Jefferson County Bankruptcy Records
Jefferson County bankruptcy records are filed at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama. The Southern Division headquarters in Birmingham serves Jefferson County, making this the main federal bankruptcy court location for all of north Alabama.
Jefferson County Quick Facts
U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Birmingham
Jefferson County is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama. The Robert S. Vance Federal Building houses both the clerk's office and the courtrooms. This is the main location. All four judges of the Northern District are based here. Most hearings happen in Birmingham.
Jefferson County is the most populous county in Alabama. It generates more bankruptcy filings than any other county in the state. Birmingham is the largest city. The Birmingham metro area includes parts of Shelby and St. Clair counties as well, but those have different court assignments. Jefferson County cases go to the Southern Division right here in Birmingham.
The court handles all bankruptcy chapter types. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are most common for individuals. Chapter 11 is for businesses. Chapter 12 is for farmers and fishermen. The Birmingham courthouse processes thousands of cases each year from Jefferson County alone.
| Court Name | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Alabama |
|---|---|
| Division | Southern Division (Birmingham) - Headquarters |
| Address |
Robert S. Vance Federal Building 1800 Fifth Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203 |
| Phone | (205) 714-4000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Website | www.alnb.uscourts.gov |
How to Search Jefferson County Bankruptcy Records
PACER is the primary way to search. Go to pacer.uscourts.gov and register for free. Once you have a login, you can search by debtor name, case number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. PACER shows the docket and all filed documents.
PACER charges $0.10 per page. The cap is $3.00 per document. If your quarterly usage stays under $30, the fee is waived. This makes PACER free for most casual users who only look up a few cases.
The PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov searches all federal courts at once. This helps if you do not know where a case was filed. It covers bankruptcy, district, and appellate courts nationwide.
For phone access, call McVCIS at 1-866-222-8029. This is free and runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can check case status and get meeting dates by phone.
You can also go to the Birmingham courthouse in person. Public terminals in the clerk's office let you view records at no charge. Staff can help you find what you need.
Bankruptcy Filing Fees
Federal filing fees are the same in all courts. These are set by law.
- Chapter 7: $338
- Chapter 13: $313
- Chapter 11: $1,738
- Chapter 12: $278
The court allows payment in installments. You must file a motion and get approval. Fee waivers exist for Chapter 7 filers who meet income limits. The court has forms for both options.
Record access fees are separate. PACER is $0.10 per page with a $3.00 cap per document. Certified copies from the clerk cost $12.00. A clerk-conducted search costs $32.00. Viewing at the courthouse is free.
What Jefferson County Bankruptcy Records Include
A bankruptcy file has many parts. The main documents include the voluntary petition, schedules of assets and liabilities, Statement of Financial Affairs, creditor matrix, proofs of claim from creditors, trustee reports, and the discharge order if one was granted.
Schedules list all property, debts, income, and expenses. The Statement of Financial Affairs shows financial history. The creditor matrix is a list of everyone owed money. Proofs of claim are filed by creditors who want to get paid. The trustee files reports on the case progress. The discharge order ends the case for most debtors.
Bankruptcy records are public under 11 U.S.C. Section 107. Anyone can look them up. Some items are protected. Social Security numbers show only the last four digits. Tax returns are sealed and require a court order to view.
The Bankruptcy Administrator
Alabama is one of two states that uses a Bankruptcy Administrator instead of a U.S. Trustee. North Carolina is the other. The Bankruptcy Administrator appoints case trustees, runs the 341 meeting of creditors, and monitors cases for fraud or abuse.
For Jefferson County, the Bankruptcy Administrator office is in Birmingham. The 341 meetings take place at the federal building. You can reach the office at (205) 714-4300. The website is www.alnba.uscourts.gov.
The 341 meeting is required in all cases. The debtor answers questions under oath. Creditors can attend and ask questions too. For Jefferson County cases, these meetings happen regularly at the Birmingham location.
Free Access Options
RECAP is a free archive. Find it at courtlistener.com/recap. It contains documents that PACER users have previously downloaded. Coverage is not complete, but it grows every day. Many Jefferson County cases are available.
The Birmingham courthouse has free public terminals. You can view any case on PACER without paying. Printing costs extra, but viewing is free. This is a good option if you need to look at many documents.
Law libraries sometimes have PACER access. The Birmingham Public Library and local law school libraries may offer free terminals. Call ahead to check availability and hours.
Legal Help in Jefferson County
Legal Services Alabama offers free help to those who qualify. Call (866) 456-4995. They handle bankruptcy cases for low-income clients. The Alabama State Bar lawyer referral line is (800) 392-5660. The Birmingham Bar Association has its own referral service at (205) 251-8006.
Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham provides pro bono assistance. Many local attorneys offer free consultations for bankruptcy cases. Shop around before you hire someone.
Pro se filers can get official forms at uscourts.gov/forms/bankruptcy-forms. The court's local rules are on the Northern District website. Staff cannot give legal advice, but they can answer questions about procedures.
Types of Bankruptcy
Chapter 7 is liquidation bankruptcy. A trustee sells non-exempt property and pays creditors. Most debts are then discharged. This is the most common type for individuals who have limited income and few assets. It takes about 3 to 4 months.
Chapter 13 is a payment plan. The debtor pays part of the debt over 3 to 5 years. This lets you keep property like a house or car while catching up on payments. It is for people with regular income.
Chapter 11 is for businesses. It allows reorganization while staying open. Some individuals with very high debt also use Chapter 11. It is more complex and more expensive.
Chapter 12 is for family farmers and fishermen. It is similar to Chapter 13 but has higher debt limits and different rules.