How Court Closures May Affect Your Bankruptcy Case
COVID-19 has caused significant disruptions to nearly all aspects of life, and the court system has hardly been immune. If you filed bankruptcy before the COVID-19 pandemic began or because of the pandemic, your case undoubtedly has been impacted by changes in court proceedings. For residents and businesses in Atlanta, Georgia who have filed for bankruptcy, these cases are being impacted in multiple ways.
Bankruptcy Cases Are Heard in Federal Court
In order to understand the impact of COVID-19 on bankruptcy cases, it’s first necessary to be familiar with how these cases are handled within the court system. Bankruptcy cases fall under the jurisdiction of bankruptcy courts.
There is one bankruptcy court for each district within the federal system, and every district is overseen by a circuit. The district has some autonomy in administrative decisions, but there are certain rules that the circuit sets forth and must be followed. The district level is broad and covers multiple states. Additionally, each bankruptcy court can have multiple courthouses located in different cities.
The administrative decisions that are made within these various courts overlap with state, county and city government decisions, and the result is a non-uniform way of handling bankruptcy cases during the COVID-19 crisis. In some regions, bankruptcy proceedings may be paused in one city but going on as normal in a nearby city that falls under different judicial and state regulations.
For residents and individuals in Atlanta, Georgia’s and Atlanta’s decisions obviously impact how court cases proceed. Within the judicial system, Atlanta bankruptcy cases fall under the Northern District of the 11th Circuit. The 11th Circuit oversees cases in Georgia, Florida and Alabama.
Many Aspects of Bankruptcy Cases Can Be Completed Remotely
In many cases, district and circuit courts have sought to keep cases moving along through teleconferencing and electronic filing.
For bankruptcy cases, most of these changes are fairly simple to make. Many proceedings involve more paperwork filing than in-person meetings, and most documents can now be filed electronically.
Thus, bankruptcy cases in Atlanta and elsewhere aren’t indefinitely suspended or canceled. They’re proceeding, although at a slightly slower pace than normal and with some new steps.
Bankruptcy Lawyers Manage Case Logistics
Should you need to file bankruptcy or be in the midst of a bankruptcy case, your attorney will manage all of the case’s logistics. From normal proceedings to new practices that have been implemented as a result of COVID-19, a local bankruptcy attorney can guide you through every step.
In light of the changes that have been made, it is important to work with a local bankruptcy attorney. A local attorney will be familiar with the current state of your city, state, bankruptcy court, district court and circuit court requirements and know how to navigate them. An out-of-town attorney might be less familiar with the specific changes that apply to your bankruptcy court.
To speak with a bankruptcy attorney in Atlanta, contact Clark & Washington LLC. Experienced bankruptcy attorneys, we’re aware of exactly how Atlanta bankruptcy cases are proceeding right now