White County Bankruptcy Filings

Looking for bankruptcy records in White County? They are stored with the Northern District of Georgia federal court, not the county clerk in Cleveland. Every White County bankruptcy case, past and present, is filed at the federal level. Petitions, schedules, motions, orders, and discharge documents are all part of the public record. You can search for White County filings from your computer, call a toll-free number for free case details, or visit a court office. This guide explains each method, the costs, and the rules that shape what you will find in these case files.

Northern District Court and White County

White County belongs to the Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. This court covers 46 counties in the northern part of the state. The main office is at 75 Ted Turner Drive SW, Room 1340, Atlanta, GA 30303. Phone number is (404) 215-1000. The Gainesville divisional office may be closer for some White County residents, as Cleveland is in the northeast Georgia mountains.

The court operates Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Staff at any office can pull up White County cases, process copy requests, and accept filings. If you plan to visit in person, the Gainesville or Atlanta office will be your options. Both maintain public terminals where you can view case information for free.

How to Search White County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is where most searches start. It is the federal courts' electronic records system. Registration costs nothing. Once you have an account, search by debtor name or case number. White County filings are all there. You can view petitions, amended schedules, creditor lists, motions, court orders, and the final discharge. Each page is $0.10.

Use the PACER Case Locator to check all federal courts in one search. This is the tool for situations where someone with connections to White County may have filed in another district or state. Enter a name and the system returns every match from across the country.

McVCIS is free. Dial 1-866-222-8029. It is an automated phone system available 24 hours a day. Pick the Northern District of Georgia from the menu. Search by name or case number. The system reads back the filing date, chapter, judge, attorney, trustee, and status. No documents, but it is enough to confirm a White County filing and plan your next move.

Fees for White County Records

PACER charges $0.10 per page. Viewing at public terminals in the clerk's office is free. Printing at those terminals costs $0.10 per page. Copy requests by mail or at the counter run $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost an extra $12.00 per document.

If the court needs to search for a White County filing because you lack a case number, the fee is $34.00. Fill out Form B1320 and submit it with payment. Make checks to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." The court accepts money orders, certified checks, and cash for walk-ins.

Bankruptcy Chapters in White County Cases

Federal law under 11 U.S.C. defines the types. Chapter 7 is the most common. It is liquidation. A trustee reviews what the debtor owns, sells non-exempt property, and uses the money to pay creditors. In practice, many White County Chapter 7 cases are no-asset cases. There is nothing for the trustee to sell, so the debtor gets a fresh start in a few months.

Chapter 13 is a repayment plan. The debtor keeps all property and pays creditors over three to five years. Payments go to a trustee each month. This works for White County residents with regular income who want to prevent foreclosure or catch up on vehicle payments.

Chapter 11 handles business reorganizations. Chapter 12 is available for family farmers. All of these chapters create a public record in the court system that anyone can access and search.

Georgia Exemptions for White County Debtors

Georgia has opted out of federal bankruptcy exemptions. White County filers use the state list from O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. Home equity is protected up to $21,500. A vehicle is exempt to $5,000. Tools of the trade get $1,500. Jewelry is $500. Personal property is covered up to $5,000 total, capped at $300 per item. The wildcard exemption of $1,200 can go to any asset, and up to $10,000 of unused homestead value can be added to it.

Fully exempt income in White County cases includes Social Security, veterans benefits, unemployment, workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, and alimony. Retirement accounts in 401(k) plans and IRAs are protected. A debtor must have been a Georgia resident for at least 730 days before filing to claim these exemptions.

Note: These exemptions appear in the bankruptcy schedules and directly affect what creditors can collect.

Archived White County Cases

Older White County bankruptcy cases that have left the PACER system are stored at the National Archives. To get these files, you first need the case number, accession number, and box number from the Northern District clerk. Call (404) 215-1000 for that information. NARA requests take longer than standard searches, so start early.

State court records for White County are at the Superior Court Clerk's office in Cleveland. That covers civil suits, criminal cases, deeds, and liens. The GSCCCA provides statewide access to county records online. When bankruptcy and state matters overlap, checking both databases gives a fuller picture.

Nearby Counties

White County is in the northeast Georgia mountains. Its neighbors are all part of the Northern District for bankruptcy purposes. Habersham County to the east and Lumpkin County to the west are the closest.