Upson County Bankruptcy Case Search

Bankruptcy records from Upson County are filed with and held by the Middle District of Georgia federal court. The clerk of court in Thomaston does not have these records. All bankruptcy cases, whether Chapter 7, 13, 11, or 12, go through the federal system. People looking to search for Upson County bankruptcy filings have several options available. PACER gives online access day and night. A toll-free phone line offers free basic case details. You can also visit the court office in Macon to review files in person. Here is what you need to know about each approach.

Middle District Bankruptcy Court for Upson County

Upson County is one of 69 counties in the Middle District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. The court's main office is at 433 Cherry Street in Macon, GA 31201, inside the Thomas Jefferson Federal Building. Phone number is 478-752-3506. The second staffed office is in Columbus at 901 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31902, with a phone number of 706-649-7837.

Thomaston is in the west-central part of the state. Macon is the closer of the two staffed offices for most Upson County residents. The court also holds hearings in Albany, Athens, Thomasville, and Valdosta, but those offices are not staffed between hearing dates. Any new filings or records requests from Upson County should go through Macon.

Searching for Upson County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the go-to tool. Register for free and start searching right away. Enter a debtor's name or case number to pull up Upson County filings. The system shows everything in the case file. Petitions, schedules, amended filings, motions, court orders, and discharge documents are all there. Each page costs $0.10 to view or download.

If you need to search across multiple courts, use the PACER Case Locator. It covers every federal court in the country. Enter a name and the system checks all districts. This is the right move when you know someone lived in Upson County but are not sure which court they used.

McVCIS gives free case details by phone. Call 1-866-222-8029 any time. Follow the prompts and pick the Middle District of Georgia. The system reads out the case number, filing date, chapter, judge, attorney, trustee, and status for any matching Upson County filing. It does not provide documents, but the information is enough to confirm a case and guide your next steps.

Costs for Upson County Bankruptcy Filings

The fees are set by the federal courts. PACER access runs $0.10 per page. Visiting the Macon clerk's office in person lets you use public computer terminals for free. Need to print? That is $0.10 per page at the terminal.

For copies requested by mail or at the counter, the rate is $0.50 per page. A certified copy adds $12.00 per document. If you lack a case number and need the court to search their records, submit Form B1320 with $34.00. Make checks to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Money orders and certified checks are accepted. Cash is good for walk-in visits.

Note: The $34.00 search fee applies per debtor name searched.

Bankruptcy Chapters in Upson County Cases

The federal bankruptcy code, 11 U.S.C., gives individuals and businesses different filing options. Chapter 7 wipes out most unsecured debt. A trustee checks the debtor's assets. Anything not covered by exemptions can be sold. In practice, many Upson County Chapter 7 cases have no assets to sell. The case ends in a few months.

Chapter 13 lets filers keep their property. They pay creditors through a plan lasting three to five years. Monthly payments go to a trustee who distributes the money. This helps Upson County residents who are behind on a mortgage or car note. The payments are based on what the debtor can afford after basic living expenses.

Chapter 11 handles business debt restructuring. Chapter 12 covers family farmers and fishermen. All types create public records that anyone can search.

Upson County Exemptions Under Georgia Law

Georgia opted out of federal bankruptcy exemptions. All Upson County filers use the state exemptions found in O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. Here are the key limits:

• Homestead: $21,500 ($43,000 for couples in certain situations)
• Motor vehicle: $5,000
• Tools of trade: $1,500
• Jewelry: $500
• Personal property: $5,000 total, $300 per item cap
• Wildcard: $1,200 plus up to $10,000 unused homestead

Income that is completely exempt includes Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment, workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, and alimony. Retirement accounts are protected. These exemptions directly affect Upson County bankruptcy records because they determine what assets the trustee can go after and what stays with the debtor. A person must have lived in Georgia for 730 days to qualify for these state exemptions.

Old Cases and State Court Records

Archived Upson County bankruptcy cases are sent to the National Archives once they leave the court's electronic system. Call the Middle District clerk at 478-752-3506 to get the case number, accession number, and box number before making a NARA request.

State-level records for Upson County are at the Superior Court Clerk's office in Thomaston. That covers civil suits, criminal cases, deeds, and liens. The GSCCCA offers a statewide search for these Georgia records. Checking both state and federal databases can be useful when a bankruptcy case involves property recorded at the county level or when judgment liens are part of the picture.

Nearby Counties

Upson County borders several counties in west-central Georgia. Most of its neighbors are in the Middle District, though some to the north fall under the Northern District for bankruptcy filings.