Search Blount County Bankruptcy Records

Blount County bankruptcy records are maintained by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Birmingham. All bankruptcy filings from Blount County residents go through this federal court.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Blount County

Blount County is part of the Northern District of Alabama. The main courthouse is in Birmingham, roughly 35 miles from Oneonta. Federal bankruptcy courts operate under a different system than state courts. County government has no role in bankruptcy cases. Everything goes through the federal system.

The Birmingham office is the hub for the Southern Division. Five bankruptcy judges sit there. They handle Chapter 7, Chapter 13, Chapter 11, and Chapter 12 cases from Blount County and surrounding areas. Most filings are Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. The court maintains electronic records going back many years.

How to Search Blount County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the main way to search bankruptcy records. It stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. This federal system covers all bankruptcy courts in the country. You need to register for a free account at pacer.uscourts.gov. Then you can search by name, case number, or last four of the Social Security number.

There is a fee for using PACER. The cost is $0.10 per page. Each document caps at $3.00 even if it has more than 30 pages. Quarterly fees under $30 are waived. This means small searches are usually free. You can view docket sheets, filed documents, and case details.

Another option is the PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov. This searches all federal courts at once. Data updates overnight. It is useful when you do not know which court someone filed in.

To search Blount County bankruptcy records, you will need:

• Full name of the debtor (person or business)
• Last four digits of Social Security number (optional but helpful)
• Case number if known
• Approximate filing date range

The McVCIS phone system is another way to get case info. Call 1-866-222-8029 any time. It runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can check case status and meeting dates. This is free. But you cannot pull documents over the phone.

Bankruptcy Filing Fees

Filing fees are set by federal law. They are the same across Alabama. Blount County residents pay the same as everyone else. Here are the current fees for new bankruptcy petitions:

• Chapter 7 filing fee: $338
• Chapter 13 filing fee: $313
• Chapter 11 filing fee: $1,738
• Chapter 12 filing fee: $278

You can pay in installments if needed. The court allows up to four payments over 120 days. For Chapter 7, a fee waiver is possible if your household income is below 150% of the poverty guidelines. You must file an application with your petition.

Fees for records searches are different. PACER charges $0.10 per page. Certified copies cost $12.00 per document. If the clerk does a search for you, it costs $32.00 per name or item. At the courthouse, you can view records free on public terminals. Printing is $0.10 per page.

What Blount County Bankruptcy Records Show

Bankruptcy records are detailed. They give a full picture of the debtor's finances. The petition lists basic info like name, address, and Social Security number. Schedules A through J break down everything: real property, personal property, secured claims, unsecured claims, income, and expenses.

The Statement of Financial Affairs covers history. It asks about income for the past two years, property transfers, lawsuits, garnishments, and more. Creditors file proofs of claim showing what they are owed. The trustee files reports on assets and distributions. The court issues orders at each stage.

Key documents in a bankruptcy file:

• Voluntary petition with debtor info
• Schedules of assets and liabilities
• Statement of Financial Affairs
• Creditor matrix (mailing list)
• Proofs of claim
• Trustee reports and motions
• 341 meeting notice
• Discharge order

Under 11 U.S.C. Section 107, bankruptcy records are public. Anyone can view them. You do not need to be involved in the case. Privacy rules require some redactions. Social Security numbers show only the last four digits. Financial accounts are partially hidden too. Tax returns filed with the court are sealed.

The Bankruptcy Administrator

Alabama does not use the U.S. Trustee system. Instead, it has Bankruptcy Administrators. Only Alabama and North Carolina use this setup. The Bankruptcy Administrator works for the court. They appoint trustees, monitor cases, and conduct the 341 meetings.

The 341 meeting of creditors is required in every case. It happens about 30 days after filing. The debtor must attend and answer questions under oath. The trustee asks about assets, debts, and the schedules. Creditors can come, but usually they do not. For Blount County cases, these meetings are held in Birmingham.

Contact the Bankruptcy Administrator at (205) 714-4300. Their website has trustee panels and meeting calendars at www.alnba.uscourts.gov.

Free Ways to Access Records

PACER fees are low but can add up. The RECAP Archive offers free access to documents others have already downloaded. It is a crowdsourced project by the Free Law Project. Search at courtlistener.com/recap. Not every case is covered, but it is worth a try.

You can also visit the Birmingham courthouse. Public terminals there let you view records at no charge. Printing costs $0.10 per page. Bring a government ID. The clerk can also help you find older cases. Walk-in hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Records older than about 15 years may be at the National Archives. Closed case files go to the Atlanta Federal Records Center. There is a $64 fee per box to retrieve them. Call (404) 736-2820 for more info.

Legal Help for Blount County Residents

Bankruptcy law is complicated. Most people hire an attorney. If cost is a concern, there are options. Legal Services Alabama serves low-income residents. They focus on civil legal issues. Call (866) 456-4995 to ask about services. They may not take bankruptcy cases directly but can offer referrals.

The Birmingham Bar Association runs a lawyer referral program. They can match you with a bankruptcy attorney. The initial consultation is usually low cost. Call (205) 251-8006.

You can file bankruptcy without a lawyer. This is called pro se filing. Official forms are at uscourts.gov/forms/bankruptcy-forms. The Northern District has local forms too. It takes time and attention to detail. But some people do it successfully.

Bankruptcy Chapters Explained

Chapter 7 is the most common type. It is a liquidation. A trustee sells nonexempt assets to pay creditors. Then remaining debts are discharged. The whole thing takes about four months. You must pass a means test to qualify. If your income is too high, Chapter 13 may be your only option.

Chapter 13 is a repayment plan. You keep your property and pay creditors over three to five years. This is good for catching up on a mortgage or car loan. At the end, leftover unsecured debts are wiped out. You need regular income to qualify.

Chapter 11 is usually for businesses. It is a reorganization. The debtor proposes a plan to restructure debts. Individuals with very large debts sometimes use it too. The filing fee is $1,738. Chapter 12 is for family farmers and fishermen. It has special rules for seasonal income.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Blount County or are nearby. Most are in the Northern District. The same PACER system works for searching any of them.