Search Wheeler County Bankruptcy Filings

Wheeler County bankruptcy records are managed by the Southern District of Georgia federal court. The county seat is Alamo. Like every county in Georgia, Wheeler County's bankruptcy filings go through the federal system rather than any state or local office. Court documents, docket entries, schedules, and discharge orders are all filed with the federal clerk. You can look up Wheeler County cases online through PACER, get basic details for free by phone, or visit a Southern District office to review files. Here is what you need to know about each option.

Wheeler County's Federal Bankruptcy Court

The Southern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court covers Wheeler County and 42 other counties in the southeastern part of the state. Three offices have full-time staff. Savannah is at 124 Barnard Street, Second Floor, Savannah, GA 31401, phone (912) 650-4100. Augusta is at the Federal Justice Center, 600 James Brown Blvd, Augusta, GA 30901, phone (706) 823-6000. Brunswick is at 801 Gloucester Street, Third Floor, Brunswick, GA 31520, phone (912) 280-1376.

The Dublin hearing office at 100 North Franklin Street, Dublin, GA 31021 is closer to Alamo than any of the staffed offices. But Dublin is not always open. Staff are only there when hearings are scheduled. Records requests and new filings from Wheeler County should go to Savannah or Augusta.

How to Find Wheeler County Bankruptcy Records

Go to PACER first. It is the federal courts' online records platform. Sign up for free. Then search by debtor name or case number. All Wheeler County bankruptcy cases are in the database. You can pull up petitions, schedules, trustee reports, motions, orders, and discharge documents. The cost is $0.10 per page viewed or downloaded.

When you do not know which court handled a case, use the PACER Case Locator. It searches all federal courts at once. This helps with Wheeler County cases where the filer may have moved or filed in another state.

McVCIS is a free phone service at 1-866-222-8029. It works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Pick the Southern District of Georgia. The system gives you the debtor name, case number, filing date, chapter, judge, attorney, trustee, and case status. You cannot get documents, but the details are a solid starting point for any Wheeler County search.

Wheeler County Record Fees and Costs

Federal fees apply to all Wheeler County bankruptcy records in the Southern District. PACER is $0.10 per page. Viewing records on public terminals at any staffed office is free. Printing costs $0.10 per page at the terminal.

Copies requested by mail or in person cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $12.00 extra per document. A records search without a case number costs $34.00. Submit Form B1320 and payment to start the search. Checks go to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Money orders and certified checks work. Cash is only for walk-in visits.

Note: The McVCIS phone line is always free for basic case lookups on Wheeler County filings.

Types of Bankruptcy Filed in Wheeler County

Federal bankruptcy law under 11 U.S.C. defines the chapters. Chapter 7 is liquidation. The trustee reviews all assets, sells anything not exempt, and distributes the money to creditors. Many Chapter 7 filers in Wheeler County have no non-exempt property at all. The case closes in roughly three to four months. Remaining debts are discharged.

Chapter 13 is for people who want to keep their property and pay back debts over time. The plan runs three to five years. A trustee collects monthly payments and sends them to creditors. This is useful for Wheeler County residents who need to catch up on a mortgage or car loan. Chapter 11 is for business debt restructuring. Chapter 12 helps family farmers, which may apply to agricultural operations in and around Alamo. Every chapter produces a public record.

Exemptions Under Georgia Law for Wheeler County

Georgia uses its own exemptions instead of the federal list. 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 the trade are covered to $1,500. Jewelry gets $500. Personal property is exempt up to $5,000 total, with each item capped at $300.

The wildcard exemption is $1,200, and it can be boosted by up to $10,000 of unused homestead value. Fully exempt income sources include Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, and alimony. Retirement accounts are protected too. These exemptions are part of every Wheeler County bankruptcy filing. You need to have lived in Georgia for at least 730 days before filing to use them.

Old Cases and County Records

Closed Wheeler County bankruptcy cases that no longer show up on PACER have been transferred to the National Archives. Contact the Southern District clerk for the accession number, location number, and box number needed to place a NARA request. Call Savannah at (912) 650-4100 or Augusta at (706) 823-6000.

The Superior Court Clerk in Alamo manages Wheeler County state-level records. Those include civil cases, criminal filings, property deeds, and liens. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority has a statewide search tool for county records. When a bankruptcy case involves property recorded at the county level, checking both state and federal records makes sense.

Nearby Counties

Wheeler County is in south-central Georgia. Its neighbors are a mix of Southern and Middle District counties for bankruptcy purposes. Montgomery County borders Wheeler to the east, and Dodge County sits to the west.