Search Mobile County Bankruptcy Records

Mobile County bankruptcy records are kept at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Alabama. Mobile is the district headquarters. The court is located in downtown Mobile at 113 St. Joseph Street.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Headquarters in Mobile

Mobile County is home to the Southern District of Alabama headquarters. This is the main office for the district. Two bankruptcy judges sit here. They hear cases from all 13 counties in the district. Mobile County has the most filings by far.

Mobile is Alabama's third-largest city with over 200,000 people. The county has over 414,000. This drives high case volume. Most filings are Chapter 7 liquidations and Chapter 13 payment plans. Business Chapter 11 cases are more common here than in rural parts of the district. The court uses CM/ECF for electronic filing.

Visiting the Mobile Courthouse

The courthouse is in downtown Mobile. There is no free public parking. Pay lots are nearby. Plan for parking costs if you visit in person. The building has security screening at the entrance.

The clerk office is open 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Staff can help with filings, copies, and general questions. The public terminal lets you search cases for free. You only pay for printing. Bring a credit card, check, or cash for any fees.

Mobile County residents have the advantage of being close to the court. In-person visits are practical here. Other counties in the district may be 100 miles or more away. This makes Mobile County the easiest place in the district to access bankruptcy records in person.

How to Search Mobile County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the main search tool. It works online from anywhere. Find cases filed by Mobile County residents day or night. 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. If quarterly use stays under $30, you pay nothing. Quick searches cost nothing for most people looking at Mobile County bankruptcy records.

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

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

In-person visits are easy for Mobile County residents. The courthouse is in town. Walk in during office hours. Use the free public terminal. Printing costs $0.10 per page. Certified copies cost $12.00. Staff can help you find what you need.

Electronic Self-Representation System

The Southern District offers eSR. This unique tool helps people file bankruptcy without a lawyer. You answer questions and the system creates forms. Few federal courts have this feature. The Southern District of Alabama is one of them.

eSR is free to use. Filing fees still apply. Chapter 7 costs $338. Chapter 13 costs $313. You can ask for a fee waiver if income is low. The system does not give legal advice. Mobile County residents can access it at alsb.uscourts.gov.

Self-filing works for simple cases. If you own a home, run a business, or have complex debts, talk to a lawyer. The eSR handles paperwork only. It cannot advise you on exemptions or strategy.

What Mobile County Bankruptcy Records Show

Bankruptcy files are detailed. The petition starts the case. It shows the debtor's name and chapter. Schedules list every asset and debt. The Statement of Financial Affairs covers recent financial history. All creditors appear with amounts owed.

Court orders build over time. The automatic stay stops creditors. The discharge ends the case. Some cases have motions, objections, and hearing transcripts. Trustee reports track what happened to assets. Proofs of claim list creditor amounts.

Mobile 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 expense details
• Discharge date if case 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 Mobile County Bankruptcy Records

PACER fees are standard nationwide. Pay $0.10 per page. Cap at $3.00 per document. Audio costs $2.40. Quarterly totals under $30 are waived. Small searches are often free for Mobile 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 Federal Records Center handles Alabama files. Call (404) 736-2820 for old Mobile County bankruptcy records.

Bankruptcy Administrator for Mobile County

Alabama uses Bankruptcy Administrators, not U.S. Trustees. The BA is a court employee. Only Alabama and North Carolina have this setup. The administrator oversees cases and runs 341 meetings.

Every case has a 341 meeting. Creditors can question the debtor. The trustee leads it. Mobile County meetings happen in Mobile. The BA office is in the same building as the court. Visit alsba.uscourts.gov for schedules. Call (251) 441-5577.

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

Legal Framework for Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy records are public by federal law. 11 U.S.C. § 107 makes them open to examination. Anyone can look. No reason required. Mobile County bankruptcy records are available to all.

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

All bankruptcy law is at 11 U.S.C. § 101-1532. Federal law controls. Alabama state law affects exemptions only. The rest applies in every state.

Free Alternatives for Searching

RECAP archives PACER documents for free access. Search at courtlistener.com/recap. Coverage depends on what users shared. Mobile County has many cases, so coverage may be better here than in rural areas.

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

The courthouse terminal is free to view. Only printing costs money. Staff can assist. Mobile County residents can easily walk in and use this service.

Cities in Mobile County

Mobile County has several cities and towns. Mobile is the county seat and largest city. Other communities include Prichard, Saraland, Satsuma, Chickasaw, and Citronelle. All residents file bankruptcy at the Mobile court.

Mobile is the only city in the county with a population over 50,000. Prichard has about 19,000 residents. All file at the same court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Mobile County. All are in the Southern District of Alabama and file at the Mobile courthouse.