Find Bankruptcy Records in Dundalk
Dundalk bankruptcy records are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Baltimore Division, which serves Baltimore County residents.
Dundalk Overview
Federal Bankruptcy Court for Dundalk
Dundalk is a community in Baltimore County, southeast of Baltimore City. Bankruptcy cases from Dundalk go to the Baltimore Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. The court handles all types of personal and business bankruptcy filings from Dundalk, including Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 cases.
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Baltimore Division |
|---|---|
| Address | Garmatz Federal Courthouse 101 W. Lombard Street, Suite 8530 Baltimore, MD 21201 |
| Phone | (410) 962-4295 |
| Intake Hours | Monday through Friday, closed 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM daily (since Dec 22, 2025) |
| Website | mdb.uscourts.gov |
The Baltimore courthouse is at the Edward A. Garmatz Federal Building in downtown Baltimore. Dundalk residents can reach it via I-695 north and I-95 into downtown. The MARC train and MTA bus lines also serve downtown Baltimore. An after-hours drop box is on the first floor if you need to file documents outside of intake hours. Both cash and checks are accepted at the Baltimore intake window, unlike the Greenbelt Division which went cashless in December 2025.
How to Search Dundalk Bankruptcy Records
Dundalk bankruptcy records are in the federal court system. PACER is the primary way to search. You can also call the VCIS line or visit the courthouse. Here is what each option gives you.
PACER at pacer.uscourts.gov is the federal electronic records system. Create a free account to search by name or case number. You can find case status, filed documents, scheduled hearings, and creditor lists for any Dundalk bankruptcy case. The fee is $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 per document. If you spend less than $30.00 in a quarter, PACER waives the charge. This makes it free for most people doing occasional searches.
The VCIS line at 1-866-222-8029 is free and available 24 hours a day. You can check basic case info like filing date, case number, chapter type, and whether a discharge was entered. No account is needed. This is good for quick lookups without logging into a system.
In-person searches are available at the Baltimore courthouse. Public access terminals in the clerk's office let you search case records for free. Staff can help locate a case by name or number. Plain copies of documents cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 plus $0.50 per page. For older documents stored in federal archives, SmartScan retrieval costs $11.00 plus $9.90 for the first 30 pages and $0.65 per page after that, up to a 100-page limit.
The filing fees schedule above covers all Maryland bankruptcy divisions, including the Baltimore Division where Dundalk cases are filed.
Bankruptcy Filing Fees for Dundalk Residents
Federal filing fees are set by Congress and are the same at both Maryland divisions. Dundalk residents pay the following fees to file a new bankruptcy case at the Baltimore Division.
- Chapter 7 (liquidation): $338.00
- Chapter 13 (wage earner plan): $313.00
- Chapter 11 (reorganization): $1,738.00
The Baltimore intake window accepts cash, check, and money order. You can also pay online through pay.gov. If you cannot pay the full fee up front, you may request installment payments. The court allows up to four installments for the filing fee. Chapter 7 filers with income below 150% of the federal poverty line can apply to have the entire fee waived. Ask at the clerk's office for the application form or download it from the court's website.
What Dundalk Bankruptcy Records Include
Bankruptcy records are federal court files. They are public records, open to anyone who searches PACER or visits the courthouse in person. A few items are protected by federal privacy rules, but most of the file is accessible.
A Dundalk bankruptcy case file typically contains the original petition with the debtor's name and address, the chapter type, and the filing date. Schedules list all assets and all debts. A statement of financial affairs covers recent income, expenses, and financial transactions. The creditor matrix is a list of every creditor the debtor owes. In Chapter 13 cases, the repayment plan shows how the debtor plans to pay back what is owed over three to five years. Trustee reports and meeting of creditors notices are also part of the file. The final discharge order, if granted, is included once the case closes.
Social Security Numbers are redacted to show only the last four digits in public records. Names of minor children are protected. Sealed documents are not shown through PACER without court permission. But in general, anyone can pull up a Dundalk bankruptcy case file and see the core details of the case.
Baltimore County State Courts Serving Dundalk
Bankruptcy is handled at the federal level, but related legal matters often involve state courts in Baltimore County. Dundalk is in the 3rd Judicial Circuit, which covers Baltimore County and Harford County.
| Court | Baltimore County Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 401 Bosley Ave, Towson, MD 21204 |
| Phone | (410) 887-2601 |
The Baltimore County Circuit Court is in Towson, the county seat. This court handles civil judgments, property liens, and other matters that can intersect with a bankruptcy case. For instance, a judgment lien recorded against a Dundalk property would show up in Baltimore County court records. You can search those records through Maryland Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us for free. This tool is state-level only and does not pull up federal bankruptcy cases.
The nearest Baltimore County District Court to Dundalk is at 8914 Kelso Drive in Essex. District courts handle smaller civil claims and some matters related to debt collection that may connect to a bankruptcy case. If a creditor has sued you in district court, that case could be stayed once you file for bankruptcy.
Legal Help for Dundalk Residents
Several free and low-cost legal resources are available to Dundalk residents dealing with bankruptcy or related debt issues.
Maryland Legal Aid serves Baltimore County through its Towson office at 29 W. Susquehanna Ave, Towson, MD. Call (410) 427-1800 for local help. The statewide number is (866) MD-LAW-4U. Maryland Legal Aid helps people who qualify based on income. They advise on whether bankruptcy is the right choice, help prepare paperwork, and in some cases provide full representation. Their website at mdlab.org has eligibility info and online intake options.
The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org/where-file-bankruptcy explains the full Maryland bankruptcy process in plain language. It covers Chapter 7 versus Chapter 13, Maryland exemptions, what to expect at the 341 meeting of creditors, and more. It is a solid free resource for anyone in Dundalk who wants to understand the process before deciding what to do.
The People's Law Library guide is designed for Maryland filers and covers the key steps Dundalk residents would face in a bankruptcy case.
The Baltimore County Bar Association can connect you with a private bankruptcy attorney. Many lawyers in the Baltimore area offer a free or reduced-cost first consultation. The Maryland State Bar Association at msba.org has a referral tool to find a lawyer near Dundalk. You do not need a lawyer to file for bankruptcy, but getting advice first can help you pick the right chapter and avoid common errors.
Nearby Qualifying Cities
These nearby cities also file bankruptcy cases through the Baltimore Division of the federal court.
Baltimore County Bankruptcy Records
Dundalk is part of Baltimore County. All bankruptcy cases from Dundalk are filed at the Baltimore Division of the federal court. For more on the court system, county-level state courts, related records, and resources serving Baltimore County, visit the county page.