Search Washington County Bankruptcy Records

Washington County bankruptcy records are kept at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Alabama. The court is in Mobile, about 55 miles from the county seat of Chatom.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Washington County

Washington County is part of the Southern District of Alabama. Bankruptcy is federal law. State courts do not handle it. All filings from Washington County go to Mobile. The district serves 13 counties in southwest Alabama.

The Mobile office is the only staffed location in the district. Two bankruptcy judges hear cases. Washington County has a small population, so case volume is low. Most filings are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer cases. The court uses CM/ECF for electronic filing.

How to Search Washington County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the best tool to search. It works online from anywhere. Find cases filed by Washington County residents any time. All documents are in the system. Sign up free at pacer.uscourts.gov.

Fees are minimal. PACER charges $0.10 per page. Each document caps at $3.00. Quarterly totals under $30 are waived. Small searches cost nothing for most people looking at Washington 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. Useful when you do not know which court has a case.

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

In-person visits are an option. Mobile is about 55 miles from Chatom. The clerk office is open 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM weekdays. Use the public terminal for free. Printing costs $0.10 per page. Certified copies cost $12.00. No free parking at the courthouse.

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 give legal advice. Washington County residents can access it at alsb.uscourts.gov.

Self-filing works for simple cases. If you have property or a business, consider a lawyer. The eSR handles paperwork only, not strategy.

What Washington County Bankruptcy Records Show

Bankruptcy files have many documents. The petition starts the case. It shows the debtor's name and chapter. Schedules list all assets and debts. The Statement of Financial Affairs covers money history. All creditors appear with amounts owed.

Court orders build over time. The automatic stay stops collections. The discharge ends debt liability. Some cases have motions, objections, and hearings. Trustee reports track assets. Proofs of claim list creditor amounts.

Washington 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 Washington County Bankruptcy Records

PACER fees are straightforward. Pay $0.10 per page. Cap at $3.00 per document. Audio costs $2.40. Quarterly totals under $30 are waived. Small searches typically cost nothing for Washington 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 Washington County bankruptcy records.

Bankruptcy Administrator for Washington County

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

Every case has a 341 meeting. Creditors can ask the debtor questions. The trustee leads it. Washington 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 meeting dates. Access is free for Washington 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 needed. Washington County bankruptcy records are available to all.

Sealing is rare. Trade secrets may qualify. Confidential business data can be protected. A party must ask the court. The judge decides. Most files 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 archives PACER documents for free use. Search at courtlistener.com/recap. Coverage depends on what users shared. Some Washington County cases may be there.

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

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

Cities in Washington County

Washington County is rural with small towns. Chatom is the county seat. Other communities include Millry, McIntosh, and Fruitdale. All residents file bankruptcy in Mobile. No local court handles these cases.

The drive from Chatom to Mobile takes about an hour. Online access through PACER is often more practical for Washington County residents.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Washington County. Verify your address before filing.