Find Bankruptcy Records in Cherokee County

Cherokee County bankruptcy records are maintained by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama. The Eastern Division office in Anniston serves Cherokee County residents.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Cherokee County

Cherokee County falls under the Eastern Division of the Northern District. The nearest courthouse is in Anniston, about 30 miles from Centre. This federal court handles all bankruptcy filings for Cherokee County residents. County courts have no role in bankruptcy. It is strictly federal.

The Anniston office makes things convenient for Cherokee County. You can file in person there. Hearings are held there. The 341 meetings happen there too. You do not have to go all the way to Birmingham. The main district office in Birmingham handles the administrative side.

How to Search Cherokee County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the online system for federal court records. It stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. You can search any bankruptcy case filed in the country. Registration is free at pacer.uscourts.gov. Search by name, case number, or last four of Social Security number.

PACER costs $0.10 per page. Each document maxes out at $3.00. Quarterly fees under $30 are waived. This makes casual use free. You can see full case dockets and download documents.

The PACER Case Locator is at pcl.uscourts.gov. It searches all federal courts at once. Data updates each night. It is good when you do not know where a case was filed.

To search Cherokee County bankruptcy records, bring:

• Full name of the debtor
• Last four of SSN if you have it
• Case number if known
• Filing date range

For phone searches, call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. It runs 24/7. You can check case status and meeting dates for free. But you cannot get documents this way.

Bankruptcy Filing Fees

Federal law sets filing fees. They do not change by location. Cherokee County residents pay the same as everywhere else:

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

Installment payments are available. The court allows up to four payments over 120 days. For Chapter 7, you may qualify for a fee waiver if income is below 150% of the poverty line. You must apply when you file.

For records, PACER charges $0.10 per page. Certified copies are $12.00 each. A clerk search is $32.00 per name. At the Anniston courthouse, view records free on public terminals. Printing costs $0.10 per page.

What Cherokee County Bankruptcy Records Include

Bankruptcy files are detailed. The petition starts the case. It has the debtor's name and address. Schedules A through J list every asset, every debt, all income, and all expenses. The creditor list shows everyone owed money.

The Statement of Financial Affairs looks back several years. It covers income history, property transfers, lawsuits, and garnishments. Creditors file proofs of claim. Trustees file reports and motions. The court issues orders at each stage.

Documents in a typical bankruptcy file:

• Voluntary petition
• Schedules of assets and debts
• Statement of Financial Affairs
• Creditor mailing matrix
• Proofs of claim
• Trustee reports
• 341 meeting notice
• Discharge order

All bankruptcy records are public under 11 U.S.C. Section 107. Anyone can view them. Some info is redacted. Social Security numbers show only the last four digits. Account numbers are shortened. Tax returns filed with the court stay sealed.

Bankruptcy Administrator

Alabama uses Bankruptcy Administrators. Most states have U.S. Trustees instead. Only Alabama and North Carolina are different. The Bankruptcy Administrator is part of the federal court system. They appoint trustees, oversee cases, and run the 341 meetings.

The 341 meeting of creditors is required. It happens about 30 days after you file. The trustee asks questions under oath. You must answer about your assets and debts. Creditors can attend, but few do. For Cherokee County, these meetings are in Anniston.

Contact the Bankruptcy Administrator at (205) 714-4300 in Birmingham. The website is www.alnba.uscourts.gov. It has trustee info and meeting schedules.

Free Ways to Search

PACER fees are low, but free is better. RECAP is a free archive of PACER documents. Other users paid for these documents and shared them. Search at courtlistener.com/recap. Not everything is there, but many cases are.

You can visit the Anniston courthouse. Public terminals let you view records for free. Printing is $0.10 per page. The staff can help you find what you need. Bring ID. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM weekdays.

Very old records may be at the National Archives. Closed files go to the Atlanta Federal Records Center after about 15 years. Retrieval is $64 per box. Call (404) 736-2820 for more info.

Legal Help for Cherokee County Residents

Bankruptcy is complicated. Most people hire a lawyer. If you cannot afford one, options exist. Legal Services Alabama helps low-income people. Call (866) 456-4995. They may not take bankruptcy cases, but they can refer you.

The Alabama State Bar has a lawyer referral service. Call (800) 392-5660. They can connect you with a bankruptcy attorney in your area. Initial consultations are usually affordable.

You can file pro se, meaning without a lawyer. Federal forms are at uscourts.gov/forms/bankruptcy-forms. The Northern District has local forms too. It takes time and effort. But many people do it.

Types of Bankruptcy

Chapter 7 wipes out debt. A trustee sells nonexempt property. Then remaining debts are discharged. It takes about four months. You must pass a means test based on income. If you earn too much, you cannot file Chapter 7.

Chapter 13 is a payment plan. You keep your stuff. You pay creditors over three to five years. This is good for catching up on house or car payments. Unsecured debts left over are discharged at the end.

Chapter 11 is reorganization, mostly for businesses. Individuals with huge debts sometimes use it. The fee is $1,738. Chapter 12 is for family farmers and fishermen. It has special rules for seasonal income.

Nearby Counties

These counties are close to Cherokee County. Most are in the Eastern Division. Use PACER to search records from any of them.