Autauga County Bankruptcy Records
Bankruptcy records for Autauga County are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Alabama. The Montgomery office handles all filings.
Autauga County Quick Facts
U.S. Bankruptcy Court - Middle District
Autauga County falls under the Middle District of Alabama for bankruptcy matters. This is a federal court, not a state one. All bankruptcy cases must go through the federal system. The court in Montgomery handles every filing from Autauga County residents.
The main office sits at One Church Street in Montgomery. This is the only staffed location for the whole Middle District. Walk-in hours run from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays. Phone support extends until 5:00 PM. From Prattville, the drive takes about 15 to 20 minutes south on US-31.
| Court Name | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Alabama |
|---|---|
| Address | One Church Street Montgomery, AL 36104 |
| Phone | (334) 954-3800 |
| Hours | Walk-in: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Phone: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday through Friday |
| Website | almb.uscourts.gov |
How to Search Autauga County Bankruptcy Records
You can search bankruptcy records online through PACER. This stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. It covers all federal courts. You need an account to use it, but signing up is free. Searches cost money, though.
PACER charges 10 cents per page. The fee caps at $3.00 for any single document. If you keep your quarterly total under $30, they waive the whole charge. Many people never pay a dime. The system shows case dockets, filed papers, and party names. You can search by name, case number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number.
To find bankruptcy records for someone in Autauga County, go to pacer.uscourts.gov. Make a free account first. Then pick the Middle District of Alabama from the court list. Type the name and hit search. Results show up fast.
You can also call the court at (334) 954-3800. Staff can check if a case exists. For detailed case info by phone, use the McVCIS system. Dial 1-866-222-8029. It works around the clock. You can look up cases by name or number.
Another option is the RECAP Archive. This free service stores copies of PACER documents that others have pulled. Check courtlistener.com/recap before paying for something on PACER. Someone else may have already grabbed it.
Bankruptcy Filing Fees
Filing for bankruptcy has set costs. Chapter 7 costs $338 to file. Chapter 13 costs $313. Chapter 11 runs much higher at $1,738. These fees go to the court, not lawyers.
Getting copies of records also has fees. PACER charges 10 cents per page up to $3.00 per document. Want a certified copy? That costs $12.00. If you ask the clerk to do a search for you, they charge $32.00 per name. Most people just use PACER to save money.
- 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 copy: $12.00
- Clerk search: $32.00 per name
Low-income filers can ask to pay in installments. Some may get fees waived. Talk to the clerk or a lawyer about this. The court has forms for fee waiver requests.
Types of Bankruptcy Cases
Most people in Autauga County file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. These two cover almost all personal cases. Businesses use Chapter 11 more often. Farmers can use Chapter 12.
Chapter 7 wipes out most debts. It takes about four months. You may lose some property, but Alabama has exemptions that protect a good amount. Many people keep their home and car. This chapter works best if you have low income and lots of unsecured debt like credit cards or medical bills.
Chapter 13 sets up a payment plan. You pay what you can for three to five years. At the end, remaining debts get discharged. This works well if you want to keep a house you have fallen behind on. You can catch up on the mortgage through the plan. It also stops foreclosure right away once you file.
Chapter 11 is for businesses. It lets them reorganize and keep running. The company proposes a plan to pay creditors over time. Some individuals with very high debt also use Chapter 11, but this is rare.
What Bankruptcy Records Contain
A bankruptcy case file has many documents. The petition starts it all. This form lists basic info about the debtor. Schedules come next. They show all assets, debts, income, and expenses in detail.
The Statement of Financial Affairs covers the past few years. It asks about property transfers, lawsuits, and prior addresses. Creditors use this to spot problems. The court uses it to check for fraud.
Other papers include:
- Creditor mailing list (matrix)
- Proof of income documents
- Tax returns (not public)
- Meeting of creditors notice (341 notice)
- Trustee reports
- Court orders
- Discharge order (final document)
Most of these are public under 11 U.S.C. Section 107. Tax returns stay private. The court redacts sensitive data like full Social Security numbers. You only see the last four digits in public records.
Bankruptcy Administrator Program
Alabama does things a bit different from most states. It uses a Bankruptcy Administrator instead of a U.S. Trustee. Only Alabama and North Carolina have this setup. The administrator works for the court itself, not the Department of Justice.
The Bankruptcy Administrator handles the 341 meeting of creditors. Every case has one. The debtor must show up and answer questions under oath. Creditors can come too, but most do not. The administrator runs this meeting and checks that papers are in order.
Contact the Middle District Bankruptcy Administrator at (334) 954-3850. Their office is at the same address as the court. You can find trustee information and meeting schedules at almba.uscourts.gov.
Legal Help in Autauga County
Filing bankruptcy is complex. Most people hire a lawyer. Legal Services Alabama helps low-income residents with some cases. Call them at (334) 832-4570. The Montgomery office serves Autauga County.
The Alabama State Bar has a lawyer referral service. Call (800) 392-5660 to get names of bankruptcy attorneys. Many offer free first meetings. You can also find forms and self-help info at the court website. Look under the pro se section.
Prattville has several law firms that handle bankruptcy. Shop around for fees. Chapter 7 cases usually cost $1,000 to $2,000 for legal help. Chapter 13 can run $3,000 to $5,000. These amounts come on top of the court filing fees.
Cities in Autauga County
Autauga County includes Prattville, Autaugaville, Billingsley, Booth, and Pine Level. Prattville is by far the largest city. All residents file bankruptcy through the Montgomery court.
No cities in Autauga County have populations over 50,000, so all bankruptcy matters route directly to the Middle District court in Montgomery.
Nearby Counties
Several counties border Autauga. All of these are also in the Middle District of Alabama for bankruptcy purposes. If you live near a county line, make sure you know which county you actually reside in.