Marengo County Bankruptcy Records

Marengo County bankruptcy records are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Alabama. The clerk office is in Mobile. Hearings may be held in Selma, which is about 45 miles from the county seat of Linden.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Marengo County

Marengo County is in the Northern Division of the Southern District of Alabama. This is federal court. State courts do not handle bankruptcy. All filings from Marengo County go to Mobile. The Selma courthouse hosts hearings but does not accept mail.

Mobile is about 120 miles from Linden. The Selma courthouse is closer at 45 miles. Judges travel from Mobile to Selma for hearing days. This helps Marengo County residents avoid the long drive for court appearances. But all paperwork must go to Mobile.

Selma Courthouse for Hearings

The Selma courthouse handles hearings only. Do not send mail there. There is no clerk window. Judges travel from Mobile on scheduled days. Marengo County cases may have hearings in Selma instead of Mobile.

Check your court notice for the location. The Selma courthouse is at 908 Alabama Avenue. It is about 45 miles from Linden. This is much closer than Mobile. But remember that all filings go through Mobile.

Use PACER for electronic filing or mail documents to Mobile. To get copies, contact the Mobile clerk office. The Selma location is just a courtroom for Marengo County hearings.

How to Search Marengo County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the best search tool. Use it online from anywhere. Find cases filed by Marengo County residents any time. The system has all documents. Sign up free at pacer.uscourts.gov.

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

Search by name, case number, or SSN last four. The PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov covers all federal courts. Useful when you do not know which court has a case.

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

In-person visits require going to Mobile. The Selma courthouse does not offer clerk services. Mobile is 120 miles from Linden. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM weekdays. The public terminal is free. Printing costs $0.10 per page. Certified copies cost $12.00.

Electronic Self-Representation System

The Southern District has eSR. It helps people file bankruptcy without a lawyer. Answer questions and the system makes forms. This tool is unique to the Southern District of Alabama.

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

Self-filing suits simple cases. Complex situations need professional help. The eSR handles paperwork, not legal strategy. Consider your case carefully before filing alone.

What Marengo County Bankruptcy Records Show

A bankruptcy file contains many documents. The petition starts things. It names the debtor and chapter. Schedules list assets and debts. The Statement of Financial Affairs covers money history. All creditors appear with amounts.

Court orders build up. The automatic stay stops collections. The discharge clears debts. Some cases have motions, objections, and hearing transcripts. Trustee reports track assets. Proofs of claim show creditor amounts.

Marengo County bankruptcy records typically show:

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

Some data 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 Marengo County Bankruptcy Records

PACER fees are straightforward. Pay $0.10 per page. Cap at $3.00 per document. Audio costs $2.40. Quarterly charges under $30 are free. Small searches typically cost nothing for Marengo 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 handles Alabama files. Call (404) 736-2820 for old Marengo County bankruptcy records.

Bankruptcy Administrator for Marengo County

Alabama uses Bankruptcy Administrators. Most states have U.S. Trustees from the Justice Department. Alabama is different. The BA is a court employee. Only Alabama and North Carolina work this way.

Every case has a 341 meeting. Creditors can ask questions. The trustee leads it. For Marengo County, meetings may happen 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 provide trustee contacts. Their website has forms and dates. Access is free for Marengo County cases.

Legal Framework for Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records are public by law. 11 U.S.C. § 107 makes them open to all. No reason needed. No party status required. Marengo County bankruptcy records are available to anyone.

Sealing is rare. Trade secrets might qualify. Confidential business info can be protected. A party must request it. The judge decides. Most files stay public.

Federal law governs all bankruptcy. Find it at 11 U.S.C. § 101-1532. Alabama state law affects exemptions only. The rest applies nationwide.

Free Alternatives for Searching

RECAP saves PACER documents for free use. Search at courtlistener.com/recap. Coverage depends on what users shared. Some Marengo County cases may be there.

McVCIS phone service costs nothing. Call 1-866-222-8029 any time. Get basic case info. No documents, but useful for quick checks.

The courthouse terminal is free for viewing. Printing costs money. Staff can assist. A good choice for reviewing many files without PACER fees for Marengo County bankruptcy records.

Cities in Marengo County

Marengo County has several small towns. Linden is the county seat. Other communities include Demopolis, which is the largest city, along with Sweet Water and Thomaston. All residents file bankruptcy in Mobile. Hearings may be held in Selma.

Demopolis is a regional hub with about 7,000 people. Despite its size, it has no local bankruptcy court. All cases go through Mobile, with possible hearings in Selma.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Marengo County. Several are also in the Selma Division for hearings. Confirm your address to know which county you are in.