Dothan Bankruptcy Records

Dothan bankruptcy records are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Alabama. Dothan has a courthouse for hearings, but Montgomery handles all filings.

Where to File Bankruptcy from Dothan

Dothan is in the Middle District of Alabama. This district covers 23 counties in central and eastern Alabama. Montgomery is the only staffed office. All bankruptcy filings must go there.

Dothan has a federal courthouse. It is used for hearings only. You cannot file there. You cannot pick up documents there. The office does not accept mail. All paperwork goes to Montgomery.

Montgomery is about 100 miles from Dothan. The drive takes roughly 90 minutes. If you need to file in person, plan for the trip. Many Dothan attorneys file electronically to avoid the drive.

Important: Do not mail anything to the Dothan courthouse. It will not be processed. Send all mail to the Montgomery address.

How to Search Dothan Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records are public. You can access them online through PACER. You do not need to travel to Montgomery or Dothan.

PACER is the federal court records system. Register free at pacer.uscourts.gov. Searches cost $0.10 per page. Documents cap at $3.00. Quarterly charges under $30 are waived.

What you need for a search:

• Debtor name
• Case number (if known)
• Last four of Social Security number
• Filing date range

McVCIS offers free phone access. Call 1-866-222-8029 any time. The system gives basic case info. No account needed.

To view records in person, visit the Montgomery courthouse. Public terminals are free. Printing costs $0.10 per page.

Bankruptcy in the Wiregrass Region

Dothan is the main city in southeast Alabama. People call this area the Wiregrass. Agriculture drives much of the economy. Peanut farming is big here. So are healthcare and retail.

Farm bankruptcies happen. Chapter 12 is designed for family farmers. It has lower fees and special rules. Dothan area farmers may qualify for this option.

Most individual filers use Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Chapter 7 is faster. Chapter 13 lets you keep property while paying over time. The right choice depends on your income and assets.

Types of Bankruptcy for Dothan Residents

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

Chapter 13 sets up a payment plan. You pay back some debts over 3 to 5 years. You keep your house and car. It costs $313 to file. This works well for people with regular income.

Chapter 12 is for family farmers and fishermen. It costs $275 to file. The rules are more flexible than Chapter 13. Dothan area farmers should ask an attorney if they qualify.

Chapter 11 reorganizes businesses. It costs $1,738. The process is complex. Most individual Dothan residents use Chapter 7 or 13 instead.

Under 11 U.S.C. Section 107, bankruptcy records are public. Personal identifiers get redacted. Anyone can view the basic case information.

Filing Bankruptcy from Dothan

Credit counseling comes first. Take an approved course before you file. Keep the certificate. It goes with your petition.

Complete the schedules. List all assets and debts. Report income and expenses. Fill out the statement of financial affairs. These forms show the court your finances.

File at the Montgomery clerk's office. Mail works. So does electronic filing through an attorney. Do not send anything to Dothan. Pay the fee or ask for installments.

The automatic stay begins when you file. Creditors must stop all collection. No more calls or lawsuits. This protection lasts until the case ends.

The 341 meeting happens about a month later. Dothan residents often attend in Dothan. The courthouse at 100 W. Troy Street hosts these meetings. A trustee asks questions. Creditors can come. Most don't.

Complete the debtor education course before discharge. File the certificate with the Montgomery court. Then wait for your discharge order.

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

Online Resources for Dothan Bankruptcy

The Middle District website at almb.uscourts.gov has forms and local rules. Check for Dothan-specific 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 without an account. It is on the court website.

RECAP Archive at courtlistener.com/recap has free documents. Coverage varies. Check before paying for PACER.

PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov searches nationwide. Use it if you need to find cases in other courts.

Dothan Bankruptcy Fees

Filing fees are set by federal law:

• Chapter 7: $338
• Chapter 13: $313
• Chapter 12: $275
• 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 Dothan

Many Dothan residents work with local bankruptcy attorneys. Lawyers can file electronically from Dothan. You may not need to visit Montgomery yourself.

Legal Services Alabama helps low-income people. Call (334) 793-4673 for the Dothan office. Or use (866) 456-4995 statewide. Visit legalservicesalabama.org.

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

Alabama Legal Help at alabamalegalhelp.org has educational materials. It explains how bankruptcy works.

Filing without a lawyer is possible. Simple cases may go smoothly. But the distance to Montgomery makes having a local attorney convenient. They handle the filing for you.

Houston County Bankruptcy Records

Dothan is the county seat of Houston County. All bankruptcy cases for the county go through the Middle District. Hearings may be in Dothan. All filings go to Montgomery. See the county page for more details.

View Houston County Bankruptcy Records

Nearby Cities

Other major Alabama cities include:

• Montgomery - Middle District headquarters (about 100 miles northwest)
• Auburn - Also Middle District (about 90 miles north)
• Mobile - Southern District headquarters (about 150 miles west)