Monroe County Bankruptcy Records

Monroe County bankruptcy records are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Alabama. The court is in Mobile, about 75 miles from the county seat of Monroeville.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Monroe County

Monroe County is part of the Southern District of Alabama. This is federal court. State courts do not deal with bankruptcy. All filings from Monroe County go to Mobile. The district serves 13 counties in southwest Alabama.

Monroe County is known as the home of Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird. Monroeville is a small town. Case volume is low. Most filings are Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 consumer cases. The court uses CM/ECF for electronic filing and PACER for public access.

How to Search Monroe County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the easiest way to search. It works online from any computer. Look up cases filed by Monroe 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 cost nothing for Monroe County bankruptcy records.

You can search by name, case number, or SSN last four digits. The PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov covers all federal courts. Useful if you do not know which district 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 Monroe County bankruptcy records.

In-person visits require a drive. Mobile is about 75 miles from Monroeville. The clerk office is open 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM weekdays. The public terminal is free to use. Printing costs $0.10 per page. Certified copies cost $12.00. No free parking at the courthouse.

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 is unique to the Southern District. Most federal courts lack this tool.

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

Self-filing works for simple cases. Complex situations need a lawyer. The eSR handles forms, not strategy. Think carefully before filing alone.

What Monroe County Bankruptcy Records Show

Bankruptcy files have many parts. The petition starts the case. 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 over time. The automatic stay stops collections. The discharge clears debts. Some cases have motions, objections, and hearings. Trustee reports track assets. Proofs of claim show creditor amounts.

Monroe County bankruptcy records typically include:

• Debtor 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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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 holds Alabama files. Call (404) 736-2820 for old Monroe County bankruptcy records.

Bankruptcy Administrator for Monroe 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 question the debtor. The trustee runs it. Monroe County meetings happen in Mobile. Check alsba.uscourts.gov for schedules. Call (251) 441-5577.

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

Legal Framework for Bankruptcy Records

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

Sealing is rare. Trade secrets may qualify. Confidential business data can be protected. A party must request it. 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 everywhere.

Free Alternatives for Searching

RECAP saves PACER documents for free use. Search at courtlistener.com/recap. Coverage depends on what users shared. Some Monroe 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 help. Good for reviewing many files without PACER fees for Monroe County bankruptcy records.

Cities in Monroe County

Monroe County has several small towns. Monroeville is the county seat. Other communities include Frisco City, Excel, and Beatrice. All residents file bankruptcy in Mobile. No local court handles these cases.

The drive from Monroeville to Mobile takes about 90 minutes. Online access through PACER is often more practical for Monroe County residents.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Monroe County. Verify which county you are in before filing.