Covington County Bankruptcy Records
Bankruptcy cases from Covington County are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Montgomery. The drive from Andalusia is about 90 miles.
Covington County Quick Facts
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Information
Covington County is in the Southern Division of the Middle District of Alabama. The main courthouse sits in Montgomery. From Andalusia, the drive north takes about an hour and a half on US-331 and I-65.
Montgomery is the only staffed location for the whole Middle District. All 23 counties in the district use this one office. The address is One Church Street in the Frank M. Johnson Jr. Federal Building. Walk-in hours run 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Phone support extends to 5:00 PM.
| 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 lets you search federal court records online. It covers every bankruptcy court in the country. You need to register. That costs nothing. Fees come when you actually search.
The charges are low. PACER costs 10 cents per page. No document runs more than $3.00. If your quarterly total stays under $30, they waive all fees. Many users pay nothing at all.
Here is how to find Covington County bankruptcy records:
- Go to pacer.uscourts.gov
- Make a free account
- Pick Middle District of Alabama
- Enter a name or case number
- View results
You can also search by the last four digits of a Social Security number. This helps when names are common. Click into any case to see all filed documents.
For free phone searches, call 1-866-222-8029. The McVCIS system runs 24/7. Enter names or numbers on your phone. It reads back case info.
Check RECAP Archive first at courtlistener.com/recap. Documents others have pulled may already be there for free.
Bankruptcy 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 its own costs. PACER is 10 cents per page up to $3.00 per document. Certified copies from the clerk cost $12.00. Having the clerk search for you is $32.00 per name.
- Chapter 7 petition: $338
- Chapter 13 petition: $313
- Chapter 11 petition: $1,738
- PACER: $0.10/page (max $3.00)
- Certified copy: $12.00
- Clerk search: $32.00
Low-income filers may pay over time or get fees waived. Check the court website for forms.
Types of Bankruptcy
Most Covington County residents file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. These handle nearly all personal cases.
Chapter 7 is quick. It wipes out debts in about four months. You may lose some property, but Alabama protects quite a bit. This works best if you have lots of credit card debt or medical bills and not much income.
Chapter 13 takes longer. You pay what you can for three to five years. Remaining debts get wiped at the end. This works if you have steady income and want to save a home from foreclosure.
Chapter 11 is for businesses. Chapter 12 is for farmers. Covington County has agricultural land, so Chapter 12 may apply to some residents.
What Bankruptcy Records Contain
Every case has many documents. The petition lists basic info about the debtor. Schedules break down assets, debts, income, and expenses. The Statement of Financial Affairs covers recent years.
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 debts.
Most of this is public under 11 U.S.C. Section 107. But personal info gets protected. You see only four digits of Social Security numbers. Birth dates show just the year. Children appear as initials.
Bankruptcy Administrator
Alabama uses Bankruptcy Administrators, not U.S. Trustees. Only Alabama and North Carolina work this way. The administrator handles oversight and runs the 341 meeting of creditors.
Every case has a 341 meeting. The debtor must appear and answer questions under oath. Creditors can attend. Most skip it. The meeting usually takes just a few minutes.
Contact the Middle District Bankruptcy Administrator at (334) 954-3850. Visit almba.uscourts.gov for trustee info and meeting schedules.
Getting Legal Help
Bankruptcy rules are strict. Most people hire lawyers. Legal Services Alabama helps low-income folks. Call (334) 832-4570 for the Montgomery office that serves Covington County.
The Alabama State Bar referral line is (800) 392-5660. They connect you with attorneys. Many offer free first meetings.
Lawyer fees for Chapter 7 typically run $1,000 to $2,000. Chapter 13 costs more. These are on top of court filing fees.
Cities in Covington County
Covington County includes Andalusia, Opp, Florala, and Red Level. Andalusia is the county seat and largest city. All bankruptcy cases go through Montgomery.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Covington. Coffee, Crenshaw, and Butler are also in the Middle District. Some neighbors are in the Southern District instead.