Two mandatory courses stand between you and a bankruptcy discharge in Georgia. Here is exactly what the Northern and Middle Districts require, where to go, and how to get help if you cannot afford it.
Federal law (11 U.S.C. sections 109(h) and 111) requires every individual bankruptcy filer in Georgia to complete two separate educational courses. Skipping either one will block your discharge.
Complete within 180 days before filing your petition. The course reviews your finances, explores alternatives to bankruptcy, and may result in a debt management plan. Takes 60--90 minutes. Must be from a DOJ-approved agency for the Northern District of Georgia or the Middle District of Georgia, depending on where you file.
File the certificate as Official Form 301 with your petition.
Complete after filing but before discharge. Covers budgeting, money management, and using credit wisely. Takes about 2 hours. Must also come from a DOJ-approved provider.
File the certificate as Official Form 423. In Chapter 7, the deadline is 60 days after the 341 meeting. In Chapter 13, complete it before your final payment.
Atlanta-area cases are filed in the Northern District of Georgia. Residents south of metro Atlanta may fall in the Middle District. Your county determines your court.
Richard B. Russell Federal Building
75 Ted Turner Drive SW, Suite 1340
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 215-1000
Serves 46 counties: Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, Clayton, Cherokee, Forsyth, Hall, and 38 others across northern Georgia.
341 meetings are held at the Office of the U.S. Trustee, 362 Richard B. Russell Building, 75 Ted Turner Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30303.
18 Greenville Street
Newnan, GA 30263
Serves Coweta, Carroll, Fayette, Heard, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, and Troup counties.
121 Spring Street SE, Suite 100
Gainesville, GA 30501
Serves Banks, Dawson, Habersham, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White counties.
600 East First Street, Room 120
Rome, GA 30161
Serves Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Paulding, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties.
P.O. Box 1957
Macon, GA 31202
Phone: (478) 752-3506
Serves central Georgia counties including Bibb, Houston, Peach, Monroe, and Jones.
Georgia requires debtors to use state exemptions exclusively. You cannot elect federal exemptions. These amounts are current as of 2026. Married couples filing jointly may double most exemptions.
| Property | Georgia Exemption | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Homestead | $21,500 per person ($43,000 married) | O.C.G.A. 44-13-100(a)(1) |
| Motor vehicle | $5,000 per person | O.C.G.A. 44-13-100(a)(3) |
| Personal property (household goods, clothing, appliances) | $5,000 per person | O.C.G.A. 44-13-100(a)(4) |
| Jewelry | $500 | O.C.G.A. 44-13-100(a)(5) |
| Wildcard (any property) | $1,200 plus up to $10,000 unused homestead | O.C.G.A. 44-13-100(a)(6) |
| Tools of trade | $1,500 | O.C.G.A. 44-13-100(a)(7) |
| Health aids | Unlimited | O.C.G.A. 44-13-100(a)(9) |
| Retirement accounts (ERISA-qualified) | Unlimited | O.C.G.A. 44-13-100(a)(2.1) |
| Workers' compensation | Unlimited | O.C.G.A. 34-9-84 |
| Alimony/Child support | Amount reasonably necessary | O.C.G.A. 44-13-100(a)(2)(D) |
If you cannot afford an attorney, these organizations serve Atlanta and greater Georgia.
(404) 524-5811
Serves Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Cobb, and Gwinnett counties. Provides free civil legal help including bankruptcy assistance for residents at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. Main office: 54 Ellis Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30303.
(404) 206-5175
Serves 154 counties outside metro Atlanta, including Middle District counties. Offers free legal assistance to low-income Georgians. Statewide intake line helps route to the nearest office.
(404) 521-0790
Pro bono attorney matching for qualifying Atlanta residents. Saturday Lawyers Program at the Fulton County courthouse offers brief consultations. 235 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1600, Atlanta, GA 30303.
Emory University School of Law, 1301 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322. Law students supervised by faculty assist veterans with bankruptcy-related issues.
GSU College of Law, 85 Park Place NE, Atlanta, GA 30303. Student attorneys provide free representation in select consumer bankruptcy cases under faculty supervision.
The U.S. Trustee maintains a list of approved agencies for each district. Many offer fee waivers for low-income debtors. Online and telephone options are available statewide.
Unlike roughly 20 states that let debtors choose between state and federal exemptions, Georgia is a state-exemptions-only jurisdiction. O.C.G.A. section 44-13-100(b) expressly opts out of the federal exemption scheme.
Under 11 U.S.C. section 522(b)(3), you must have been domiciled in Georgia for at least 730 days (2 years) before filing to use Georgia exemptions. If you moved to Atlanta recently, you may need to use the exemptions from your prior state.
Chapter 7 eligibility depends on the means test under 11 U.S.C. section 707(b)(2). Georgia median income figures are updated by the U.S. Trustee and vary by household size. If your income exceeds the Georgia median, you may need to file Chapter 13 instead.
The Northern District of Georgia requires reaffirmation agreements to be filed before discharge. If you want to keep a financed car or other secured property, your attorney must review and sign the agreement, or the court will hold a hearing to ensure it does not impose undue hardship.
Georgia filers must complete two courses: (1) a pre-filing credit counseling course from a DOJ-approved agency within 180 days before filing, and (2) a post-filing debtor education (financial management) course before discharge. Both are required under 11 U.S.C. sections 109(h) and 111. Courses cost $10--$50 each and can be completed online, by phone, or in person.
The Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court is at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building, 75 Ted Turner Drive SW, Suite 1340, Atlanta, GA 30303. The clerk's office phone is (404) 215-1000. The court has additional divisions in Newnan, Gainesville, and Rome.
Georgia uses state-specific exemptions only. Key exemptions: homestead up to $21,500 ($43,000 married), vehicle up to $5,000, personal property up to $5,000, wildcard up to $1,200 plus unused homestead up to $10,000. Georgia exemptions are in O.C.G.A. sections 44-13-1 and 44-13-100.
Atlanta Legal Aid Society at (404) 524-5811 provides free bankruptcy help to low-income residents in Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Cobb, and Gwinnett counties. Georgia Legal Services Program covers rural areas. The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation matches qualifying residents with pro bono attorneys.
The pre-filing credit counseling takes 60--90 minutes. The post-filing financial management course takes about 2 hours. In Chapter 7, the post-filing certificate must be filed within 60 days of the 341 meeting. In Chapter 13, complete it before final payment. File certificate using Official Form 423.
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