Search Thomas County Bankruptcy Records

Thomas County bankruptcy records go through the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. Thomasville is the county seat and also hosts a hearing office for the Middle District. This makes Thomas County one of the few locations in south Georgia where federal bankruptcy hearings take place locally. You still can't get records at the county courthouse itself. For that, you need PACER online, the free McVCIS phone line, or the staffed offices in Macon or Columbus. Here is everything you need to know about finding and accessing Thomas County bankruptcy records.

Middle District Court and Thomas County

The Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court serves Thomas County. The court has a hearing office in Thomasville, which means judges travel there to hold certain proceedings. This is convenient for Thomas County residents who need to appear in court. However, the Thomasville office is only staffed when hearings are actually scheduled. It does not provide regular walk-in records access.

The Macon office at 433 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201 is the main hub. Phone is 478-752-3506. Columbus has a second staffed office at 901 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31902, phone 706-649-7837. Both offices are open Monday through Friday with public terminals for viewing records. For most records requests tied to Thomas County, contact the Macon office or use PACER online. The court info page has the latest on scheduling and office hours.

How to Search Thomas County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the most complete online search tool. Register for free. Pick the Middle District of Georgia. Search by name or case number. You get docket sheets, filed documents, and status updates. The cost is $0.10 per page. PACER works around the clock.

The PACER Case Locator searches every federal court in the nation at once. This helps when you know a name but not the district. It pulls matching cases from bankruptcy, district, and appellate courts across the country.

McVCIS is completely free. Call 1-866-222-8029. The automated system gives you the debtor name, case number, chapter type, filing date, judge, trustee, and case status. Select the Middle District of Georgia for Thomas County searches. The service runs day and night, 365 days a year.

Thomas County Bankruptcy Fees

PACER is $0.10 per page. Standard documents capped at $3.00 for 30 pages or fewer. At the Macon or Columbus office, you view records on public terminals at no charge. Printing there is $0.10 per page.

Mail or in-person copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $12.00 extra each. A search without a case number runs $34.00. Send Form B1320 with payment to the Macon clerk. Money orders and certified checks should be made to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Cash works only at the walk-in window.

Exemptions for Thomas County Filers

Georgia has opted out of federal exemptions. All Thomas County filers use the state exemption list. Under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100, the homestead exemption is $21,500. Married couples may protect up to $43,000 in certain cases. Vehicle equity is safe up to $5,000. Jewelry is $500. Trade tools are exempt to $1,500.

The wildcard is $1,200 plus up to $10,000 of unused homestead. Personal property up to $5,000 is safe with each item under $300. Fully exempt income includes Social Security, veterans benefits, workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, unemployment, and retirement accounts. Alimony and child support are also protected. These apply to every Thomas County bankruptcy case.

The court info page above lists all Middle District offices, including the Thomasville hearing location that serves Thomas County.

Thomas County Filing Types and Rules

Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are the primary filing types. Chapter 7 is liquidation. Chapter 13 is a repayment plan over three to five years. Chapter 11 covers business reorganization. Chapter 12 applies to family farmers and fishermen. Thomas County has farming in its economy, so Chapter 12 cases do appear.

Federal law under Title 11 of the United States Code governs all filings. The 730-day residency rule requires two years in Georgia before you can claim state exemptions. Time between filings: eight years for Chapter 7 to Chapter 7, four years from Chapter 7 to Chapter 13, and two years for Chapter 13 to Chapter 13.

Thomas County Clerk and State Court Records

The Thomas County Superior Court Clerk in Thomasville keeps civil cases, criminal records, deeds, and liens. These are not bankruptcy records. But liens and property transfers from Thomas County state court sometimes connect to a federal bankruptcy filing. Cross-referencing both databases gives you a more complete view of a debtor's financial history.

The GSCCCA statewide portal covers deed records and UCC filings from Thomas County and all other Georgia counties.

Note: The Thomas County clerk office does not process or store federal bankruptcy case files.

Archived Thomas County Cases

Old closed cases transfer to the National Archives. Call Macon at 478-752-3506 for the case number, accession number, and box number you need. NARA handles the order once you have those details. It takes several weeks. Recent and active Thomas County cases remain on PACER.

Nearby Counties

Thomas County is in south Georgia near the Florida border. All surrounding counties are served by the Middle District. The Thomasville hearing office is a local convenience, but Macon and Columbus are the full-service offices for records access.