Search Chilton County Bankruptcy Records
Bankruptcy cases for Chilton County go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Montgomery. The court is about 50 miles south of Clanton.
Chilton County Quick Facts
Middle District Bankruptcy Court
Chilton County is in the Northern Division of the Middle District. All bankruptcy matters go through Montgomery. There is no closer courthouse for Chilton County residents. The drive from Clanton takes about an hour down I-65.
The court sits at One Church Street in downtown Montgomery. Walk-in hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Phone support runs until 5:00 PM. This is the only staffed location for the entire Middle District. All 23 counties in the district use this one office.
| 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 Bankruptcy Records
PACER is the main way to search. It covers all federal courts including bankruptcy. You need an account. Signing up costs nothing. You only pay when you actually search.
The fees are low. PACER charges 10 cents per page. Any single document caps at $3.00. If your quarterly total stays under $30, they waive everything. Many people search for free this way.
Here is how to find Chilton County bankruptcy records:
- Visit pacer.uscourts.gov
- Make a free account
- Pick Middle District of Alabama
- Type in a name or case number
- Look at results
You can also search by the last four digits of a Social Security number. This helps when names are common. Results show case numbers, dates, and who is involved. Click into a case to see all the documents.
The phone option is free. Call 1-866-222-8029 any time. McVCIS runs 24/7. Enter names or numbers on your keypad. The system speaks back basic case info.
RECAP Archive offers another free way to search. Go to courtlistener.com/recap and look for what you need. If someone else already pulled the document from PACER, you can get it for free here.
Filing Fees and Costs
Federal law sets filing fees. They are the same in every county. Chapter 7 costs $338. Chapter 13 costs $313. Chapter 11 runs $1,738. These go to the court when you file.
Getting copies costs extra. PACER charges 10 cents per page with a $3.00 cap per document. Certified copies from the clerk are $12.00. Having staff do a name search costs $32.00.
- Chapter 7 filing: $338
- Chapter 13 filing: $313
- Chapter 11 filing: $1,738
- PACER page: $0.10 (max $3.00)
- Certified copy: $12.00
- Clerk search: $32.00 per name
Some people can pay fees in installments. Very low-income filers may get them waived entirely. Forms for this are on the court website.
Types of Bankruptcy
Most Chilton County residents file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. These cover nearly all personal cases. Each works in its own way.
Chapter 7 is the quick one. It wipes out most debts in about four months. You might lose some property, but Alabama has exemptions that protect a lot. This chapter fits best if you have high debt, low income, and mainly credit cards or medical bills.
Chapter 13 is the payment plan. You pay what you can for three to five years. At the end, leftover debts go away. This works well if you have steady income and want to keep a home that is behind on payments. Filing stops foreclosure right away.
Chapter 11 is for businesses. It lets them keep running while they reorganize. Chapter 12 is for farmers. Chilton County has some farms, so this may apply to some local residents.
What Bankruptcy Records Contain
Every case has lots of documents. The petition starts things off with basic debtor info. Schedules break down assets, debts, income, and expenses. These forms paint a full financial picture.
The Statement of Financial Affairs looks at recent years. Did the debtor transfer any property? Are there pending lawsuits? Has the debtor filed bankruptcy before? All this goes in the statement.
More papers come as the case goes on. Creditors file claims. The trustee writes reports. The judge issues orders. A discharge order at the end wipes out the debts.
Federal law at 11 U.S.C. Section 107 makes most of this public. Sensitive data gets protected. You only see four digits of Social Security numbers. Birth dates show the year only. Kids' names are initials.
Bankruptcy Administrator
Alabama does things differently. Most states have U.S. Trustees from the Justice Department. Alabama and North Carolina use Bankruptcy Administrators instead. They work for the court.
The administrator handles the 341 meeting of creditors. Every case has one. The debtor shows up and answers questions under oath. Creditors can come too, but most skip it. The meeting usually takes just a few minutes.
Contact the Middle District Bankruptcy Administrator at (334) 954-3850. Their site at almba.uscourts.gov has trustee info and meeting schedules.
Finding Legal Help
Most people hire lawyers. Bankruptcy has strict rules. Mistakes hurt. Legal Services Alabama helps low-income folks. Call the Montgomery office at (334) 832-4570. They serve Chilton County.
The Alabama State Bar referral line is (800) 392-5660. They can give you names of bankruptcy attorneys. Many offer free first visits. Use these to compare prices.
Lawyer fees for Chapter 7 usually run $1,000 to $2,000. Chapter 13 costs more, often $3,000 to $5,000. These are on top of court fees. Get quotes from several lawyers.
Cities in Chilton County
Chilton County includes Clanton, Jemison, Thorsby, and Maplesville. Clanton is the county seat and largest city. The county is known for its peaches. All bankruptcy cases go to Montgomery.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Chilton. Autauga and Elmore are also in the Middle District. Some neighbors to the north are in the Northern District instead.