Richmond County Bankruptcy Records

Richmond County bankruptcy records are part of the federal court system and handled by the Southern District of Georgia. Augusta serves as the county seat and is home to a staffed federal bankruptcy court office. This makes Richmond County one of the more convenient places in southeast Georgia to deal with bankruptcy filings in person. You can search for Richmond County bankruptcy records through PACER online, by phone using the free McVCIS line, or by walking into the Augusta federal courthouse. This page covers each method, what fees you can expect, and where to go for help with your search.

Southern District Court in Richmond County

Richmond County has a major advantage. The Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court has a staffed office right in Augusta. The Federal Justice Center is at 600 James Brown Blvd, Augusta, GA 30901. Phone is (706) 823-6000. Staff are there Monday through Friday to help with filings, records requests, and general questions about Richmond County bankruptcy cases. The mailing address is PO Box 1487, Augusta, GA 30903.

The Southern District also has staffed offices in Savannah and Brunswick. But for anyone in Richmond County, the Augusta office is the place to go. You can view case files on public computer terminals at no cost. Printing from those terminals runs $0.10 per page. If you need certified copies or want to request a formal search, the Augusta staff can process that on site.

Hon. Michele J. Kim is the Chief Judge for the Southern District. Dana M. Wilson serves as Clerk of Court. The court handles all bankruptcy filings from Richmond County and 42 other counties in southeast Georgia.

How to Search Richmond County Bankruptcy Records

The fastest way is PACER. It stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. Sign up for free and search by name or case number. Pick the Southern District of Georgia from the court list. PACER shows the full docket, every document filed, and the current case status. It costs $0.10 per page to view or download files. The system runs around the clock.

Not sure which district holds a case? Use the PACER Case Locator. It searches all federal courts at once. This is good when you know a person filed for bankruptcy but don't know where. It pulls results from bankruptcy courts across the whole country. You can save cases and bookmark searches you run often.

For a quick check, call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. It is free. The automated system gives you the debtor name, case number, filing date, chapter type, judge, trustee, and whether the case is still open. Pick the Southern District when prompted. McVCIS works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Richmond County Bankruptcy Fees

PACER is $0.10 per page. That is the cheapest way to pull Richmond County bankruptcy records. If a document is 30 pages or fewer, the cap is $3.00. Most standard filings fall under that cap. Viewing at the Augusta clerk office on public terminals costs nothing.

Copies requested in person or by mail cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 each on top of that. If you need the court to search for a case and you lack the case number, the fee is $34.00. Submit Form B1320 along with a money order or certified check payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Cash works at the Augusta window. Personal checks are limited to pro se filers only in most situations.

Bankruptcy Filing Types in Richmond County

Most Richmond County bankruptcy cases fall under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Chapter 7 is a liquidation. The court sells non-exempt property to pay back creditors. It is the most common type. Chapter 13 sets up a repayment plan that lasts three to five years. The debtor keeps their property but makes regular payments to a trustee.

Chapter 11 cases come up sometimes. This chapter is for business reorganization. Chapter 12 is less common and covers family farmers and fishermen. All four types create court records that you can search through PACER or view at the Augusta office. Each chapter falls under Title 11 of the United States Code. Georgia filers must live in the state for at least 730 days before filing to use Georgia exemptions. That residency rule applies to all Richmond County cases.

The image above shows the Southern District court website where Richmond County cases are managed.

Richmond County Exemptions in Bankruptcy

Georgia has its own exemption rules. Under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100, filers in Richmond County can protect up to $21,500 in home equity. Married couples may double this if the home is solely in one spouse's name. The vehicle exemption is $5,000. Tools used for work are protected up to $1,500. Jewelry has a $500 cap.

The wildcard exemption is $1,200, and unused homestead exemption can add up to $10,000 more. Personal property is safe up to $5,000 total, with each item capped at $300 in value. Workers' compensation is fully exempt under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84. Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment pay, and retirement funds like 401(k) plans are also fully protected. These rules apply across every Richmond County bankruptcy filing, no matter which chapter.

Richmond County Clerk and State Records

The Richmond County Superior Court Clerk sits in Augusta. This office handles state court records. Civil lawsuits, criminal cases, property deeds, and liens are all on file there. These are not bankruptcy records, but they can connect to one. A lien on a home or a civil judgment might show up in both state and federal records.

Use the GSCCCA portal to search deed records, UCC filings, and liens across Georgia, including Richmond County. Cross-referencing state records with federal bankruptcy filings gives you a fuller picture, especially when property is involved. The Augusta city page has more details for residents looking for local court resources.

Note: The Richmond County clerk office does not store or provide access to federal bankruptcy case files.

Archived Richmond County Cases

Older cases that have been closed for some time get moved to the National Archives (NARA). To order copies, you need the case number, accession number, location number, and box number. Call the Augusta clerk office at (706) 823-6000 to get those details. Once you have them, NARA handles the rest. This process takes longer than a PACER search, so plan ahead if you need old Richmond County bankruptcy records.

Cases that are still active or recently closed stay on PACER. You only need to go through NARA for records that have been moved off the court's active system.

Nearby Counties

Richmond County sits on the South Carolina border in east Georgia. These neighboring counties are part of the Southern District for bankruptcy filings. Augusta is the largest city in this area and has the closest staffed court office.