Access Perry County Bankruptcy Records

Perry County bankruptcy records are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Alabama. The main office is in Mobile. Hearings may take place in Selma, about 30 miles from the county seat of Marion.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Perry County

Perry County is in the Northern Division of the Southern District of Alabama. This is federal court. State courts have no role in bankruptcy. All filings from Perry County go to Mobile. Selma has a courthouse for hearings but does not accept mail.

Mobile is about 150 miles from Marion. That is a long drive. The Selma courthouse is much closer at 30 miles. Judges travel from Mobile to hold hearings in Selma. This helps Perry County residents avoid some trips to Mobile. All paperwork still goes to Mobile.

Selma Courthouse for Hearings

The Selma courthouse at 908 Alabama Avenue is for hearings only. Do not mail documents there. There is no clerk window. Judges travel from Mobile on scheduled days. Perry County cases may have hearings in Selma.

Check your court notice for the hearing location. Selma is 30 miles from Marion. Mobile is 150 miles. The Selma option saves significant travel time when it is available. But all filings must go through Mobile.

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

How to Search Perry County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the best tool for searching. It works online from any computer. Find cases filed by Perry County residents any time. 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. Quarterly charges under $30 are waived. Small searches are often free for Perry County bankruptcy records.

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

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

In-person visits require going to Mobile. The Selma courthouse does not have clerk services. Mobile is 150 miles from Marion. The clerk office is open 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 offers eSR. This tool helps people file bankruptcy without a lawyer. Answer questions and the system creates forms. This feature is unique to the Southern District of Alabama.

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

Self-filing works for simple cases. If you have property, a business, or complex debts, consult a lawyer. The eSR handles paperwork only.

What Perry County Bankruptcy Records Show

Bankruptcy files have many documents. The petition starts the case. It names the debtor and chapter. Schedules list assets and debts. The Statement of Financial Affairs covers recent money history. All creditors get listed.

Court orders accumulate. The automatic stay stops collections. The discharge ends the case. Some cases have motions, objections, and hearings. Trustee reports track assets. Proofs of claim show creditor amounts.

Perry 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 Perry County Bankruptcy Records

PACER fees are standard. 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 Perry 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 Perry County bankruptcy records.

Bankruptcy Administrator for Perry County

Alabama uses Bankruptcy Administrators. Most states have U.S. Trustees from the DOJ. Alabama does it differently. The BA is a court employee. Only Alabama and North Carolina have this system.

Every case has a 341 meeting. Creditors can question the debtor. The trustee leads it. For Perry 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 info. Their website has forms and meeting dates. Access is free for Perry 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 required. No party status needed. Perry County bankruptcy records are available to anyone.

Sealing is uncommon. Trade secrets may be protected. Confidential business data can qualify. A party must request it. The judge decides. Most cases 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 archives PACER documents for free use. Search at courtlistener.com/recap. Coverage depends on what users shared. Some Perry County cases may be available.

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

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

Cities in Perry County

Perry County is rural with small towns. Marion is the county seat. Other communities include Uniontown and Hamburg. All residents file bankruptcy in Mobile. Hearings may be held in Selma.

Marion is home to Judson College and Marion Military Institute. The town is small. The drive to Mobile is long. Online access through PACER is often the most practical option for Perry County residents.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Perry County. Several are also in the Selma Division for hearings. Check which county you are in before filing.