Find Bankruptcy Records in Clarke County

Clarke County bankruptcy records are filed at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Alabama. The court is in Mobile, about 65 miles from the county seat of Grove Hill.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Clarke County

Clarke County falls under the Southern District of Alabama. All bankruptcy filings go to Mobile. State courts have no role in bankruptcy. It is all federal. The Southern District serves 13 counties in southwest Alabama.

Two bankruptcy judges sit in Mobile. They handle all cases for the district. Clarke County sees mostly consumer filings. Chapter 7 liquidation and Chapter 13 wage earner plans are common. Business Chapter 11 cases are rare here. The court uses electronic filing through CM/ECF.

How to Search Clarke County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the main search tool. You can use it from any computer with internet. Search for cases filed by Clarke County residents any time of day. All documents are in the system. Go to pacer.uscourts.gov to create a free account.

Fees are low. PACER charges $0.10 per page you view. The most you pay for one document is $3.00. If your quarterly total stays under $30, you owe nothing. Small searches are often free for Clarke County bankruptcy records.

Search by name, case number, or SSN last four. The PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov covers all federal courts at once. Helpful when you do not know which district has a case.

Free phone access exists. Call 1-866-222-8029 for McVCIS. It runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get basic case info like dates and status. No full documents. Good for quick lookups on Clarke County bankruptcy records.

In-person access works too. Go to Mobile during office hours. The clerk office is open 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM weekdays. The public terminal lets you view cases free. Printing is $0.10 per page. Certified copies cost $12.00 for the stamp. Bring payment since no free parking is nearby.

Filing Without a Lawyer

The Southern District has an eSR system. It stands for Electronic Self-Representation. This tool helps people file bankruptcy on their own. You answer questions and it fills out forms. Few federal courts offer this.

eSR costs nothing to use. Filing fees still apply. Chapter 7 is $338. Chapter 13 is $313. Low-income filers can ask for a waiver. The system does not give legal advice. It just handles paperwork for Clarke County residents.

Find eSR at alsb.uscourts.gov. Create an account and follow the steps. The site has guides to help. Consider consulting a lawyer for complex cases even if you use eSR.

What Clarke County Bankruptcy Records Show

A bankruptcy case file contains many documents. The petition kicks things off. It has the debtor's name and the chapter filed. Schedules list every asset and debt. The Statement of Financial Affairs covers the past few years of money matters.

Court orders build up over time. The automatic stay stops creditors. The discharge ends the case for most debts. Some cases have motions, objections, and hearings. Trustee reports explain what happened to property. Creditor claims list who wants payment.

Clarke County bankruptcy records typically include:

• Debtor full name and address
• Chapter type (7, 11, 12, or 13)
• Date case was filed
• Assets and what they are worth
• Debts and creditor names
• Monthly income and expenses
• Discharge date if case finished

Some info is hidden. SSN shows only last four digits. Bank accounts show last four too. Birth dates show year only. Kids names are initials. Tax returns are sealed. These rules protect privacy under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9037.

Fees for Clarke County Bankruptcy Records

PACER has simple fees. Pay $0.10 per page. Max $3.00 per document. Audio files cost $2.40 each. Quarterly charges under $30 get waived. Most casual users pay nothing for Clarke County bankruptcy records.

Clerk office fees run higher:

• Certified copy: $12.00
• Exemplification: $25.00
• Clerk search: $32.00 per name
• Printing: $0.10 per page

Old records may be stored off-site. Cases over 15 years sometimes go to the National Archives. Retrieval costs $64.00 per box. The Atlanta Federal Records Center handles Alabama. Call (404) 736-2820 about old Clarke County bankruptcy records.

Bankruptcy Administrator for Clarke County

Alabama uses Bankruptcy Administrators. Most states have U.S. Trustees from the Justice Department. Alabama is different. The BA is a court employee who oversees cases. Only Alabama and North Carolina do it this way.

The 341 meeting happens in every case. Creditors can question the debtor. The trustee runs it. For Clarke County, meetings are in Mobile. The BA website has dates and trustee info. Go to alsba.uscourts.gov or call (251) 441-5577.

The BA does not give legal advice. They can explain procedures. Their site lists trustees and forms. Access is free. No PACER account needed.

Legal Framework for Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records are public by statute. 11 U.S.C. § 107 makes court papers open to examination. Anyone can look. No reason required. Clarke County bankruptcy records are available to all.

Sealing is rare. Trade secrets might qualify. Confidential business data can be protected on request. A party must file a motion. The judge rules. Most cases stay fully public.

All bankruptcy law is at 11 U.S.C. § 101-1532. It is federal. Alabama state law affects only exemptions. The rest applies nationwide.

Free Ways to Access Records

RECAP archives PACER documents. Search free at courtlistener.com/recap. Coverage depends on what users have shared. Some Clarke County cases may be there.

McVCIS phone service is free. Call 1-866-222-8029 around the clock. Hear basic case info. No documents, but helpful for quick lookups.

The courthouse terminal costs nothing to view. Only printing has a fee. Staff can assist. Good for looking at many files without PACER charges for Clarke County bankruptcy records.

Cities in Clarke County

Clarke County has several small towns. Grove Hill is the county seat. Other places include Jackson, Thomasville, Coffeeville, and Fulton. All residents file bankruptcy in Mobile. No local court handles these cases.

The drive from Grove Hill to Mobile is about an hour. Plan for the trip if you need to visit the clerk office. PACER makes online access easier for most Clarke County residents.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Clarke County. Verify which county you live in before filing bankruptcy.