Toombs County Bankruptcy Records

Toombs County bankruptcy records are part of the Southern District of Georgia federal court system. Lyons is the county seat. The courthouse in Lyons handles state court business like civil cases and deed filings, but bankruptcy is different. All bankruptcy cases from Toombs County go through the federal system. To search for a case or pull court documents, you can use PACER online, the free McVCIS phone service, or visit a staffed office in Savannah, Augusta, or Brunswick. This page covers each search method, applicable fees, Georgia exemptions, and where to go for archived records.

Southern District Court for Toombs County

All Toombs County bankruptcy cases go to the Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. The Savannah office at 124 Barnard Street, Second Floor, Savannah, GA 31401 is one of the nearest staffed locations. Phone is (912) 650-4100. Augusta has a staffed office at 600 James Brown Blvd, Augusta, GA 30901, phone (706) 823-6000. Brunswick is also staffed at 801 Gloucester Street, Brunswick, GA 31520.

The Southern District has a hearing location in Statesboro at 52 North Main Street. Statesboro is closer to Lyons than any of the staffed offices. But it is only open when hearings are on the calendar. For record requests and general questions about Toombs County cases, call Savannah. Chief Judge Michele J. Kim heads the Southern District. Dana M. Wilson serves as Clerk of Court.

How to Search Toombs County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the primary way to search. Registering takes minutes and costs nothing. Select the Southern District of Georgia and search by debtor name or case number. You see the full docket, all filed papers, and the latest status. The fee is $0.10 per page. It runs 24/7.

The PACER Case Locator is a national search. It checks all federal courts at once. Useful when you know a name but not the specific district. One search covers every bankruptcy court in the country. You can save searches and bookmark cases you want to follow.

McVCIS is free. Dial 1-866-222-8029. The automated phone system gives you the debtor name, case number, chapter type, filing date, judge, trustee, and status. Select the Southern District of Georgia for Toombs County results. The line runs all day, every day.

Note: McVCIS provides general details and is not the official record of the court.

Toombs County Bankruptcy Record Fees

PACER costs $0.10 per page. The $3.00 cap applies to documents of 30 pages or less. Viewing on public terminals at any staffed office is free. Printing from those terminals costs $0.10 per page.

Mail or in-person copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $12.00 each. A court search when you lack the case number costs $34.00. File Form B1320 with payment to the Savannah or Augusta office. Money orders and certified checks payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court" are the standard method. Cash works at the walk-in counter only.

Toombs County Exemptions in Bankruptcy

Georgia opted out of the federal exemptions. Toombs County filers follow state rules. Under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100, the homestead exemption is $21,500 in equity. Married couples may double that to $43,000 under certain conditions. Vehicle equity is safe up to $5,000. Jewelry is $500. Tools of the trade are protected up to $1,500.

The wildcard is $1,200 plus up to $10,000 of unused homestead value. 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 exempt. Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment pay, and retirement accounts are all protected. Alimony and child support payments stay safe too. These exemptions apply to every Toombs County bankruptcy filing.

The Southern District court website above is the federal resource for Toombs County bankruptcy case management.

Bankruptcy Filing Types in Toombs County

Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 make up most Toombs County filings. Chapter 7 is liquidation. Non-exempt property gets sold. Chapter 13 creates a payment plan lasting three to five years. The debtor keeps everything and pays the trustee each month.

Chapter 12 covers family farmers and fishermen. This chapter is relevant in agricultural parts of Georgia like Toombs County. Chapter 11 is for business reorganization. All four chapters fall under Title 11 of the United States Code. Filing gaps apply: eight years for Chapter 7 to Chapter 7, four years from Chapter 7 to Chapter 13, and two years between Chapter 13 filings. Georgia's 730-day residency rule must be met for state exemptions.

Toombs County Clerk Office

The Toombs County Superior Court Clerk in Lyons handles state records. Civil lawsuits, criminal cases, property deeds, and liens are managed there. None of these are bankruptcy records. But liens and deeds from Toombs County state court can relate to a federal bankruptcy filing. Checking both systems helps when property or debt is in question.

The GSCCCA lets you search deed records and UCC filings from Toombs County and every other county in Georgia through a single statewide portal.

Archived Toombs County Cases

Closed cases eventually move to the National Archives. To order copies, you need the case number, accession number, location number, and box number. Call Savannah at (912) 650-4100 to get those details. NARA orders take a few weeks. Active cases stay on PACER.

Nearby Counties

Toombs County is in southeast Georgia. All of its neighbors are covered by the Southern District. The Statesboro hearing office is nearby for court sessions, but Savannah is the full-service office for records.