Search Rockdale County Bankruptcy Records

Rockdale County bankruptcy records are managed by the Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court in Atlanta. Conyers is the county seat, but you won't find bankruptcy filings at the local courthouse. These records live in the federal system. If you need to search for a bankruptcy case filed by a Rockdale County resident, the best options are PACER online, the free McVCIS phone system, or a trip to the Atlanta clerk office. This guide explains each path, the fees involved, and what to expect when pulling records tied to Rockdale County.

Northern District Court for Rockdale County

The Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court handles all bankruptcy filings from Rockdale County. The main office is in the Richard B. Russell Federal Building at 75 Ted Turner Drive SW, Room 1340, Atlanta, GA 30303. Phone is (404) 215-1000. The court also has divisional offices in Gainesville, Newnan, and Rome, but Atlanta is the closest for Rockdale County residents.

Chief Judge Barbara Ellis-Monro leads the Northern District bench. Vania S. Allen serves as Clerk of Court. The Atlanta office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Public terminals inside the office let you look at case files at no charge. You can also ask staff about specific Rockdale County bankruptcy cases while you are there.

How to Find Rockdale County Bankruptcy Records

Start with PACER. Registration is free. Once you have an account, select the Northern District of Georgia and search by debtor name or case number. PACER shows the docket sheet, every document in the file, and the current status of the case. It runs all day and night. The cost is $0.10 per page for anything you view or download.

The PACER Case Locator is useful when you don't know which court handled a filing. It pulls results from all federal courts in the country. Type in a name and it shows you every matching bankruptcy case, no matter what state it was filed in.

For free case info, call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. This is an automated phone system. It gives you the debtor name, case number, filing date, chapter, judge, trustee, and case status. Select the Northern District of Georgia when prompted. The line works 24 hours a day.

Note: McVCIS provides general info only and is not the official court record.

Rockdale County Bankruptcy Fees

Online fees through PACER are $0.10 per page. Documents under 30 pages max out at $3.00. Viewing at the Atlanta office public terminals is free. Printing there is $0.10 per page.

Copies by mail or in person run $0.50 per page. Each certified copy adds $12.00. If you don't have a case number, the court can search for you, but it costs $34.00. Submit Form B1320 with payment. Money orders and certified checks are the standard payment methods. Make them payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Cash works at the counter in the Atlanta office only.

Bankruptcy Case Types in Rockdale County

Rockdale County residents file under the same chapters as everyone else in the country. Chapter 7 is the most common. It wipes out eligible debt through liquidation. The trustee sells non-exempt assets and uses the proceeds to pay creditors. Most Chapter 7 cases in Rockdale County are "no asset" cases, meaning the debtor has nothing for the trustee to sell.

Chapter 13 is the second most common type. It creates a three to five year repayment plan. The debtor keeps their property and makes monthly payments to a trustee who distributes the money to creditors. Chapter 11 covers business reorganization. Chapter 12 applies to family farmers and fishermen. All of these create searchable records in the Northern District system.

The Northern District website shown above is the starting point for any Rockdale County bankruptcy court inquiry.

Rockdale County Exemptions in Bankruptcy

Georgia does not use federal bankruptcy exemptions. Filers in Rockdale County must follow the state list under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption covers $21,500 in equity. Married couples may protect $43,000 under the right conditions. A vehicle is exempt up to $5,000. Jewelry caps at $500. Work tools get $1,500 in protection.

The wildcard exemption starts at $1,200 and can grow by up to $10,000 of unused homestead value. Personal property up to $5,000 is protected if no single item is worth more than $300. Social Security, veterans benefits, and workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84 are fully exempt. Retirement accounts, unemployment income, and alimony or child support also stay safe in a Rockdale County bankruptcy case.

You must live in Georgia for at least 730 days before filing to claim these exemptions. If you moved to Rockdale County recently, the rules from your previous state might still apply.

Rockdale County Clerk and Local Records

The Rockdale County Superior Court Clerk in Conyers handles state-level court records. Civil lawsuits, criminal cases, deeds, and liens are all managed there. None of these are bankruptcy records, but they sometimes overlap. A judgment lien from a civil case or a property deed might come up when reviewing a federal bankruptcy filing from Rockdale County.

The GSCCCA system lets you search deed records and liens from every Georgia county, including Rockdale. Cross-checking state records against federal bankruptcy filings is common when property transfers or secured debts are part of the case. The Northern District case information page also has details about how to access records.

Archived Rockdale County Cases

Old cases get transferred to the National Archives after the court closes them out. You need the case number, accession number, location number, and box number to order from NARA. The Atlanta clerk office at (404) 215-1000 can provide those details. Give them whatever you know about the case and they will look it up.

Active and recently closed Rockdale County bankruptcy cases are still on PACER. You only need to go through NARA for very old records.

Nearby Counties

Rockdale County is east of Atlanta in the metro area. Its neighbors are all in the Northern District for bankruptcy filings, making the Atlanta court office the shared resource for everyone in this part of Georgia.