Coffee County Bankruptcy Records
Bankruptcy records for Coffee County are filed through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Montgomery. Some hearings take place in Dothan, which is closer for many residents.
Coffee County Quick Facts
Bankruptcy Court Locations
Coffee County is in the Southern Division of the Middle District of Alabama. The main court is in Montgomery. That is a long haul from Elba, about 90 miles north. Enterprise residents have a similar distance.
The good news is Dothan holds some hearings. The Dothan courthouse is at 100 W. Troy Street. This is much closer for Coffee County folks, only about 30 miles from Enterprise or 40 from Elba. But be aware: Dothan is hearings only. They do not accept mail. You cannot file papers there. All filings go to Montgomery.
| Main Office |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court One Church Street Montgomery, AL 36104 Phone: (334) 954-3800 |
|---|---|
| Dothan (Hearings Only) |
100 W. Troy Street Dothan, AL 36303 No mail accepted. No walk-in services. |
| Montgomery Hours | Walk-in: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Phone: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Website | almb.uscourts.gov |
How to Search Bankruptcy Records
PACER is the fastest way to search. This federal system covers all bankruptcy courts. You need to register, but it costs nothing. Fees only kick in when you search.
PACER charges 10 cents per page. No document costs more than $3.00. Keep your quarterly total under $30 and they waive everything. Most people searching a few names pay nothing.
To search Coffee County bankruptcies:
- Go to pacer.uscourts.gov
- Set up your free account
- Select Middle District of Alabama
- Enter a name or case number
- View results and documents
You can search by Social Security number too. Just the last four digits. This helps when names are common. The system shows case numbers, filing dates, and parties. Click into any case to see everything filed.
Free phone searches work at 1-866-222-8029. McVCIS runs around the clock. Enter names or numbers on your phone keypad. It speaks back basic case info.
Check RECAP Archive first at courtlistener.com/recap. Documents others have pulled from PACER show up here for free.
Bankruptcy Filing Fees
Filing fees come from federal law. They are the same everywhere. Chapter 7 costs $338. Chapter 13 costs $313. Chapter 11 runs $1,738.
Getting copies has separate costs. PACER is 10 cents per page up to $3.00 per document. Certified copies from the clerk run $12.00. A clerk search costs $32.00 per name.
- Chapter 7 petition: $338
- Chapter 13 petition: $313
- Chapter 11 petition: $1,738
- PACER access: $0.10/page, max $3.00
- Certified copy: $12.00
- Clerk search: $32.00 per name
Low-income filers may pay over time or get fees waived. The court has forms for this.
Types of Bankruptcy Cases
Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cover most personal cases. They work very differently.
Chapter 7 is fast. It wipes out most debts in about four months. You may give up some property. Alabama protects quite a bit though. This works best if you have high unsecured debt like credit cards and medical bills, plus limited income.
Chapter 13 takes three to five years. You make regular payments. Whatever is left at the end gets discharged. This is good if you have steady income and want to save a house from foreclosure. You can catch up on missed payments through the plan.
Chapter 11 is for businesses. Chapter 12 is for farmers. Coffee County has some agricultural operations, so Chapter 12 may apply to some residents.
What Bankruptcy Records Include
Each case has many documents. The petition lists basic info about the debtor. Schedules show all assets, debts, income, and expenses. The Statement of Financial Affairs covers recent years.
More papers pile up as the case goes on. Creditors submit claims. The trustee files reports. The judge issues orders. A discharge order ends things by wiping out debts.
Most of this is public under 11 U.S.C. Section 107. But personal data gets protected. You only see four digits of Social Security numbers and bank accounts. Birth dates show just the year. Children are listed by initials.
Bankruptcy Administrator
Alabama handles oversight differently than most states. Instead of U.S. Trustees, Alabama and North Carolina use Bankruptcy Administrators. They work for the court.
The administrator runs the 341 meeting of creditors. Every case has one. The debtor must appear and answer questions under oath. This happens about a month after filing. Most meetings take just a few minutes.
Contact the Middle District Bankruptcy Administrator at (334) 954-3850. Visit almba.uscourts.gov for meeting schedules and trustee info.
Getting Legal Help
Bankruptcy has lots of rules. Most people hire attorneys. Legal Services Alabama helps low-income folks. The Dothan office at (334) 793-6555 serves Coffee County.
The Alabama State Bar has a referral line at (800) 392-5660. They can point you to bankruptcy lawyers. Many offer free first meetings. Use these to compare prices and approaches.
Attorney fees for Chapter 7 typically run $1,000 to $2,000. Chapter 13 costs more, often $3,000 to $5,000. These are on top of court filing fees.
Cities in Coffee County
Coffee County includes Elba, Enterprise, and New Brockton. Enterprise is the largest city, known for the Boll Weevil Monument. Elba is the county seat. All bankruptcy cases go to Montgomery. Hearings may be held in Dothan.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Coffee. Dale, Geneva, and Covington are also in the Middle District. Houston County has the Dothan hearing location.