Paulding County Bankruptcy Records Lookup

Paulding County bankruptcy records are filed in the federal court system, not the local courthouse in Dallas. The Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court handles all bankruptcy cases from this fast-growing metro Atlanta county. Searching for Paulding County bankruptcy filings is done through PACER, the free McVCIS phone line, or in person at the clerk office in Atlanta. The Newnan divisional office is another option for Paulding County residents. Records are public and available through electronic tools at any time.

Northern District Court for Paulding County

Paulding County is part of the Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. The district serves 46 counties in 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.

Paulding County residents may also use the Newnan divisional office. Its mailing address is P.O. Box 2328, Newnan, GA 30264. Phone: (678) 423-3000. Newnan is closer to Dallas than the Atlanta office, making it a more convenient option for in-person visits. Both offices have public computer terminals where Paulding County residents can view bankruptcy records at no charge. The Rome office is another divisional location in the Northern District, though farther from Paulding County.

Chief Judge Barbara Ellis-Monro heads the district. Vania S. Allen is the Clerk of Court. The case information page has more details on how to access Paulding County bankruptcy records through the court system.

How to Search Paulding County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the fastest method for finding Paulding County bankruptcy records online. Create a free account and search by debtor name or case number. You see docket entries, case documents, and status. The fee is $0.10 per page, with a $3.00 cap on single documents of 30 pages or fewer.

The PACER Case Locator searches all federal courts in one step. Paulding County has grown rapidly over the past two decades. Many residents moved from other states. This tool finds filings from any court in the country, which is useful when checking someone's full bankruptcy history before they came to Paulding County.

McVCIS is the free phone alternative. Call 1-866-222-8029. Choose the Northern District of Georgia. The system reads the debtor name, case number, chapter, filing date, judge, trustee, and status. No fee. Works 24 hours a day from any phone.

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

Paulding County Court Fees

PACER costs $0.10 per page for searches and document access. Viewing at the public terminals in the Atlanta or Newnan office is free. Printing runs $0.10 per page at any clerk office terminal.

Copies by mail or at the counter cost $0.50 per page. Certification adds $12.00 per document. A search without a case number costs $34.00. Use Form B1320 and pay by money order or certified check to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." These fees apply to every Paulding County bankruptcy case in the Northern District.

Bankruptcy Filing Types in Paulding County

Paulding County sees mostly Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings. Chapter 7 is liquidation. Non-exempt assets are sold by a trustee to pay creditors. Qualifying debt is then discharged. The timeline runs about three to six months. Paulding County has had a notable number of these filings, particularly after the housing downturn.

Chapter 13 creates a repayment plan lasting three to five years. Filers keep their property and pay back a portion of what they owe under court supervision. This is popular in Paulding County because many homeowners use it to stop foreclosure and catch up on mortgage arrears. Chapter 11 applies to businesses that need to reorganize. Chapter 12 is for family farmers and fishermen but is uncommon in this suburban county.

Georgia Exemptions for Paulding County

Georgia does not let debtors use federal bankruptcy exemptions. Paulding County filers follow the state rules in O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption is $21,500 for an individual. Married couples filing together can claim $43,000 if the home is in one name. Vehicle protection is $5,000.

Personal property has a $5,000 total cap, each item limited to $300. Jewelry gets $500 protection. Tools for your trade are safe to $1,500. The wildcard exemption of $1,200 applies to any asset. Up to $10,000 of unused homestead value can be added on top. This stacking feature helps Paulding County renters who don't have home equity to protect. Fully exempt income includes Social Security, veterans benefits, workers comp (O.C.G.A. 34-9-84), unemployment, and alimony or child support. Retirement plans are protected without a dollar cap.

You need to have lived in Georgia for 730 days before filing to claim state exemptions. Many newer Paulding County residents may need to use the exemptions from their previous state of residence instead.

Paulding County Clerk and State Filings

The Paulding County Superior Court Clerk in Dallas keeps state court records. Civil cases, criminal filings, deeds, and liens all go through that office. These are not bankruptcy records. But state and federal filings can overlap. A property lien in Paulding County might be referenced in a bankruptcy petition. A deed transfer could result from a bankruptcy court order affecting real estate in the county.

The GSCCCA website provides online access to Paulding County state records including deeds, liens, and other public documents. Use it alongside PACER when you need both types of records for a Paulding County resident.

Below is the Northern District court homepage used for accessing Paulding County bankruptcy case information.

This court portal provides links to case lookup tools, filing requirements, and fee information for Paulding County bankruptcy matters.

Archived Paulding County Cases

Closed cases from the Northern District eventually go to the National Archives and Records Administration. To get an archived Paulding County case, contact the Atlanta clerk at (404) 215-1000 or the Newnan office at (678) 423-3000. They provide the accession number, box number, and location code needed for a NARA request.

Processing takes a few weeks. If you don't know the case number, the $34.00 search fee applies. Older Paulding County filings may no longer be on PACER, making NARA the only source.

Nearby Counties

Paulding County is northwest of Atlanta. All neighboring counties are also served by the Northern District of Georgia.