Search Birmingham Bankruptcy Records

Birmingham bankruptcy records are held at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Birmingham is the main office for the entire Northern District.

Where to File Bankruptcy in Birmingham

Birmingham is home to the main office of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama. This court has five bankruptcy judges. All of them sit in Birmingham. The court serves 31 counties across north and west Alabama. If you live in Birmingham, this is where you file.

The court is in the Robert S. Vance Federal Building in downtown Birmingham. You can file new cases here. You can get copies of bankruptcy records. Staff can help with basic questions about court procedures.

The federal building has paid parking nearby. Street meters are an option for short visits. The MAX bus system serves downtown Birmingham. Bring a photo ID for building security. You cannot bring large bags or weapons into the courthouse.

How to Search Birmingham Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records are public. You can search them online or in person. Most people use PACER for online searches. In-person visits work well if you need certified copies fast.

PACER is the federal court records system. It stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. You can search any bankruptcy case filed in Birmingham going back many years. PACER costs $0.10 per page. The fee caps at $3.00 per document. If your charges stay under $30 in a quarter, you pay nothing. Go to pacer.uscourts.gov to sign up for free.

To search bankruptcy records in Birmingham, you need:

• Name of the person or business
• Case number if you have it
• Last four digits of Social Security number (optional)
• Date range for the filing

You can also call the court's automated phone line. The Multi-Court Voice Case Information System (McVCIS) is free. Call 1-866-222-8029 any time. It works 24 hours a day. You can check case status and get basic info by phone.

The courthouse has public terminals. You can view records for free at these stations. Printing costs $0.10 per page. Staff can help you find what you need. The Bankruptcy Administrator office at (205) 714-4300 has info on trustees and creditor meetings.

Types of Bankruptcy Filed in Birmingham

Birmingham residents file several types of bankruptcy cases. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are the most common for individuals. Businesses may file Chapter 7 or Chapter 11. Each type creates different records.

Chapter 7 is called liquidation bankruptcy. A trustee sells assets to pay debts. Most debts get discharged. The filing fee is $338. These cases often close in 3 to 6 months. Records include the petition, schedules of assets and debts, and the discharge order.

Chapter 13 is a payment plan. You keep your property. You pay back some or all of your debts over 3 to 5 years. The filing fee is $313. Records include the plan, payment records, and trustee reports. The court in Birmingham handles thousands of Chapter 13 cases.

Chapter 11 is for business reorganization. Large companies use this option. The filing fee is $1,738. Records are more complex. They include plans, disclosure statements, and creditor votes. Some major Birmingham businesses have filed Chapter 11 over the years.

Under 11 U.S.C. Section 107, most bankruptcy papers are public records. Anyone can view them. Some info gets redacted for privacy. You will only see the last four digits of Social Security numbers and bank accounts.

Filing for Bankruptcy in Birmingham

Filing bankruptcy in Birmingham starts with paperwork. You must complete forms that list all your assets, debts, income, and expenses. The court calls these schedules. You also file a petition and a statement of financial affairs.

Credit counseling is required. You must complete a course from an approved provider before you file. A second course on financial management is due before your discharge. The court will not close your case without it.

Filing fees depend on the chapter. Chapter 7 costs $338. Chapter 13 costs $313. You can pay in installments if you ask the court. Low-income filers may get a fee waiver for Chapter 7. The court has forms for both options.

After you file, an automatic stay goes into effect. This stops most collection actions. Creditors cannot call you. They cannot sue you. They cannot garnish your wages. The stay lasts until your case closes or the court lifts it.

A meeting of creditors happens about 30 days after filing. This is called the 341 meeting. The trustee asks questions about your finances. Creditors can attend but often do not. In Birmingham, these meetings take place at the courthouse or a nearby location. The Bankruptcy Administrator schedules all 341 meetings.

Alabama uses a Bankruptcy Administrator system. This is different from most states. Most places have a U.S. Trustee. Alabama and North Carolina use Bankruptcy Administrators instead. They do similar work. They oversee trustees, conduct meetings, and watch for fraud.

Online Resources for Birmingham Bankruptcy

Several online tools help with bankruptcy in Birmingham. PACER is the main one for records. Other sites have forms, fee info, and legal help resources.

The Northern District court website has local rules and forms. Go to alnb.uscourts.gov to find them. The site has filing instructions specific to Birmingham. You can also find the court calendar and judge info.

CM/ECF is the electronic filing system. Attorneys must use it. Pro se filers (people without lawyers) can file on paper. The Northern District accepts paper filings at the Birmingham clerk's office. Go to ecf.alnb.uscourts.gov for electronic filing.

RECAP Archive offers free access to some bankruptcy documents. It is run by the Free Law Project. People who use PACER share documents here. Coverage varies by case. Not everything is available. But you might find what you need for free. Search at courtlistener.com/recap.

The PACER Case Locator lets you search all federal courts at once. This helps if you do not know which district a case is in. Go to pcl.uscourts.gov to search nationwide.

Birmingham Bankruptcy Fees

Filing fees are set by federal law. The court cannot change them. Other fees apply for copies, searches, and certification. Here are the main costs:

• Chapter 7 filing: $338
• Chapter 13 filing: $313
• Chapter 11 filing: $1,738
• PACER access: $0.10 per page (max $3.00 per document)
• Certified copies: $12.00 per certification
• Clerk search fee: $32.00 per name
• Audio recordings: $2.40 per file via PACER

The $30 quarterly fee waiver is a nice perk. If your PACER charges in any quarter are under $30, they waive the whole amount. This helps people who only do occasional searches.

Courthouse terminals are free to use. You only pay if you print. The fee is $0.10 per page. This is a good option if you need to view many documents but only print a few.

Legal Help for Bankruptcy in Birmingham

Many Birmingham residents hire a bankruptcy attorney. Lawyers know the forms. They know local court practices. They can help you keep more property and avoid problems.

Legal Services Alabama helps low-income people with some legal matters. They may help with bankruptcy-related issues. Call (205) 328-3540 or visit legalservicesalabama.org.

The Birmingham Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. Call (205) 251-8006. You can get a 30-minute meeting for $50 or less. They can match you with a bankruptcy attorney.

Alabama Legal Help at alabamalegalhelp.org has guides and information. The site covers bankruptcy basics. It is not a substitute for legal advice. But it can help you understand your options.

Some people file without a lawyer. This is called pro se filing. It can work for simple cases. The court cannot give you legal advice. They can only tell you about procedures. If your case is complex, consider hiring an attorney.

Jefferson County Bankruptcy Records

Birmingham is in Jefferson County. The county is the largest in Alabama by population. All bankruptcy cases for Jefferson County residents go to the Northern District court in Birmingham. For more info on how the county is served and other court details, see the Jefferson County page.

View Jefferson County Bankruptcy Records

Nearby Cities

Other major Alabama cities also have bankruptcy court access. Some share the same court office. Others use different districts. Here are nearby qualifying cities:

• Hoover - Uses the Birmingham office (about 15 miles south)
• Tuscaloosa - Has its own divisional office (about 55 miles west)
• Huntsville - Has its own divisional office (about 100 miles north)
• Decatur - Uses Huntsville office (about 80 miles north)