Find Bankruptcy Records in Sumter County

Sumter County bankruptcy records are maintained through the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. Americus is the county seat. The Sumter County courthouse handles state court matters, but bankruptcy filings go straight to the federal system. If you need to search for a case, pull court documents, or check the status of a filing from Sumter County, this page shows you how. You can use PACER online, the free McVCIS phone service, or visit a staffed office in Macon or Columbus. All of these tools give you access to federal bankruptcy records connected to Sumter County residents.

Middle District Court for Sumter County

The Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court processes all bankruptcy filings from Sumter County and 68 other counties. The main office is at 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201. You can reach them at 478-752-3506. Columbus has a second staffed office at 901 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31902, with the phone 706-649-7837.

For Sumter County residents, the Macon office is generally closer. Albany also has a hearing location at the C.B. King U.S. Courthouse, 201 West Broad Avenue. Albany is nearer to Americus than Macon, but that office is only staffed during scheduled hearings. Chief Judge Austin E. Carter and Clerk Kyle George lead the Middle District court operations. Check the court info page for current hours and directions.

How to Search Sumter County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the go-to tool. Setting up an account is free. Choose the Middle District of Georgia, then search by name or case number. You get the full docket and every document filed in the case. It costs $0.10 per page. PACER runs at all hours, so you can search whenever you need to.

McVCIS gives free case details over the phone. Dial 1-866-222-8029. The system provides the debtor name, case number, chapter type, filing date, judge, trustee, and case status. Choose the Middle District when asked. It runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

The PACER Case Locator lets you search all federal courts at once. Use it when you aren't sure which district has the case. It covers bankruptcy, district, and appellate courts nationwide. You can bookmark cases and save searches for later.

Sumter County Bankruptcy Filing Fees

PACER charges $0.10 per page for document views and searches. The cap is $3.00 per document for files 30 pages or less. At the clerk office, public computer terminals let you view records for free. Printing is $0.10 per page at those terminals.

Copies requested by mail or in person cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 per document. A search without a case number costs $34.00. You can submit Form B1320 with a money order or certified check to the Macon clerk office. Make the check out to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Cash works in person only.

Note: Personal checks are generally limited to pro se filers for Sumter County record requests.

Georgia Exemptions for Sumter County Filers

Georgia has its own exemption system. Federal exemptions don't apply. Under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100, the homestead exemption is $21,500. This covers equity in a home. Married couples filing jointly may protect $43,000 in some cases. The vehicle exemption is $5,000. Jewelry gets $500 in protection. Tools of the trade are exempt up to $1,500.

There is also a wildcard of $1,200. If you have unused homestead exemption, up to $10,000 of that can be added to the wildcard. Personal property is exempt up to $5,000 total with each item capped at $300. Some income types have no dollar limit at all. Social Security is fully exempt. So are veterans benefits, workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, unemployment pay, and retirement accounts. Alimony and child support are protected too. All of this applies to Sumter County bankruptcy cases.

The Middle District website above serves Sumter County and the rest of central Georgia.

Sumter County Bankruptcy Filing Types

Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 make up most of the filings. Chapter 7 is liquidation. Non-exempt property is sold and the money goes to creditors. Chapter 13 is a payment plan over three to five years. The debtor keeps everything and makes regular payments to a court-appointed trustee.

Chapter 11 applies to businesses looking to reorganize debt. Chapter 12 is for family farmers and fishermen. Sumter County has a significant agricultural community, so Chapter 12 cases appear in the records. All chapters are governed by Title 11 of the United States Code. You need to wait eight years between Chapter 7 filings, four years from Chapter 7 to Chapter 13, and two years between Chapter 13 filings. The 730-day residency rule applies for using Georgia exemptions.

Sumter County Clerk Office

The Sumter County Superior Court Clerk in Americus handles state court records. Civil cases, criminal filings, deeds, and liens are on file at the courthouse. These are not federal bankruptcy records. But a lien from Sumter County state court or a deed transfer might connect to a bankruptcy case. Checking both the state and federal records can give you a fuller view of the financial picture.

Search statewide deed records and UCC filings through the GSCCCA system. Sumter County data is included in that portal. It is a good resource when property or secured debts are part of a bankruptcy case.

Archived Sumter County Cases

Closed cases from Sumter County eventually get moved to the National Archives. To order old records from NARA, you need the case number, accession number, location number, and box number. Call the Macon clerk office at 478-752-3506 for those details. NARA requests take several weeks to process. Cases that are active or recently closed are still on PACER and do not require a NARA request.

Nearby Counties

Sumter County is in southwest Georgia. Its neighbors are all within the Middle District. The Albany hearing office is a short drive from Americus, though it is only staffed for scheduled court sessions.