Oconee County Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records for Oconee County are handled by the federal courts. The Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court processes all filings from this northeast Georgia county near Athens. Watkinsville is the county seat, but the courthouse there plays no role in bankruptcy proceedings. You can search for Oconee County bankruptcy records online through PACER, over the phone with McVCIS at no cost, or in person at the Macon clerk office. The Middle District also conducts hearings in Athens, which is right next to Oconee County. Electronic access to records is available around the clock.

Middle District Court and Oconee County

Oconee County falls within the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. The district includes 69 counties across the central and southwest parts of the state. The main office is in Macon at the Thomas Jefferson Federal Building, 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201. Phone: 478-752-3506.

For Oconee County residents, the most relevant hearing location is Athens. The court holds hearings at the U.S. Courthouse, 115 East Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 30601. Athens borders Oconee County directly. However, the Athens office is only staffed when hearings take place. It is not open for walk-in service on a regular basis. All filings from Oconee County should be mailed to the Macon office. The Columbus office at One Arsenal Place is also staffed but much farther away.

Chief Judge Austin E. Carter leads the Middle District. Kyle George serves as Clerk. Visit the court information page for scheduling and access details.

How to Search Oconee County Records

The best way to find Oconee County bankruptcy records is through PACER. It is free to register. Search by name or case number and get docket sheets, case documents, and status updates. Each page costs $0.10. Documents of 30 pages or fewer are capped at $3.00 total. PACER works every hour of every day.

Try the PACER Case Locator when you need to search across all federal courts. Oconee County sits right next to Clarke County, which is also in the Middle District. But someone might have filed in the Northern District if they lived elsewhere in Georgia before. The case locator pulls results from every court nationwide.

For free information, call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. Pick the Middle District of Georgia from the phone menu. You hear the debtor name, case number, filing date, chapter, judge, trustee, and status. No fee. Available 24 hours a day.

Note: McVCIS data is general and not the official court record.

Oconee County Bankruptcy Fees

PACER access costs $0.10 per page. Viewing at the public terminals in the Macon office is free. Printing from those terminals is $0.10 per page.

Copies by mail or at the counter cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 per document. A records search without a case number costs $34.00. Submit Form B1320 with a money order or certified check payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." These fees apply to all Oconee County bankruptcy cases in the Middle District.

Exemptions for Oconee County Filers

Georgia has opted out of federal bankruptcy exemptions entirely. Oconee County residents must use the state exemption list found in O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. Homestead protection is $21,500, or $43,000 for a married couple with the property in one name. The vehicle exemption caps at $5,000.

Personal property is protected up to $5,000, with a $300 limit per item. Jewelry is safe to $500. Tools of the trade get $1,500 in coverage. The wildcard exemption of $1,200 can go toward any asset. Up to $10,000 of unused homestead exemption can be stacked on it, which helps Oconee County residents who rent instead of own.

Fully exempt income types include Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment compensation, workers comp (O.C.G.A. 34-9-84), and alimony or child support. Retirement accounts are safe with no dollar cap. The 730-day Georgia residency rule applies before you can use these state exemptions.

Oconee County Clerk and State Records

The Oconee County Superior Court Clerk in Watkinsville keeps state-level records. Civil suits, criminal cases, deed recordings, and lien filings are all handled at the local courthouse. These are separate from bankruptcy records. But a property deed in Oconee County could be connected to a bankruptcy estate. A judgment lien filed locally might appear in the debtor's federal bankruptcy filing too.

The GSCCCA provides online search access for state records across Georgia. You can look up Oconee County deeds, liens, and other public documents there. Use it alongside PACER for a complete picture of someone's state and federal records in Oconee County.

The Middle District court homepage below is the main portal for searching Oconee County bankruptcy filings online.

This site provides case search access, filing forms, and fee schedules for all Oconee County bankruptcy matters.

Archived Oconee County Cases

After several years, closed cases from the Middle District are sent to the National Archives and Records Administration. For an old Oconee County filing, start by calling the Macon clerk at 478-752-3506. Get the accession number, box number, and location code. Then order copies through NARA. It takes a few weeks to process.

If you don't have the case number, expect to pay the $34.00 search fee. Some older Oconee County cases are no longer on PACER and can only be found through NARA.

Nearby Counties

Oconee County borders several counties in northeast Georgia. Clarke County, home to Athens, sits right next door and falls in the same federal district.