Lee County Bankruptcy Records
Bankruptcy records for Lee County are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Montgomery. Opelika has a federal courthouse for hearings, but all filings go to Montgomery.
Lee County Quick Facts
Bankruptcy Court Locations
Lee County is in the Eastern Division of the Middle District of Alabama. This is one of the most populous counties in the district. Auburn University brings many students and staff to the area.
Opelika has a federal courthouse at 701 Avenue A. This is the George W. Andrews Federal Building. The court holds hearings here. But here is the key point: no filings at Opelika. No mail. No walk-in services. All papers must go to Montgomery, about 55 miles away.
| Main Office (All Filings) |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court One Church Street Montgomery, AL 36104 Phone: (334) 954-3800 |
|---|---|
| Opelika (Hearings Only) |
701 Avenue A Opelika, AL 36801 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 how you search federal court records online. It covers all bankruptcy courts. Registration costs nothing. Fees kick in when you search.
PACER charges 10 cents per page. Documents cap at $3.00. Keep your quarterly total under $30 and fees get waived. Many people pay nothing at all.
To find Lee 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
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 cost extra. 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 Lee County residents file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. These cover nearly all personal cases.
Chapter 7 is fast. 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 high debt and low income.
Chapter 13 takes three to five years. You make payments from wages. Remaining debts get discharged at the end. This works if you have steady income and want to save a house from foreclosure.
Chapter 11 is for businesses. Auburn and Opelika have many local businesses that might use this. Chapter 12 is for farmers.
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 years.
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. Meetings for Lee County cases may happen in Opelika.
Contact the administrator at (334) 954-3850. Visit almba.uscourts.gov for trustee info.
Finding Legal Help
Legal Services Alabama at (334) 745-4000 in Opelika serves Lee County. The Alabama State Bar referral line is (800) 392-5660.
Auburn and Opelika have several law firms. Lawyer fees for Chapter 7 run $1,000 to $2,000. Chapter 13 costs more.
Cities in Lee County
Lee County includes Auburn, Opelika, Phenix City (partly), Smiths Station, and Beauregard. Opelika is the county seat. Auburn is home to Auburn University. All bankruptcy cases go through Montgomery. Hearings happen at the Opelika courthouse.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Lee. All are in the Middle District. Chambers residents may also attend hearings in Opelika.