Maryland Bankruptcy Records
Maryland bankruptcy records are public federal court documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. The court serves all 24 Maryland jurisdictions through two main filing locations, one in Baltimore and one in Greenbelt. Anyone can search these records through PACER, the federal online case system, or get basic case status by phone using the Voice Case Information System. Whether you need one filing or a full case history, Maryland bankruptcy records are open to the public and reachable through several access methods covered in this guide.
Maryland Bankruptcy Records Overview
How to Search Maryland Bankruptcy Records
PACER is the main tool for finding Maryland bankruptcy records online. The system stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. It covers all federal courts, including the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. You can search by debtor name, case number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. PACER charges $0.10 per page for documents you view or download. The maximum charge per document is $3.00. The quarterly fee is waived if your total stays under $30, meaning many users never pay anything at all. Register for free at pacer.uscourts.gov. Most Maryland bankruptcy cases filed since 2001 are in the system.
The PACER Case Locator lets you search across all federal courts at once. It helps when you don't know which Maryland division handled a specific case. Type in the debtor's name and the state to narrow results. You can find it through the main PACER site. It's a smart first step before going to the Maryland court's own search portal, especially when you're not sure whether the Baltimore or Greenbelt division holds the record.
For a quick check without going online, call the Voice Case Information System. VCIS runs 24 hours a day at 1-866-222-8029. You'll need the debtor's name or case number. The system reads back basic case details including status, trustee name, and next hearing dates. It's free and needs no account. Many people use it to confirm a case is active before pulling full documents from PACER.
The lead-in to this resource: The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Maryland posts its complete filing fee schedule and forms list on its website.
The court's fee schedule page covers every chapter type and service fee, including what it costs to convert a case, add creditors, or request a copy of a filed document from the Maryland bankruptcy court.
Maryland Bankruptcy Court Divisions and Locations
Maryland's federal bankruptcy court has two filing divisions. The Baltimore Division covers the northern and eastern parts of the state. Counties served include Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester. The Greenbelt Division handles the southern and western regions, covering Allegany, Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Montgomery, Prince George's, St. Mary's, and Washington counties. Both divisions accept filings from any Maryland resident. Documents for filing, including new case petitions, may be filed at either location.
| Baltimore Division |
Garmatz Federal Courthouse 101 West Lombard Street, Suite 8530 Baltimore, MD 21201 Phone: (410) 962-2688 |
|---|---|
| Greenbelt Division |
Federal Courthouse 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Suite 300 Greenbelt, MD 20770 Phone: (301) 344-8018 |
| Hours (Both Locations) | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Intake counters closed 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM daily (effective December 22, 2025) |
| Court Website | www.mdb.uscourts.gov |
There is also a Salisbury location at 129 East Main Street, Room 104. It conducts bankruptcy hearings only. It does not accept new case filings. Eastern Shore residents who need to file a new Maryland bankruptcy case must use the Baltimore Division courthouse. The court does hold 341 meetings of creditors in Salisbury and Hagerstown for convenience.
Payment Notice: As of December 10, 2025, the Greenbelt Division no longer accepts cash, money orders, or certified checks in person. Pay online at pay.gov with a debit card, mail certified check or money order to the Baltimore Division, or pay in person at the Baltimore intake counter.
After-hours drop boxes are located on the first floor of both the Baltimore and Greenbelt courthouses. Attorneys use these for filings submitted outside regular hours. The CM/ECF electronic system handles all e-filings for attorneys, who are required under Administrative Order 11-03 to file electronically in Maryland bankruptcy cases.
What Maryland Bankruptcy Records Contain
A full Maryland bankruptcy case file contains many types of documents. The petition opens the case and lists the debtor's name, address, and basic financial situation. Schedules detail assets, debts, monthly income, and living expenses. The creditor matrix names every person or company owed money. Trustees use that list to send formal notice to each creditor. You'll also find the meeting of creditors notice, objections filed by any party, and the final discharge order. Each of these documents becomes part of the public court record in Maryland.
Maryland's bankruptcy court handles all chapters under the federal bankruptcy code. Chapter 7 covers liquidation of assets to pay creditors, with most remaining debts discharged at the end. Chapter 13 lets a debtor keep property while paying back debts over a three to five year plan. Chapter 11 is used mostly for business reorganizations and larger personal cases. Chapter 12 applies specifically to family farmers and fishermen. Each chapter type generates its own set of filings, schedules, and court orders in Maryland.
The People's Law Library offers a free plain-language guide on where and how to file bankruptcy in Maryland, including which division to use based on your county.
The discharge order is often the most requested document from a Maryland bankruptcy file. It shows that the court has released the debtor from personal liability on covered debts. Copies are available through PACER at $0.10 per page. In-person copies at the courthouse cost $0.50 per page. Certification runs $11.00 per document.
Costs and Fees for Bankruptcy Records
PACER charges $0.10 per page for records you look at or download. The cap is $3.00 per document no matter how long it is. Your quarterly fee is waived when your total falls under $30. Court orders, opinions, and documents filed by government agencies are free on PACER regardless of length. The fee structure makes PACER affordable for most one-off searches. Power users who pull many records often still stay under the quarterly waiver threshold.
For older Maryland bankruptcy cases not available in PACER, the court offers a SmartScan retrieval service. This pulls archived documents from off-site storage. The base cost is $11.00 for retrieval, plus $9.90 for the first 30 pages. Each page after 30 costs $0.65. SmartScan has a 100-page maximum per request. A full case file may need multiple orders to retrieve completely. In-person copies at the courthouse are $0.50 per page, and certification costs $11.00 per document. For most users, PACER is the fastest and lowest-cost path to Maryland bankruptcy records.
Note: Filing fees change periodically. Verify the current Chapter 7 ($338), Chapter 13 ($313), and other chapter fees at the court's fee schedule page before submitting any paperwork to the Maryland bankruptcy court.
Legal Help for Maryland Bankruptcy Filers
Maryland Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to people who meet income guidelines across the state. Their services cover bankruptcy matters for qualifying residents. Maryland Legal Aid has offices in multiple regions and handles both Chapter 7 and other types of filings. The organization's website lists office locations and intake procedures. This is one of the strongest free resources for low-income residents dealing with Maryland bankruptcy cases.
The Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service connects residents with attorneys who take cases at no charge or at reduced cost. Call 1-800-510-0050 to reach their intake line. Monday through Thursday mornings are standard intake hours, though you should confirm the current schedule. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Baltimore also runs a Debtor Assistance Project at the Garmatz Federal Courthouse. Volunteer attorneys there help pro se debtors, meaning people who file their own cases without a lawyer. The project covers form preparation and general guidance on procedures in Maryland bankruptcy cases. The court's COURTney chatbot provides live help during hours when the intake counters are closed.
Free self-help materials are also available through the People's Law Library and at the court's website. The court posts forms, instructions, and filing guides for each chapter type. The Maryland Court Help Center at 410-260-1392 can direct you to additional resources across the state.
The court's main site at www.mdb.uscourts.gov has a dedicated self-help section with links to forms, the local rules, and step-by-step guides for each chapter of the federal bankruptcy code.
State Court Records Related to Bankruptcy in Maryland
Maryland state courts keep records for civil cases, judgments, and property matters that often connect to federal bankruptcy filings. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search lets anyone look up Circuit Court and District Court records at no cost. These state records do not include federal bankruptcy cases, but they can show civil lawsuits, court judgments, and liens that may appear in a debtor's bankruptcy schedules. Using both PACER and the state case search together gives you the most complete picture of a person's financial and legal history in Maryland.
Property records matter in many Maryland bankruptcy cases. MDLandRec.net holds land records for all 23 Maryland counties. Deeds, mortgages, and other recorded instruments are searchable online after creating a free account. The system is managed by the Maryland State Archives and covers records going back centuries in some jurisdictions. Mortgage balances and recent transfers recorded in this system often turn up in bankruptcy schedules, making it a useful reference when reviewing a Maryland bankruptcy case file.
Browse Maryland Bankruptcy Records by County
Each Maryland county is served by either the Baltimore or Greenbelt bankruptcy court division. Pick a county below to find local contact information, circuit court clerk details, and resources for accessing bankruptcy and related court records in that area.
Bankruptcy Records in Major Maryland Cities
Maryland's largest cities fall under either the Baltimore or Greenbelt bankruptcy court division. Pick a city to find local resources, which division serves your area, and how to access Maryland bankruptcy records near you.