Schley County Bankruptcy Records Lookup

Bankruptcy records from Schley County are kept in the federal court system through the Middle District of Georgia. Ellaville is the county seat, but the local courthouse does not handle bankruptcy cases at all. If you are looking for bankruptcy filings tied to a Schley County resident, you need to go through the federal system. PACER is the main online tool for searching these records. You can also call the free McVCIS phone line or contact the Middle District clerk office in Macon for help. This page breaks down how the process works and what it costs to get Schley County bankruptcy records.

Middle District Court and Schley County

The Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court covers Schley County. This court has its main office in Macon at the Thomas Jefferson Federal Building, 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201. The phone number is 478-752-3506. A second staffed office is in Columbus at 901 Front Avenue. For Schley County residents, Macon is the closer option.

The Middle District also holds hearings in Albany, Athens, Thomasville, and Valdosta. Those offices are staffed only when hearings take place. Chief Judge Austin E. Carter leads the bench. Kyle George is the Clerk. The court info page has hours and directions for each location.

How to Search Schley County Records

Go to PACER first. It is the most complete source for Schley County bankruptcy records. You can register for free, then search by name or case number. Pick the Middle District of Georgia. Results show the full docket, every filed document, and the status of the case. PACER runs 24 hours a day and charges $0.10 per page.

If you need a quick answer, McVCIS is free. Call 1-866-222-8029 from any phone. The automated system provides the debtor name, case number, chapter, filing date, judge, and trustee. It works around the clock. Select the Middle District when the system asks.

The PACER Case Locator is another solid option. It searches every federal court at once. Good for times when you are not sure if a case was filed in the Middle District or somewhere else entirely.

Fees for Schley County Bankruptcy Records

PACER charges $0.10 per page for searches and downloads. Documents 30 pages or less cap at $3.00. Viewing records at the Macon clerk office on public terminals is free. Printing there costs $0.10 per page.

Copies by mail or in person are $0.50 per page. Certified copies are an extra $12.00 each. If the court needs to run a search because you don't have a case number, that is $34.00. Use Form B1320 and send it with a money order or certified check to the Macon clerk office. Cash is accepted at the window only.

Note: Payment should be made to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court" for all Schley County record requests.

Schley County Bankruptcy Exemptions

Georgia opted out of the federal exemptions. Every filer in Schley County uses the state list. Under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100, the homestead exemption protects $21,500 in home equity. A married couple may protect up to $43,000 under certain conditions. Motor vehicles are exempt up to $5,000. Jewelry is capped at $500, and tools of the trade at $1,500.

The wildcard exemption is $1,200 plus up to $10,000 in unused homestead value. Personal property under $5,000 total is safe if each item is $300 or less. Income from workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment, and retirement accounts like IRAs and 401(k) plans is fully exempt. Child support and alimony payments are also protected in Schley County bankruptcy cases.

Filing Rules for Schley County Residents

You must have lived in Georgia for at least 730 days before you file to use the state exemptions. That is two full years. If you recently moved to Schley County from another state, the exemptions from your prior state might apply instead. The court checks your address history as part of the filing.

There are also limits on how often you can file. Chapter 7 to Chapter 7 requires an eight-year gap. Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 needs four years. Chapter 13 to Chapter 13 is two years. These time gaps run from the filing date of the earlier case. All of this is federal law under Title 11 of the United States Code, so it applies to every Schley County case the same way.

Above is the Middle District court website that manages Schley County bankruptcy filings.

Schley County Clerk and State Court Records

The Schley County Superior Court Clerk in Ellaville manages state court records. Civil cases, criminal filings, deeds, and liens are all stored there. These are separate from bankruptcy records. But there can be overlap. A civil judgment or property lien from Schley County state court may show up in a federal bankruptcy case.

You can search statewide court records through the GSCCCA system. It covers deed records, UCC filings, and lien data from all Georgia counties including Schley. This is useful when a bankruptcy filing involves real property or secured debt that touches the local court system.

Archived Schley County Bankruptcy Cases

Closed cases eventually move to the National Archives. To get old Schley County bankruptcy records from NARA, you need a case number, accession number, location number, and box number. Call the Macon clerk office at 478-752-3506 for those details. The process takes a few weeks once you submit your order to NARA.

Nearby Counties

Schley County is a small county in southwest Georgia. All of its neighbors are served by the Middle District for bankruptcy matters. The Macon clerk office handles filings from this entire region.