Houston County Bankruptcy Records
Bankruptcy records for Houston County are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Montgomery. Dothan has a local courthouse that hosts hearings, but all filings go to Montgomery.
Houston County Quick Facts
Bankruptcy Court Locations
Houston County is in the Southern Division of the Middle District of Alabama. This is the most populous county in the division. Dothan, with over 70,000 people, is the largest city in southeast Alabama.
Good news for local residents: Dothan has a federal courthouse at 100 W. Troy Street. Bad news: it handles hearings only. You cannot file papers there. You cannot talk to a clerk there. They do not accept mail. All filings must go to Montgomery, about 100 miles away.
| Main Office (All Filings) |
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 tool for searching federal court records. It covers all bankruptcy courts across the country. Registration costs nothing. Fees only kick in when you search.
PACER charges 10 cents per page. Documents cap at $3.00 each. If your quarterly total stays under $30, the fees get waived entirely. Many people search for free.
To find Houston County bankruptcies:
- Go to pacer.uscourts.gov
- Create a free account
- Select Middle District of Alabama
- Enter name, case number, or last 4 of SSN
- Browse results and documents
You can also search by phone. Call 1-866-222-8029 any time. McVCIS runs 24/7. It is free to use. Enter names or case numbers on your keypad.
Check RECAP Archive first at courtlistener.com/recap. Documents others have pulled from PACER appear there for free.
Filing Fees and Costs
Federal law sets bankruptcy filing fees. They are the same everywhere. Chapter 7 costs $338. Chapter 13 costs $313. Chapter 11 runs $1,738.
Getting copies costs extra. PACER is 10 cents per page up to $3.00. Certified copies from the clerk run $12.00. Having the clerk search for you costs $32.00 per name.
- Chapter 7 filing: $338
- Chapter 13 filing: $313
- Chapter 11 filing: $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. Ask the court about forms for this.
Types of Bankruptcy
Most Houston County residents file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. These handle nearly all personal cases.
Chapter 7 is fast. It wipes out most debts in about four months. You may lose some property, but Alabama exemptions protect a fair amount. This works best for people with high credit card debt, medical bills, or other unsecured debt and limited income.
Chapter 13 is a payment plan. You make payments for three to five years from your wages. Remaining debts get discharged at the end. This helps if you have steady income and want to save a house from foreclosure. You can catch up on late payments through the plan.
Chapter 11 is for businesses. Dothan has many businesses that might use this. Chapter 12 is for farmers. Houston County has agricultural land in the rural areas.
What Bankruptcy Records Contain
Each case creates many documents. The petition lists basic debtor info. Schedules break down all assets, debts, income, and expenses. The Statement of Financial Affairs covers recent years.
As the case goes on, more papers get filed. Creditors submit 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 though. You see only four digits of Social Security numbers. Birth dates show the year only.
Bankruptcy Administrator
Alabama uses Bankruptcy Administrators instead of U.S. Trustees. Only Alabama and North Carolina do this. The administrator runs the 341 meeting of creditors. Every case has one.
The 341 meeting may happen in Dothan for Houston County cases. The debtor must attend and answer questions under oath. Creditors can come, but most skip it.
Contact the administrator at (334) 954-3850. Visit almba.uscourts.gov for trustee info and meeting times.
Finding Legal Help
Most people hire lawyers for bankruptcy. Legal Services Alabama has a Dothan office at (334) 793-6555. They help low-income residents with some cases.
The Alabama State Bar referral line is (800) 392-5660. They connect you with bankruptcy attorneys. Many offer free first meetings. Use these to compare prices.
Dothan has several law firms that handle bankruptcy. Lawyer fees for Chapter 7 run $1,000 to $2,000. Chapter 13 costs more, often $3,000 to $5,000. These are on top of court fees.
Cities in Houston County
Houston County includes Dothan, Ashford, Cowarts, and Taylor. Dothan is the county seat and by far the largest city. All bankruptcy cases go through Montgomery. Hearings happen at the Dothan courthouse.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Houston. All are in the Middle District. Many residents from these counties attend hearings in Dothan.