Geneva County Bankruptcy Records
Bankruptcy cases from Geneva County go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Montgomery. Dothan holds some hearings, which is closer for many local residents.
Geneva County Quick Facts
Bankruptcy Court Locations
Geneva County is in the Southern Division of the Middle District of Alabama. The main court sits in Montgomery. That is about 100 miles from the city of Geneva. A long drive.
Good news: Dothan hosts some hearings. That is only about 30 miles from Geneva. But Dothan handles hearings only. No mail. No walk-in services. All filings must 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 lets you search federal court records online. It covers every bankruptcy court. Registration is free. You pay only when you search.
PACER charges 10 cents per page. Documents cap at $3.00 each. If your quarterly total stays under $30, fees get waived. Many people pay nothing.
To find Geneva County bankruptcies:
- Visit pacer.uscourts.gov
- Create a free account
- Select Middle District of Alabama
- Enter name, case number, or last 4 of SSN
- View results
Free phone searches work at 1-866-222-8029. McVCIS runs 24/7. Check RECAP Archive first at courtlistener.com/recap for free documents.
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
Low-income filers may pay over time or get fees waived.
Types of Bankruptcy
Most people file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Chapter 7 is quick. It wipes out debts in about four months. Chapter 13 takes three to five years with payments.
Chapter 7 works best for people with high debt and low income. Chapter 13 works if you have steady income and want to save a house from foreclosure.
Chapter 11 is for businesses. Chapter 12 is for farmers. Geneva County has agricultural land, so Chapter 12 may apply to some residents.
What Records Show
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 history.
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 instead of U.S. Trustees. The administrator runs the 341 meeting of creditors. Every case has one.
Contact the administrator at (334) 954-3850. Visit almba.uscourts.gov for trustee info and meeting times.
Finding Legal Help
Legal Services Alabama at (334) 793-6555 in Dothan serves Geneva 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.
Cities in Geneva County
Geneva County includes Geneva, Hartford, Samson, and Slocomb. Geneva is the county seat. All bankruptcy cases go through Montgomery. Hearings may be in Dothan.
These counties border Geneva. Houston has the Dothan hearing location. Coffee and Dale are also in the Middle District.