Ware County Bankruptcy Filing Records
Bankruptcy records for Ware County are handled by the Southern District of Georgia federal court. The county clerk in Waycross does not manage bankruptcy cases. Ware County is notable because it has a local hearing office for the Southern District, right there in Waycross at 601 Tebeau Street. That office is not always staffed, but hearings do take place there on a scheduled basis. For full records access, the main court offices in Savannah, Augusta, and Brunswick serve Ware County filers. This guide walks through every way to get at these records.
Ware County Quick Facts
Southern District Court for Ware County
The Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court handles all Ware County bankruptcy matters. This court covers 43 counties in the southeastern part of the state. Three offices are staffed full time: Savannah at 124 Barnard Street, Second Floor, Savannah, GA 31401, phone (912) 650-4100; Augusta at 600 James Brown Blvd, Augusta, GA 30901, phone (706) 823-6000; and Brunswick at 801 Gloucester Street, Third Floor, Brunswick, GA 31520, phone (912) 280-1376.
Ware County also has a local hearing office at 601 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501. Bankruptcy hearings are held there on a periodic basis. However, this office is not staffed between hearing dates. For records requests, filings, and general questions, contact the Savannah or Brunswick office instead. Mail from unstaffed locations like Waycross should be directed to Augusta or Brunswick.
Note: Having a hearing office in Waycross means some Ware County residents can attend hearings closer to home rather than traveling to Savannah or Brunswick.
Search Ware County Bankruptcy Records
Go to PACER for online access. Sign up for a free account and search by name or case number. Every Ware County bankruptcy case is in the database. You can view and download petitions, schedules, motions, court orders, trustee reports, and discharge documents. The cost is $0.10 per page.
The PACER Case Locator helps when you need to search all federal courts at once. It covers every district in the country. Type in a name and get results from the Southern District of Georgia and anywhere else the person may have filed. Save your searches if you need to check back later.
For a free alternative, call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. It runs 24 hours a day. Select the Southern District of Georgia when prompted. The automated system reads the debtor name, case number, chapter, filing date, judge, attorney, trustee, and status. You cannot get documents over the phone, but it gives you the basics at no cost. This is a great way to check on Ware County filings before pulling full records from PACER.
Ware County Record Access Fees
Costs for Ware County bankruptcy records follow the standard federal schedule:
- PACER searches and documents: $0.10 per page
- Public terminal viewing at clerk offices: Free
- Terminal printing: $0.10 per page
- In-person or mail copies: $0.50 per page
- Certified copies: $12.00 per document plus page fees
- Court search without case number: $34.00 via Form B1320
Make payments to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Money orders and certified checks are accepted. Cash works at the counter during office hours. Personal checks are restricted to pro se filers.
Bankruptcy Filing Types in Ware County
Under 11 U.S.C., individuals and businesses in Ware County can file for several types of bankruptcy. Chapter 7 is the simplest. A trustee sells non-exempt assets and distributes the money to creditors. Remaining debts get wiped out. Most Chapter 7 filers in Ware County have little to sell, so the case moves fast.
Chapter 13 is the other common option for individuals. The debtor keeps all their property and repays creditors through a court-approved plan over three to five years. Monthly payments go to a trustee. This is the path for Ware County homeowners who need to catch up on a mortgage while keeping their house.
Business filings fall under Chapter 11. Family farmers can use Chapter 12. Each chapter generates a separate set of public court records accessible through PACER or at the clerk's office.
Georgia Exemptions for Ware County Debtors
Georgia has chosen not to use federal bankruptcy exemptions. Ware County filers must use the state exemptions listed in O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption covers $21,500 in equity. A vehicle is protected up to $5,000. Work tools get $1,500. Jewelry is capped at $500. Personal property is exempt up to $5,000, with no single item exceeding $300 in value.
The wildcard exemption is $1,200. Unused homestead equity, up to $10,000, adds to that amount. Fully protected income includes Social Security, veterans benefits, workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, unemployment, and alimony. Retirement accounts are also safe. These exemptions appear in the bankruptcy schedules filed with the court and determine what creditors can collect from Ware County debtors. Residency of at least 730 days in Georgia is required.
Archived Ware County Cases and County Records
Closed Ware County bankruptcy cases are transferred to the National Archives after they leave the court's electronic system. Contact the Southern District clerk at (912) 650-4100 for the accession and box numbers you will need to order from NARA. The process takes time, so start early if you need an archived file.
The Ware County Superior Court Clerk in Waycross manages state-level records. Civil cases, criminal filings, deeds, and liens are kept there. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority provides a statewide online search for county records. Cross-referencing state records with federal bankruptcy data can be informative, especially when property or lien issues span both systems.
Nearby Counties
Ware County is in southeast Georgia. Several surrounding counties are also within the Southern District for bankruptcy purposes. Pierce and Brantley Counties border Ware to the east, while Clinch County is to the south.