10 per page.

Copy requests made in person or by mail cost $0.50 per page. Certification adds $12.00 per document. A records search without a case number runs $34.00. Fill out Form B1320 and pay with a money order or certified check to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court."

Note: Phone access through McVCIS is completely free for basic case information.

Bankruptcy Filing Types in Murray County

Murray County sees Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings most often. Chapter 7 is a liquidation where a trustee sells non-exempt property to pay creditors. Remaining eligible debt gets discharged. Most Chapter 7 cases close within three to six months.

Chapter 13 is a repayment plan spanning three to five years. The debtor keeps their assets and pays back a portion of what they owe. People with steady income and a home or car they want to protect tend to pick this option. Murray County is also home to farming operations, so Chapter 12 filings for family farmers do come up. Chapter 11 reorganizations are less common but happen when a local business needs to restructure its debts while continuing to operate.

Georgia Exemptions for Murray County Filers

Georgia has opted out of federal bankruptcy exemptions. Murray County filers must follow the state rules in O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption is $21,500 for an individual, or $43,000 for a married couple when the property is in one spouse's name only. Motor vehicles are exempt up to $5,000.

Personal property has a $5,000 total exemption, with no item above $300 in value. Jewelry is safe to $500. Tools of the trade get $1,500 in protection. The wildcard exemption is $1,200, and up to $10,000 of unused homestead value can be added to it. This is a real advantage for renters in Murray County since they can shift that unused homestead amount to other property.

Fully exempt income includes Social Security, veterans benefits, workers comp under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, unemployment pay, and alimony or child support. Retirement accounts like 401(k) and IRA plans are also protected. Georgia's 730-day residency rule must be met before filing to use these state exemptions.

Murray County Clerk and State Court Records

The Murray County Superior Court Clerk in Chatsworth handles state records including civil suits, criminal filings, property deeds, and liens. These are not bankruptcy records. But a property deed recorded in Murray County could come up in a bankruptcy proceeding. A lien from a state court judgment might appear in a debtor's federal case.

Use the GSCCCA website to search Murray County state records online. It covers deed filings, lien recordings, and other public documents. When you need both state and federal records for someone in Murray County, use GSCCCA together with PACER.

The Northern District court homepage below is the starting point for all Murray County bankruptcy record searches through the federal system.

From this portal, you reach case search tools, filing guides, and fee schedules that apply to Murray County cases.

Older Murray County Cases at NARA

Closed bankruptcy cases from the Northern District are eventually sent to the National Archives and Records Administration. To get an archived Murray County case, contact the clerk office first. They provide the accession number, box number, and location code. You then request copies from NARA.

Delivery usually takes a few weeks. If you don't have the case number, expect to pay the $34.00 search fee. Older Murray County filings that are no longer on PACER can only be found through NARA.

Nearby Counties

Murray County sits in the northwest corner of Georgia. Its neighbors are all in the Northern District of Georgia.