Find Bankruptcy Records in Towson
Towson bankruptcy records are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, Baltimore Division. Towson is the county seat of Baltimore County and is served by the Baltimore Division courthouse on Lombard Street.
Towson Overview
Federal Bankruptcy Court Serving Towson
Towson and all of Baltimore County are served by the Baltimore Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. The courthouse is at the Garmatz Federal Courthouse in downtown Baltimore, about five miles from Towson. All bankruptcy petitions filed by Towson residents go to this court.
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Maryland - Baltimore Division |
|---|---|
| Address | Garmatz Federal Courthouse 101 W. Lombard Street, Suite 8530 Baltimore, MD 21201 |
| Phone | (410) 962-4295 |
| Intake Hours | Open daily; intake window closes 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (since Dec 22, 2025) |
| Website | mdb.uscourts.gov |
The Baltimore Division is the intake point for all fee payments in the District of Maryland, including payments for the Greenbelt Division. If you are filing a new case from Towson, you can pay in person at the Baltimore intake window during open hours, pay online at pay.gov, or mail a check or money order to the Baltimore address. An after-hours drop box is on the first floor for documents filed outside regular hours. Do not drop cash in the box.
How to Search Towson Bankruptcy Records
Towson bankruptcy records are accessible through PACER, the VCIS phone line, or a visit to the Baltimore Division courthouse. All three methods tap the same federal database. The right choice depends on how much you need to see and how quickly you need it.
PACER is the main online access system. Create an account at pacer.uscourts.gov. After logging in, choose the District of Maryland and search by debtor name, case number, or last four digits of a Social Security number. PACER charges $0.10 per page with a $3.00 cap per document. Fees under $30 per quarter are waived entirely. For occasional searches, you likely owe nothing. PACER shows petitions, full debt and asset schedules, creditor lists, trustee reports, and discharge orders for all Towson bankruptcy cases.
VCIS is the free 24/7 phone option. Call 1-866-222-8029 and have the debtor name or case number ready. The automated system gives you case status, chapter type, filing date, trustee name, and the 341 meeting date. It does not give document images, but it confirms whether a case exists and where it stands.
In-person searches at the Baltimore courthouse are free at public terminals inside the building. Printed copies from the clerk cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 plus $0.50 per page. SmartScan retrieval costs $11.00 plus $9.90 for the first 30 pages and $0.65 per additional page. SmartScan has a 100-page maximum per order.
The court's fee schedule applies to all Towson and Baltimore County bankruptcy cases filed in the Baltimore Division.
What Bankruptcy Records Contain
Bankruptcy records for Towson cases are federal public documents. They give a detailed view of the debtor's finances at the time of filing. Most of the file is public, though some personal identifiers like full Social Security numbers are redacted.
The core document in every case is the petition. It lists the debtor's name, address, chapter, and whether the case is voluntary or involuntary. Schedules attached to the petition list all real property, all personal property, all secured and unsecured debts, income sources, and monthly expenses. The statement of financial affairs covers payments made to creditors in the 90 days before filing, transfers of property in the past two years, and lawsuits involving the debtor.
Chapter 7 files show whether assets exist to sell for creditors. Many Towson Chapter 7 cases are no-asset cases, which means the trustee finds nothing to distribute and the court discharges the debts. Chapter 13 files show the repayment plan and any modifications over the three-to-five year plan period. Both chapter types end with either a discharge order or a dismissal order. The discharge order is a key document for both the debtor and any creditor checking on the case later.
Bankruptcy Filing Fees
Federal filing fees are the same across all of Maryland. Towson residents pay the same rates as anyone else in the Baltimore Division.
- Chapter 7 (liquidation): $338
- Chapter 13 (wage earner plan): $313
- Chapter 11 (reorganization): $1,738
Individual filers can ask to pay in installments. The court allows up to four payments for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. All payments must come in before the court grants the discharge. Low-income Chapter 7 filers who are below 150% of the federal poverty line can ask for a full fee waiver. Access fees for records are separate: $0.50 per page for plain copies and $5.00 plus $0.50 per page for certified copies from the clerk office.
Baltimore County State Courts in Towson
Because Towson is the county seat of Baltimore County, the main state courts are right in town. The Baltimore County Circuit Court is at 401 Bosley Ave, Towson, MD 21204, phone (410) 887-2601. This court handles civil cases, foreclosures, and other matters that often connect to a bankruptcy filing. Digital recording requests go to BaltCoDigRec@mdcourts.gov or (410) 887-4873. The Orphans' Court is at the same building in Suite 501 and handles estate matters that sometimes interact with bankruptcy estates.
Baltimore County has three District Courts. One is in Towson at 120 East Chesapeake Ave, one in Catonsville at 1 Rolling Cross Road, and one in Essex at 8914 Kelso Drive. District Courts handle smaller civil cases and some matters that overlap with financial stress, like small claims and landlord-tenant cases. The 3rd Judicial Circuit covers Baltimore County and Harford County.
You can search Maryland state court records at casesearch.courts.state.md.us. This system shows case status and filing dates but not document images. For property records and land records in Baltimore County, use mdlandrec.net, which is free. Land records show deeds, mortgages, and liens that often appear in bankruptcy schedules.
Maryland Legal Aid serves Baltimore County residents in Towson and the surrounding area.
Legal Aid Resources for Towson
Towson residents facing bankruptcy can get free or low-cost legal help from several local and statewide groups. Getting guidance before you file can save time and avoid mistakes that delay your case.
Legal Aid Baltimore County has an office in Towson at 29 W. Susquehanna Ave, phone (410) 427-1800. This office focuses on civil legal help for low-income Baltimore County residents. They can help with bankruptcy questions, related housing issues, and debt problems. Call to check if you qualify and to ask about current services. Hours and intake processes can change, so call ahead.
Maryland Legal Aid Bureau has a statewide intake line at (866) MD-LAW-4U. Their website at mdlab.org has a tool to find the office nearest to you. The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org/where-file-bankruptcy has a free step-by-step guide to filing bankruptcy in Maryland. It covers what forms to use, which court to file in, and how to handle the 341 creditors meeting.
The People's Law Library guide helps Towson residents understand the Maryland bankruptcy process before they file.
Nearby Qualifying Cities
Other cities near Towson with bankruptcy record pages include:
Baltimore County Bankruptcy Records
Towson is the county seat of Baltimore County. All bankruptcy filings from Towson and the rest of Baltimore County go through the Baltimore Division of the federal court. For full county-level court information, local resources, and related record types, see the Baltimore County page.