Whitfield County Bankruptcy Record Search

Whitfield County bankruptcy records are part of the Northern District of Georgia federal court system. Dalton is the county seat, but bankruptcy filings do not go through the local courthouse. Federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over bankruptcy, and all Whitfield County cases are filed, processed, and stored at the federal level. Searching for these records is straightforward once you know where to look. PACER provides round-the-clock online access. A free phone service gives basic case details. Court offices offer in-person viewing at no charge. This page covers every access method and related costs.

Northern District Court Serving Whitfield County

Whitfield County falls under the Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. The court handles cases from 46 counties across northern Georgia. The main office is at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building, 75 Ted Turner Drive SW, Room 1340, Atlanta, GA 30303, phone (404) 215-1000.

For Whitfield County residents, the Rome divisional office at 600 East First Street, Room 339, Rome, GA 30161 is the nearest option. Phone is (706) 291-5639. Rome is considerably closer to Dalton than Atlanta. Both offices are staffed and can handle records requests, filings, and general inquiries about Whitfield County bankruptcy cases. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

How to Look Up Whitfield County Bankruptcy Cases

The main online resource is PACER. Set up a free account and search. Enter a debtor name or case number. Whitfield County filings show up with the complete case record. Petitions, schedules, creditor matrices, motions, orders, and discharge papers are all available. Cost is $0.10 per page.

The PACER Case Locator is a broader search tool that covers every federal court. If someone from Whitfield County may have filed in a different district, this locator will find it. Just enter the name and check the results.

McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029 provides free case details by phone. It runs 24 hours a day. Select the Northern District of Georgia. Search by name or case number. The system gives the filing date, chapter, judge, attorney, trustee, and case status for Whitfield County filings. You will not receive documents over the phone, but the information helps you decide what to search for next in PACER.

Walk into the Rome or Atlanta clerk's office and use their public terminals. Viewing docket information is free. Print for $0.10 per page.

Costs for Whitfield County Bankruptcy Records

Fees are uniform across the Northern District. PACER charges $0.10 per page. Public terminal viewing at clerk offices is free. Printing at those terminals is $0.10 per page.

• In-person or mail copy requests: $0.50 per page
• Certified copies: $12.00 additional per document
• Records search without case number: $34.00 via Form B1320
• McVCIS phone service: Free

Make payments to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court." Money orders and certified checks work. Cash is accepted at the counter for in-person requests only.

Whitfield County Bankruptcy Filing Types

Under 11 U.S.C., bankruptcy filers have several chapters to choose from. Chapter 7 is liquidation. The trustee sells non-exempt property and pays creditors. Most Chapter 7 cases from Whitfield County have few or no assets to sell. The debtor gets a discharge in about three to four months and the case closes. All documents become part of the searchable record.

Chapter 13 is a repayment plan. The filer keeps all property and pays creditors through a trustee over three to five years. Whitfield County has a significant manufacturing and industry base, and Chapter 13 can help wage earners keep their homes while managing debt. Chapter 11 handles business restructuring. Chapter 12 is for family farmers. Each filing type generates a full set of court records that can be searched and reviewed.

State Exemptions for Whitfield County

Georgia opts out of federal bankruptcy exemptions. Whitfield County debtors must use state exemptions under O.C.G.A. 44-13-100. The key figures: homestead exemption of $21,500, vehicle exemption of $5,000, tools of trade at $1,500, jewelry at $500, and personal property up to $5,000 total with a $300 per item limit.

The wildcard exemption provides $1,200 that can cover any asset. Up to $10,000 of unused homestead value can be added to the wildcard. Fully exempt income in Whitfield County cases includes Social Security, veterans benefits, workers' compensation under O.C.G.A. 34-9-84, unemployment, and alimony. Retirement accounts are also protected. These exemptions are part of the bankruptcy schedules filed with the court and directly affect what creditors can claim. Georgia residency of 730 days is required.

Whitfield County Archived and State Records

Old cases leave PACER after a certain period and go to the National Archives. Call the Northern District clerk at (404) 215-1000 for the accession number and box number before requesting archived Whitfield County files from NARA. The process takes more time than a standard PACER search.

State court records for Whitfield County are at the Superior Court Clerk's office in Dalton. That includes civil suits, criminal matters, property deeds, and liens. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority provides statewide online access to many county records. Visit the Northern District case information page for additional guidance on searching and filing procedures that apply to Whitfield County cases.

Refiling Rules for Whitfield County

Federal law sets waiting periods between bankruptcy filings. A Chapter 7 discharge blocks another Chapter 7 for eight years. The gap from Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 is four years. Between two Chapter 13 cases, the wait is two years. These time limits are measured from the filing date and apply to all Whitfield County debtors.

Nearby Counties

Whitfield County is in the northwest corner of Georgia. All its neighbors are in the Northern District for bankruptcy filings. Murray and Gordon Counties are to the south, while Walker and Catoosa are to the west and northwest.