Highlands County Bankruptcy Records
Highlands County bankruptcy records are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. The Fort Lauderdale Division processes all bankruptcy filings from this county. Sebring is the county seat, but there is no federal bankruptcy courthouse in Highlands County itself. Cases are filed and managed through the Fort Lauderdale office. You can search Highlands County bankruptcy records online using PACER, check case status by phone through the VCIS line, or request records from the court directly. The local Highlands County Clerk of Court keeps civil records that sometimes relate to bankruptcy cases, including liens and judgments.
Highlands County Quick Facts
Highlands County Clerk of Court
Bob Germaine is the Highlands County Clerk of Court. The office is at 590 S. Commerce Avenue in Sebring. Bankruptcy filings are federal matters, so the clerk does not handle petitions. But civil court records held here often connect to bankruptcy cases. Judgment liens, foreclosure actions, and debt collection suits filed in Highlands County all go through this office.
You can call the clerk at (863) 402-6565 during regular hours, Monday through Friday. Staff can help you look up local civil cases and guide you to the right place for federal records. The Highlands County Clerk website offers online access to civil case records, official records searches, and court calendars. If a bankruptcy case involves property in Highlands County, the local records here can fill in gaps that the federal file might not cover.
Below is the Southern District of Florida Bankruptcy Court homepage, which handles all Highlands County bankruptcy filings. Visit the court at flsb.uscourts.gov.
From the court website, you can access case search tools, filing forms, and local rules that apply to Highlands County bankruptcy cases.
| Clerk | Bob Germaine |
|---|---|
| Address | 590 S. Commerce Avenue, Sebring, FL 33870 |
| Phone | (863) 402-6565 |
| Website | highlandsclerk.org |
Highlands County Bankruptcy Court
All bankruptcy cases from Highlands County are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. The Fort Lauderdale Division handles these cases. The courthouse is at 299 East Broward Boulevard, Room 112, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Call (954) 769-5700 for court questions. The Southern District court website has forms, rules, and guides for filers.
Since there is no federal courthouse in Sebring, Highlands County residents travel to Fort Lauderdale for in-person hearings. Some proceedings may be conducted by phone or video, which the court can arrange. Under 11 U.S.C. Section 109, you must live in the district or own property there to file. Highlands County is in the Southern District, so residents file through the Fort Lauderdale Division.
The court assigns a trustee to each case. The trustee reviews your assets and debts. For Chapter 7, the trustee may sell nonexempt property to pay creditors. For Chapter 13, the trustee collects your monthly payments and distributes them to creditors on your behalf. Highlands County residents deal with the same pool of trustees as other counties in the Fort Lauderdale Division.
Searching Highlands County Bankruptcy Records
Three options exist for finding bankruptcy records from Highlands County. Online through PACER is the most common. Phone works for quick lookups. In-person access is available at the Fort Lauderdale courthouse.
PACER gives you online access to all federal court records. Create a free account to search the Southern District of Florida. Look up Highlands County cases by debtor name, case number, or last four digits of a Social Security number. The system charges $0.10 per page with a $3.00 cap per document. Under 11 U.S.C. Section 107, bankruptcy files are public records. Anyone can look them up.
Call the Voice Case Information System at 1-866-222-8029 for free case data. The automated line runs all day, every day. You can check whether a case exists, get the case number, filing date, and chapter type. No account is needed. VCIS is the best option when you need a fast answer about a Highlands County bankruptcy filing.
At the Fort Lauderdale courthouse, public access terminals are open during business hours. You can search and view case files on site. Staff can help you pull specific documents. Bring a valid ID. It is a bit of a drive from Sebring, so the online and phone options are usually more practical for Highlands County residents.
Filing Bankruptcy in Highlands County
Highlands County residents who want to file for bankruptcy start by picking a chapter. Chapter 7 erases most unsecured debts. The fee is $338. Chapter 13 sets up a repayment plan over three to five years. That costs $313 to file. You can ask for an installment payment plan if you cannot pay the full fee up front.
Credit counseling is required before filing. The U.S. Department of Justice keeps a list of approved agencies for the Southern District. You must finish this step and get a certificate before the court will take your petition. Then gather tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, and a list of all debts and property. File everything with the Fort Lauderdale Division.
Once your case is filed, the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. Section 362 kicks in immediately. Creditors must stop all collection efforts. No calls, no lawsuits, no garnishments. The court schedules a meeting of creditors within 30 to 45 days. You will need to attend this meeting, which may be held by phone for Highlands County residents. Official forms are on the U.S. Courts website.
Legal Resources for Highlands County
Bankruptcy law is not simple. Help is available for Highlands County residents who need it. Florida Legal Services gives free legal help to people with low incomes. They can review your situation, explain your options, and help with the forms.
The Florida Bar runs a referral service. For a small fee, you can meet with a bankruptcy lawyer who handles cases in the Southern District. Many attorneys in the Sebring and Fort Lauderdale area offer free first consultations. If you plan to file on your own, the court has pro se guides on its website. Filing pro se means you handle everything yourself. The court cannot give legal advice, but the materials walk you through each form and deadline.
A Chapter 7 discharge under 11 U.S.C. Section 727 frees you from most personal debts. However, certain debts like student loans, child support, alimony, and recent tax obligations cannot be discharged. These exceptions are listed in 11 U.S.C. Section 523. An attorney can help you sort out which debts will and won't be affected by a Highlands County filing.
Cities in Highlands County
Highlands County includes several communities. Sebring is the county seat and the largest town. No cities in Highlands County meet the population threshold for a separate page. All bankruptcy filings from county residents go through the Fort Lauderdale Division of the Southern District court.
Communities in Highlands County include Sebring, Avon Park, Lake Placid, and Venus. All residents use the same Fort Lauderdale Division courthouse for bankruptcy matters.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Highlands County. If you are not sure which county you live in, check your address. The county you live in determines which division handles your bankruptcy case.