Taylor County Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records from Taylor County are filed with and maintained by the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. Butler is the county seat. The Taylor County courthouse handles state-level court matters only. If you need to find a bankruptcy filing, look up a docket, or get copies of case documents tied to a Taylor County resident, you must go through the federal system. PACER gives you full online access to these records. The free McVCIS phone line provides basic case details. This page breaks down the steps, fees, and rules that apply to Taylor County bankruptcy records.

Middle District Court Serving Taylor County

The Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court covers Taylor County. The Macon office is at 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201. Phone is 478-752-3506. Columbus has a second staffed office at 901 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31902. Phone is 706-649-7837. For Taylor County residents, the Columbus office may be slightly closer depending on where in the county you are.

Chief Judge Austin E. Carter leads the Middle District bench. Kyle George serves as Clerk. Both staffed offices are open Monday through Friday. You can view records on public terminals at no cost. The court info page has hours, directions, and contact details for all Middle District locations.

How to Search Taylor County Bankruptcy Records

Start with PACER. It is free to register. Select the Middle District of Georgia and search by name or case number. You see the full docket, every filed document, and real-time status updates. PACER runs 24/7 and charges $0.10 per page.

The PACER Case Locator is a broader tool. It searches all federal courts at once. If you are not sure whether a case was filed in the Middle District or somewhere else, this is the place to start. Enter a name and the system checks every district in the country.

McVCIS provides free case info over the phone. Call 1-866-222-8029. The automated system gives you the debtor name, case number, chapter, filing date, judge, trustee, and case status. Select the Middle District of Georgia for Taylor County searches. It works all day, every day.

Taylor County Record Fees

PACER is $0.10 per page. Documents under 30 pages cap at $3.00. Public terminal viewing at the Macon or Columbus office is free.

Mail or in-person copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 per document. A search without a case number costs $34.00. Use Form B1320 and send payment with the form. Money orders and certified checks are accepted, payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Cash works at the counter only.

Exemptions in Taylor County Bankruptcy Cases

Georgia filers cannot use the federal exemption list. Under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100, Taylor County residents can protect $21,500 in homestead equity. Married couples may protect up to $43,000 in certain scenarios. The motor vehicle exemption is $5,000. Jewelry is $500. Tools of the trade are safe up to $1,500.

The wildcard starts at $1,200. Unused homestead value up to $10,000 can be added to that. Personal property under $5,000 total is exempt if each item is $300 or less. Workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84 is fully protected. The same goes for Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment pay, retirement accounts, and alimony or child support. Every Taylor County bankruptcy filer is subject to these state rules.

The Middle District court information page shown above has directions and contact details for all offices serving Taylor County.

Bankruptcy Filing Types and Rules

Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are the most common in Taylor County. Chapter 7 liquidates non-exempt assets. Chapter 13 puts a repayment plan in place for three to five years. Chapter 11 is for business reorganization. Chapter 12 is for family farmers and fishermen, relevant in a rural county like Taylor.

All chapters are governed by Title 11 of the United States Code. You have to live in Georgia for 730 days to use state exemptions. Filing restrictions: eight years between Chapter 7 filings, four years from Chapter 7 to Chapter 13, two years from Chapter 13 to Chapter 13. These rules are the same for everyone in Taylor County.

Taylor County Clerk Office

The Taylor County Superior Court Clerk in Butler keeps state court records. Civil cases, criminal filings, deeds, and liens are maintained there. Bankruptcy records are not. But state court liens and property records from Taylor County can relate to a federal bankruptcy case. Search both systems if property or debt disputes are part of the picture.

The GSCCCA statewide system gives you access to deed records and UCC filings from Taylor County and all other Georgia counties.

Note: The Taylor County courthouse does not store federal bankruptcy records.

Old Taylor County Bankruptcy Cases

Closed cases are transferred to the National Archives after time. Call the Macon clerk at 478-752-3506 for the accession number, location number, and box number you need. Once you have those, order directly from NARA. The process takes a few weeks. Active cases remain on PACER.

Nearby Counties

Taylor County sits in central Georgia. Its neighbors are all covered by the Middle District. The Macon and Columbus offices serve this area for all bankruptcy records matters.