Search Auburn Bankruptcy Records

Auburn bankruptcy records are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Alabama. Auburn residents file in Montgomery but may attend hearings in nearby Opelika.

Where to File Bankruptcy from Auburn

Auburn is in Lee County. Lee County is part of the Middle District of Alabama. The only staffed office is in Montgomery. That is where you file all bankruptcy papers.

Good news for Auburn residents: Opelika has a courthouse. It is about 10 miles from Auburn. Some bankruptcy hearings happen there. The 341 meeting of creditors may be held in Opelika. This saves you a trip to Montgomery for those events.

Important: The Opelika courthouse does not accept mail. Do not send filings there. Everything goes to Montgomery. The drive from Auburn to Montgomery takes about an hour.

How to Search Auburn Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records are public. PACER is the easiest way to access them. You can search from anywhere with internet.

PACER is the federal records system. Register free at pacer.uscourts.gov. Searches cost $0.10 per page. Each document caps at $3.00. Charges under $30 per quarter are waived.

What you need to search:

• Debtor name
• Case number if available
• Last four digits of Social Security number
• Filing date range

McVCIS is free by phone. Call 1-866-222-8029 any time. Get basic case info 24 hours a day.

For in-person viewing, visit the Montgomery courthouse. Public terminals are free. Printing costs $0.10 per page.

Bankruptcy and Auburn University

Auburn is home to Auburn University. The school shapes the city. Students, faculty, and staff make up a big part of the population. The university drives the local economy.

Student loans present a unique issue. They usually cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. You need to prove "undue hardship." This is hard to do. Most student debt survives bankruptcy.

But other debts can be discharged. Credit card balances, medical bills, and personal loans qualify. Many young people and recent graduates use bankruptcy to clear these debts while keeping their student loan obligations manageable.

University employees sometimes face financial trouble too. Budget cuts affect jobs. Health issues create bills. Life events cause debt. Bankruptcy offers a path forward for anyone who needs it.

Types of Bankruptcy for Auburn Residents

Chapter 7 eliminates most debts. A trustee reviews your assets. Exempt property stays with you. Non-exempt items may be sold. The fee is $338. Cases close in about 4 months.

Chapter 13 creates a payment plan. You pay back some debts over 3 to 5 years. You keep your home and car. It costs $313. This works for people with steady income.

Chapter 11 is for businesses. Some high-debt individuals use it too. It costs $1,738. The process is complex and lengthy.

Under 11 U.S.C. Section 107, bankruptcy papers are public. Personal identifiers are redacted. The basic case info is open to anyone.

Filing Bankruptcy from Auburn

Start with credit counseling. Federal law requires an approved course. Keep the certificate for your petition.

Complete the schedules. List all assets and debts. Report income and expenses. Fill out the statement of financial affairs.

File at the Montgomery clerk's office. You can mail documents. Many Auburn attorneys file electronically. Do not send anything to Opelika. Pay the fee or ask for installments.

The automatic stay starts when you file. Creditors must stop collection. No calls. No lawsuits. No garnishments.

The 341 meeting happens about a month later. Auburn residents may attend in Opelika. A trustee asks questions. Creditors can come. Most don't. Bring ID and Social Security proof.

Complete debtor education before discharge. File the certificate with Montgomery. Wait for your discharge order.

Alabama uses Bankruptcy Administrators. They schedule meetings and oversee trustees. Contact them at almba.uscourts.gov.

Online Resources for Auburn Bankruptcy

The Middle District website at almb.uscourts.gov has forms and local rules. Check the Eastern Division pages for Opelika hearing schedules.

CM/ECF at ecf.almb.uscourts.gov handles electronic filing. Attorneys use this. Pro se filers can mail paper documents to Montgomery.

Electronic Proof of Claim (ePOC) lets creditors file claims online. No account is needed.

RECAP Archive at courtlistener.com/recap has some free documents. Coverage varies by case.

PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov searches all federal courts. Use it to find cases nationwide.

Auburn Bankruptcy Fees

Filing fees are set by federal law:

• Chapter 7: $338
• Chapter 13: $313
• Chapter 11: $1,738
• PACER: $0.10/page, max $3.00/document
• Certified copies: $12.00
• Clerk search: $32.00 per name

PACER charges under $30 per quarter are waived. Free viewing at the Montgomery courthouse. Print for $0.10 per page.

Legal Help for Bankruptcy in Auburn

Many Auburn residents work with local attorneys. Lawyers can file electronically from Auburn. You may not need to travel to Montgomery yourself.

Legal Services Alabama helps low-income people. Call (334) 832-4570 for the Montgomery office. Or use (866) 456-4995 statewide. Visit legalservicesalabama.org.

The Lee County Bar Association can refer you to attorneys. Ask about bankruptcy specialists.

Alabama Legal Help at alabamalegalhelp.org has guides and FAQs. It explains how bankruptcy works.

Auburn University students may have access to legal services through the school. Check with student services.

Filing without a lawyer is possible. The court cannot give legal advice. Staff can explain procedures. Complex cases benefit from professional help.

Lee County Bankruptcy Records

Auburn is in Lee County. The county seat is Opelika. All bankruptcy cases go through the Middle District. Hearings may be in Opelika. Filings go to Montgomery. See the county page for more details.

View Lee County Bankruptcy Records

Nearby Cities

Other major Alabama cities include:

• Montgomery - Middle District headquarters (about 55 miles west)
• Dothan - Also Middle District (about 90 miles south)
• Birmingham - Northern District headquarters (about 110 miles northwest)