Putnam County Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records from Putnam County go through the federal court system. The county seat is Eatonton, but the local courthouse does not handle bankruptcy filings or store them. All Putnam County bankruptcy cases are managed by the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court out of Macon. You can look up these records online with PACER, use the free McVCIS phone line, or visit the clerk office in person. Public records access is available around the clock through the electronic system, and anyone can search for a case.

Middle District Court Serving Putnam County

Putnam County falls under the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. This federal district handles bankruptcy for 69 counties across the central part of the state. The main office sits at the Thomas Jefferson Federal Building, 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201. Reach them at 478-752-3506. A second staffed location operates in Columbus at One Arsenal Place, 901 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31902, where the phone number is 706-649-7837.

The Middle District holds hearings in Athens at the U.S. Courthouse, 115 East Hancock Avenue. Athens is closer to Putnam County than Macon, but the Athens office is only open during scheduled hearings. It is not staffed regularly. All paperwork for Putnam County cases should be mailed to the Macon office. For details about office hours and locations, check the court information page.

Searching Putnam County Bankruptcy Records

The quickest way to search Putnam County bankruptcy records is through PACER. Registration is free. Once logged in, search by the debtor's name or case number. You will see docket sheets, filed documents, and key case dates. Access runs $0.10 per page. A single document of 30 pages or less caps out at $3.00. The system never closes.

When you are not sure which district holds the case, the PACER Case Locator searches every federal court at once. A Putnam County resident might have filed in another district if they lived elsewhere before. This tool saves you from checking courts one by one.

McVCIS is a free phone service. Dial 1-866-222-8029 from any phone. Choose the Middle District of Georgia and search by name or case number. The automated system reads back the debtor name, filing date, chapter type, judge, trustee, and case status. There is no charge. It works day and night.

You can also visit the Macon office and use public computer terminals for free. Printing costs $0.10 per page at those terminals.

Putnam County Bankruptcy Record Fees

Here are the standard fees for getting Putnam County bankruptcy records from the Middle District:

• PACER online access: $0.10 per page
• In-person or mail copies: $0.50 per page
• Certified copies: $12.00 per document (on top of copy cost)
• Records search without case number: $34.00
• Public terminal viewing: free
• Public terminal printing: $0.10 per page

Pay by money order or certified check to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Pro se filers can use personal checks. Cash is accepted in person only. To request a search when you don't have a case number, fill out Form B1320 and send it to Macon with the $34.00 fee.

Bankruptcy Types in Putnam County

Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are the most common filings from Putnam County. Chapter 7 liquidates qualifying assets to pay off debts. The process usually takes a few months from start to discharge. Chapter 13 lets the filer keep property and pay debts on a plan that runs three to five years. Both types are public record once filed.

Chapter 11 cases come from businesses that want to reorganize while staying open. Chapter 12 is designed for family farmers and fishermen. Putnam County has agricultural land, so Chapter 12 filings do show up from time to time. Every case filed in Putnam County goes to the same Middle District court regardless of chapter type.

Note: Re-filing rules apply if someone has filed before, with wait times ranging from two to eight years depending on chapter types involved.

Georgia Exemptions for Putnam County

Georgia does not allow its residents to use federal bankruptcy exemptions. Putnam County filers must follow the state exemption schedule under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption lets you protect $21,500 in equity in your home. If a married couple files together and the house is in one spouse's name, they can protect up to $43,000.

Vehicles are exempt up to $5,000. Personal property is capped at $5,000 total, with each item limited to $300 in value. Jewelry is safe up to $500, and tools used for your trade are protected up to $1,500. The wildcard exemption starts at $1,200 but can grow to $11,200 if you don't use the homestead. This matters for Putnam County renters especially.

Workers comp benefits stay fully protected under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84. Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment, child support, alimony, and most retirement accounts like 401(k) plans are all safe from creditors in bankruptcy. You must have lived in Georgia for at least 730 days before filing to claim these exemptions. Recent arrivals to Putnam County may need to use their prior state's rules.

Putnam County Clerk and State Court Records

The Putnam County Clerk of Superior Court in Eatonton manages state court records. This includes civil suits, criminal cases, property deeds, liens, and other local filings. Bankruptcy records are not part of what the county clerk holds. But state records from Putnam County can connect to bankruptcy cases. A lien or deed might reference a federal filing. A judgment from Superior Court could be the reason someone filed for bankruptcy in the first place.

The GSCCCA lets you search state court records from Putnam County and all other Georgia counties online. Use it alongside PACER when you need to build a fuller picture of someone's legal and financial history across both the state and federal systems.

Below is the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court homepage, which handles all Putnam County bankruptcy filings.

The court website provides filing information, forms, and office contact details for Putnam County cases.

Archived Putnam County Cases

After a number of years, the Middle District sends closed Putnam County bankruptcy cases to the National Archives. To get an archived case, call the Macon clerk office at 478-752-3506 first. They will give you the accession number, box number, and location code. Use that information to order copies from NARA. It usually takes a few weeks to get the documents back. Start early if you have a deadline.

Nearby Counties

Putnam County is located in central Georgia, surrounded by counties also served by the Middle District. The same federal court in Macon handles bankruptcy records for each of these neighbors.