Washington County Bankruptcy Case Records

Washington County bankruptcy records sit within the Southern District of Georgia federal court. The county seat of Sandersville has a state courthouse, but that office does not deal with bankruptcy matters at all. Federal law puts bankruptcy under the jurisdiction of U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, and all Washington County cases go through that system. Finding these records is possible online, over the phone, or at a court office in person. Each method has its own process and cost. This guide covers what is available and how to get to the records you need.

Southern District Bankruptcy Court

Washington County falls under the Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. The court operates three staffed offices. Augusta is at the Federal Justice Center, 600 James Brown Blvd, Augusta, GA 30901, phone (706) 823-6000. Savannah is at 124 Barnard Street, Second Floor, Savannah, GA 31401, phone (912) 650-4100. Brunswick is at 801 Gloucester Street, Third Floor, Brunswick, GA 31520, phone (912) 280-1376.

For Washington County residents in Sandersville, the Augusta office is generally the closest. The Dublin hearing office at 100 North Franklin Street, Dublin, GA 31021 is even closer geographically, but it is not always staffed. Hearings take place there on occasion, yet between those dates there is no one on site. For records and filings, Augusta is the go-to.

How to Look Up Washington County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the fastest way to pull up records. Register online for free. Once in, you can search by name or case number. Washington County bankruptcy filings are all in the system. You get access to petitions, amended schedules, creditor lists, motions, court orders, and discharge papers. Each page costs $0.10 to view or download.

The PACER Case Locator is a good option when you are not sure which court handled a specific case. It checks all federal courts nationwide. Enter a name, and the system brings back every match. This catches cases where someone with ties to Washington County filed in another district.

Call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029 for free case information. Select the Southern District of Georgia. The automated system provides the debtor name, case number, chapter, judge, filing date, trustee, attorney, and status. It is available every hour of every day. No documents come through the phone, but the data is enough to confirm whether a Washington County bankruptcy exists and what type it is.

Costs for Washington County Filings

Federal court fees are the same for all cases in the Southern District. PACER charges $0.10 per page. Public terminal viewing at any staffed office is free. Printing from terminals costs $0.10 per page.

• Mail or in-person copy requests: $0.50 per page
• Certified copies: $12.00 extra per document
• Court search without case number: $34.00 using Form B1320
• McVCIS phone lookup: Free

Payments go to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." The court accepts money orders, certified checks, and cash for in-person transactions.

Bankruptcy Chapters in Washington County

The federal bankruptcy code, 11 U.S.C., sets out the filing types. Chapter 7 is liquidation. A trustee reviews the debtor's property and sells non-exempt items. The proceeds go to creditors. Many Washington County Chapter 7 cases are no-asset, meaning there is nothing for the trustee to sell. These cases close in three to four months with most debts wiped out.

Chapter 13 lets the debtor keep property while repaying debts over three to five years. A trustee collects monthly payments and sends them to creditors. This is useful for Washington County residents who are behind on a mortgage or car loan but want to keep the asset. Chapter 11 handles business reorganization. Chapter 12 is for family farms, which can be relevant in the agricultural areas around Sandersville. All chapters create public records in the federal court system.

Georgia Exemptions in Washington County Cases

Georgia does not allow the use of federal bankruptcy exemptions. Everyone who files in Washington County must use the state exemptions under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The homestead exemption protects $21,500 in equity. Vehicles are exempt up to $5,000. Tools of trade get $1,500. Jewelry is capped at $500. Personal property totals $5,000, with each item capped at $300.

The wildcard exemption adds $1,200, and unused homestead value up to $10,000 can supplement that. Some income is fully exempt. Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment, workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, and alimony are all protected with no dollar limit. Retirement accounts also remain safe. A Georgia residency of 730 days is needed before filing to claim these exemptions.

Washington County Archived and State Records

Old Washington County bankruptcy cases that are no longer in PACER are kept at the National Archives. Contact the Southern District clerk for the accession number, box number, and location number before placing a NARA request. The Augusta office at (706) 823-6000 handles this.

State court records are at the Superior Court Clerk's office in Sandersville. That office manages civil suits, criminal cases, deeds, and liens for Washington County. The GSCCCA provides online access to many state records. Reviewing both federal bankruptcy filings and county-level data can be valuable when property or debt matters overlap between the two court systems.

Nearby Counties

Washington County is in central Georgia. Some of its neighboring counties fall under the Middle District, while others are in the Southern District for bankruptcy filings.