Dale County Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records for Dale County are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Montgomery. The Dothan courthouse hosts some hearings, which is closer for many residents.

Bankruptcy Court Locations

Dale County is in the Southern Division of the Middle District of Alabama. The main office sits in Montgomery. From Ozark, the drive northwest takes about an hour and a half.

Dothan has a courthouse nearby at 100 W. Troy Street. This is much closer for Dale County residents, only about 20 miles from Ozark. But know this: Dothan handles hearings only. No mail. No walk-in filing. All papers must go to Montgomery.

How to Search Bankruptcy Records

PACER lets you search federal court records online. It covers every bankruptcy court. Signing up is free. You pay only when you search.

The fees are low. 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 pay nothing.

To find Dale County bankruptcy records:

• Go to pacer.uscourts.gov
• Make a free account
• Pick Middle District of Alabama
• Enter name, case number, or last 4 of SSN
• View results

For free phone searches, call 1-866-222-8029. McVCIS works 24/7. Enter names or numbers on your keypad. The system reads back case info.

Check RECAP Archive first at courtlistener.com/recap. Documents others pulled may already be free.

Filing Fees

Federal law sets fees. They are the same everywhere. Chapter 7 costs $338. Chapter 13 costs $313. Chapter 11 runs $1,738.

Copies have their own costs. PACER is 10 cents per page up to $3.00. Certified copies are $12.00. Clerk searches cost $32.00 per name.

• Chapter 7: $338
• Chapter 13: $313
• Chapter 11: $1,738
• PACER: $0.10/page (max $3.00)
• Certified copy: $12.00
• Clerk search: $32.00

Some filers can pay over time. Low-income people may get fees waived.

Types of Bankruptcy

Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cover most personal cases. They work very differently.

Chapter 7 is quick. It wipes out debts in about four months. You may lose some property, but Alabama exemptions protect quite a bit. This works best for people with lots of unsecured debt and limited income.

Chapter 13 takes three to five years. You make payments from your wages. Remaining debts get wiped at the end. This helps if you have steady income and want to keep a home from foreclosure.

Chapter 11 is for businesses. Chapter 12 is for farmers. Dale County has Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker), so some military-connected businesses may use Chapter 11.

What Records Contain

Each case has many documents. The petition lists basic debtor info. Schedules show assets, debts, income, and expenses. The Statement of Financial Affairs covers recent years.

Creditors file claims. The trustee writes reports. The judge issues orders. A discharge order at the end wipes out debts.

Most records are public under 11 U.S.C. Section 107. Personal data gets protected. You see only four digits of Social Security numbers.

Bankruptcy Administrator

Alabama uses Bankruptcy Administrators. Only Alabama and North Carolina do this. The administrator runs the 341 meeting of creditors. Every case has one. The debtor must attend and answer questions under oath.

Contact the administrator at (334) 954-3850. Visit almba.uscourts.gov for trustee info and meeting times.

Getting Legal Help

Most people hire lawyers for bankruptcy. Legal Services Alabama at (334) 793-6555 in Dothan serves Dale County. The Alabama State Bar referral line is (800) 392-5660.

Lawyer fees for Chapter 7 run $1,000 to $2,000. Chapter 13 costs more. These are on top of court fees.

Cities in Dale County

Dale County includes Ozark, Daleville, Level Plains, Midland City, and Newton. Ozark is the county seat. All bankruptcy cases go through Montgomery. Hearings may be in Dothan.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Dale. Houston County has the Dothan hearing location. All are in the Middle District.