Find Hale County Bankruptcy Records

Hale County bankruptcy records are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Alabama. The main office is in Mobile. Hearings may take place in Selma, which is closer to the county seat of Greensboro.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Hale County

Hale County falls in the Northern Division of the Southern District of Alabama. Bankruptcy is federal law. State courts play no role. All filings from Hale County go to Mobile. However, Selma has a courthouse for hearings. Do not send mail to Selma.

The Selma courthouse is about 25 miles from Greensboro. This saves Hale County residents from driving all the way to Mobile for court dates. Mobile is 140 miles from Greensboro. The Selma location is only for hearings. All paperwork goes through Mobile.

Selma Courthouse for Hearings

The Selma courthouse at 908 Alabama Avenue handles hearings only. It does not accept mail. There is no staffed clerk window. Judges travel from Mobile for scheduled hearing days. Hale County residents may have their hearings there instead of Mobile.

Check your court notice for the hearing location. Some cases may still require a trip to Mobile. The Selma location helps reduce travel for people in Hale County and nearby areas. But all filings must go through Mobile.

To file documents, use PACER electronically or mail to Mobile. To get copies, contact Mobile. The Selma location is just a courtroom. Keep this in mind when planning for Hale County bankruptcy matters.

How to Search Hale County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the main way to search. It works online any time. Look up cases filed by Hale County residents from any computer. All documents are in the system. Create a free account at pacer.uscourts.gov.

Fees are low. PACER charges $0.10 per page. Each document caps at $3.00. Quarterly charges under $30 are waived. Quick searches are often free for Hale County bankruptcy records.

You can search by name, case number, or SSN last four digits. The PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov covers all federal courts at once. Good when you are not sure which district a case is in.

Phone access is free. Call 1-866-222-8029 for McVCIS. Available 24/7. Get basic info like dates and status. No documents, but helpful for quick checks on Hale County bankruptcy records.

In-person access requires going to Mobile. The Selma courthouse does not have clerk services. Mobile is 140 miles from Greensboro. The office is open 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM weekdays. Use the public terminal for free. Printing costs $0.10 per page. Certified copies cost $12.00.

Electronic Self-Representation System

The Southern District offers eSR. This tool helps people file bankruptcy without a lawyer. Answer questions and the system creates forms. This is unique to the Southern District. Most federal courts do not have it.

eSR is free to use. Filing fees still apply. Chapter 7 costs $338. Chapter 13 costs $313. Low-income filers can request waivers. The system does not provide legal advice. Hale County residents can access it at alsb.uscourts.gov.

Self-filing works for simple cases. Complex situations need a lawyer. The eSR handles paperwork only. It cannot advise you on strategy or exemptions.

What Hale County Bankruptcy Records Show

Bankruptcy files have many documents. The petition starts the case. It names the debtor and chapter. Schedules list all assets and debts. The Statement of Financial Affairs covers financial history. Every creditor gets listed.

Court orders accumulate. The automatic stay stops collections. The discharge ends the case for debts. Some cases have motions, objections, and hearings. Trustee reports track assets. Proofs of claim show what creditors want.

Hale County bankruptcy records typically include:

• Debtor name and address
• Chapter of bankruptcy (7, 11, 12, or 13)
• Filing date
• All assets with values
• All debts with creditors
• Income and expenses
• Discharge date if closed

Some info is redacted. SSN shows only last four digits. Account numbers the same. Birth dates show year only. Minor children use initials. Tax returns are sealed. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9037 requires these protections.

Fees for Hale County Bankruptcy Records

PACER fees are standard. Pay $0.10 per page. Cap at $3.00 per document. Audio costs $2.40. Quarterly totals under $30 are waived. Small searches often cost nothing for Hale County bankruptcy records.

Clerk office services have set fees:

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

Old records may be at the National Archives. Cases over 15 years sometimes transfer there. Retrieval costs $64.00 per box. The Atlanta center holds Alabama files. Call (404) 736-2820 for old Hale County bankruptcy records.

Bankruptcy Administrator for Hale County

Alabama uses Bankruptcy Administrators. Most states have U.S. Trustees from the DOJ. Alabama does it differently. The BA is a court employee who oversees cases. Only Alabama and North Carolina have this system.

Every case has a 341 meeting. Creditors can question the debtor. The trustee runs it. For Hale County, meetings may be in Mobile or Selma. Check alsba.uscourts.gov for schedules. Call (251) 441-5577.

The BA does not give legal advice. They explain procedures and share trustee info. Their website has forms and meeting dates. Access is free for Hale County cases.

Legal Framework for Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records are public. 11 U.S.C. § 107 opens them to all. No reason needed. No party status required. Hale County bankruptcy records are available to anyone.

Sealing is uncommon. Trade secrets may be protected. Confidential business data can qualify. A party must ask the court. The judge decides. Most cases remain public.

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

Free Ways to Search Records

RECAP archives PACER documents for free use. Search at courtlistener.com/recap. Coverage varies by what users shared. Some Hale County cases may be available.

McVCIS phone service is free. Call 1-866-222-8029 any time. Get basic case info. No documents, but good for quick lookups.

The courthouse terminal costs nothing to view. Only printing has fees. Staff can help. Good for reviewing many files without PACER costs for Hale County bankruptcy records.

Cities in Hale County

Hale County is rural with small communities. Greensboro is the county seat. Other places include Moundville, Newbern, and Akron. All residents file bankruptcy in Mobile. Hearings may be held in Selma.

The Selma courthouse is about 25 miles from Greensboro. Mobile is much farther at 140 miles. Online access through PACER is often the most practical option for Hale County residents.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Hale County. Several are also in the Selma Division for hearings. Check which county you are in before filing.