Peach County Bankruptcy Records

Peach County bankruptcy records are filed and maintained in the federal court system. The Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court processes all filings from this small central Georgia county. Fort Valley is the county seat, but the courthouse there does not handle bankruptcy matters at all. To search Peach County bankruptcy records, you can use PACER online, the free McVCIS phone service, or visit the clerk office in Macon. Macon is the nearest staffed court location. All records are public and can be accessed electronically at any time.

Federal Court Serving Peach County

The Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court covers Peach County and 68 other counties. The main office is at the Thomas Jefferson Federal Building, 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201. Phone: 478-752-3506. Macon is just a short drive from Fort Valley, making it the most practical location for Peach County residents who need in-person access.

A second staffed office operates in Columbus at One Arsenal Place, 901 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31902. Phone: 706-649-7837. Other hearing locations in the district include Albany, Athens, Thomasville, and Valdosta, but none of those are regularly staffed. Only the Macon and Columbus offices handle walk-in visits. All filings from Peach County go through the Macon office.

Chief Judge Austin E. Carter presides over the district. Kyle George is the Clerk. The court information page provides scheduling details and contact information.

Searching Peach County Bankruptcy Cases

PACER is the go-to tool for Peach County bankruptcy records. Register for free. Search by name or case number. Results show docket sheets, documents, and case status. The cost is $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 for documents of 30 pages or fewer. Available around the clock.

The PACER Case Locator is a broader search that covers all federal courts. It is useful when a Peach County resident might have filed in a different district or state. One search returns results nationwide.

For free phone access, call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. Select the Middle District of Georgia. The automated system gives you the debtor name, case number, chapter type, filing date, judge, trustee, and case status. No cost at all. It works every day.

Peach County Record Fees

PACER charges $0.10 per page. Public terminal viewing at the Macon office is free. Printing from those terminals costs $0.10 per page.

Copies by mail or in person are $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 per document. If you don't have a case number, a records search costs $34.00. Submit Form B1320 with payment by money order or certified check to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." All fees apply across the Middle District, including Peach County cases.

Note: McVCIS phone access has no fee for basic case data.

Peach County Exemptions Under State Law

Georgia opts out of federal bankruptcy exemptions. Peach County filers must use the state list under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. Home equity is protected up to $21,500. Married couples may claim $43,000 if the home is in one spouse's name only. A motor vehicle is exempt up to $5,000.

Personal property gets a $5,000 total cap with a $300 limit per item. Jewelry is safe up to $500. Tools of the trade are protected to $1,500. The wildcard exemption is $1,200. You can add up to $10,000 of unused homestead exemption to it, which is a big help for Peach County renters. Social Security, veterans benefits, workers comp under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, unemployment, and alimony or child support are fully exempt. Retirement accounts have no dollar limit.

The 730-day Georgia residency rule applies. Peach County filers who moved from another state within the past two years may have to use that state's exemption rules instead.

Bankruptcy Types Filed in Peach County

Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are the main types filed in Peach County. Chapter 7 is a quick liquidation process. Non-exempt assets are sold to pay creditors, and most remaining debt is discharged. It takes about three to six months.

Chapter 13 is a structured repayment plan. The debtor keeps all property and pays down debts over three to five years. People in Peach County with steady income who need to stop a foreclosure or catch up on car payments often go this route. Chapter 11 is available for businesses that want to reorganize without shutting down. Chapter 12 covers family farmers, which is relevant in an agricultural county like Peach. Each type carries its own designation in the court records and has different rules for discharge and repayment.

State Records at the Peach County Clerk

The Peach County Superior Court Clerk in Fort Valley manages state records. Civil suits, criminal filings, property deeds, and liens are handled at the courthouse. These are not bankruptcy filings. However, state records and federal bankruptcy cases can overlap. A deed transfer in Peach County might stem from a bankruptcy court order. A lien recorded locally could appear in a debtor's bankruptcy petition.

Use the GSCCCA website to search Peach County state records online. It covers deeds, liens, and other documents for every Georgia county. Combine GSCCCA with PACER when you need both state and federal records for a Peach County resident.

The Middle District court homepage is shown below, where Peach County residents search for bankruptcy filings and find court information.

This site includes direct links to electronic case searches, fee information, and filing forms for all Peach County bankruptcy matters.

Archived Peach County Bankruptcy Cases

Closed cases from the Middle District get sent to the National Archives and Records Administration after several years. To request an archived Peach County filing, call the Macon clerk at 478-752-3506. They provide the accession number, box number, and location code. Then order from NARA. Processing takes a few weeks.

Without the case number, expect to pay $34.00 for a search. Some older Peach County cases are no longer on PACER and can only be found through NARA.

Nearby Counties

Peach County is in central Georgia, close to Macon. Its neighbors are all in the Middle District.