Baltimore County Bankruptcy Filings
Baltimore County bankruptcy records are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, Baltimore Division. Note that Baltimore County and Baltimore City are two separate jurisdictions in Maryland. This page covers the county only. It explains how to find Baltimore County bankruptcy records online, by phone, and in person, and where to search related local records kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Towson.
Baltimore County Overview
Important: Baltimore County and Baltimore City are two completely separate jurisdictions in Maryland. Baltimore City is an independent city and is not part of Baltimore County. If you are looking for records from the city of Baltimore, that is a different jurisdiction. The county seat is Towson. Baltimore County wraps around Baltimore City on three sides.
How to Search Baltimore County Bankruptcy Records
Baltimore County bankruptcy records are federal court records. You can access them through PACER online, VCIS by phone, or in person at the Baltimore courthouse. The county is one of Maryland's most populous, so the volume of filings is high.
PACER at pacer.uscourts.gov is the main system for searching Baltimore County bankruptcy records. Create a free account, then search by debtor name, case number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. Results show all Baltimore County bankruptcy cases in the federal system. PACER charges $0.10 per page and caps each document at $3.00. Accounts with under $30 in quarterly charges pay nothing. This is by far the most complete way to search Baltimore County bankruptcy filings remotely.
Use the PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov for a nationwide search. If you are not sure whether a case was filed in Maryland or another state, start here. You can filter results to Maryland and then pull the full docket in PACER once you find the right case.
VCIS (Voice Case Information System) is free. Call 1-866-222-8029, any time, 24 hours a day. The automated system gives you basic status on Baltimore County bankruptcy cases, including filing date, chapter type, trustee name, and whether the case is open or closed. No registration needed. It is a quick way to confirm whether a case exists before going deeper in PACER.
In-person access is at the Baltimore Division, Garmatz Federal Courthouse, 101 W. Lombard Street, Suite 8530, Baltimore, MD 21201. Phone: (410) 962-4295. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The intake counter closes from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. each day. An after-hours drop box is on the first floor. You can file documents at either the Baltimore or Greenbelt courthouse, whichever is more convenient.
Baltimore Division: Bankruptcy Court for Baltimore County
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Baltimore Division, handles all Baltimore County bankruptcy cases. This is the same division that handles Baltimore City cases, but the two jurisdictions are tracked separately. Baltimore County is the third most populous county in Maryland, so the bankruptcy docket here is substantial.
All chapter types are handled here: Chapter 7 (liquidation), Chapter 13 (wage earner's plan), Chapter 11 (business reorganization), and Chapter 12 (family farmer or fisherman). Most individual Baltimore County bankruptcy cases are Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Business filings are more likely to use Chapter 11. The court's website has forms, local rules, and fee schedules that apply to Baltimore County cases. Documents may be filed at either the Baltimore or Greenbelt courthouse. After-hours drop boxes are available on the first floor of both locations.
| Baltimore Division |
Garmatz Federal Courthouse 101 W. Lombard Street, Suite 8530 Baltimore, MD 21201 Phone: (410) 962-4295 |
|---|---|
| Greenbelt Division |
Federal Courthouse 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Suite 300 Greenbelt, MD 20770 Phone: (301) 344-8016 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Intake closes 1 PM to 2 PM) |
| After Hours | Drop boxes on first floor of both courthouses |
Baltimore County Circuit Court Clerk
The Baltimore County Circuit Court Clerk is in Towson at 401 Bosley Avenue. The mailing address is P.O. Box 6754, Towson, MD 21285-6754. The main phone is (410) 887-2601. This office handles state court matters, not federal bankruptcy cases. But it keeps land records, civil judgments, and other documents that often appear in connection with Baltimore County bankruptcy filings.
A few things to know before visiting or contacting the Towson clerk. No debit cards are accepted. Out-of-state personal checks are also not accepted. Transcript fees are $3 per page for an original, $0.50 for a first copy, and $0.25 for a second copy. Audio recordings of proceedings cost $15 per case, or $10 for electronic delivery. The clerk also processes digital recordings. You can reach the digital recordings team at (410) 887-4873 or by email at BaltCoDigRec@mdcourts.gov.
For divorce decrees, email ccbaltcoclerkrecords@mdcourts.gov. Marriage license questions go to ccbaltcoclerklicensing@mdcourts.gov. There are three District Court locations in Baltimore County: Catonsville at 1 Rolling Cross Road, Towson at 120 E. Chesapeake Avenue, and Essex at 8914 Kelso Drive. The Orphans' Court is also at 401 Bosley Avenue, Suite 501. The clerk website is at baltimorecountycourt.us.
The Maryland courts directory at mdcourts.gov lists court locations and contact details for the Baltimore region, including both the city and county courthouses.
The image above shows the Maryland courts directory page covering the Baltimore region, useful for locating court offices tied to Baltimore County bankruptcy cases.
| Address | 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204 (Mailing: P.O. Box 6754, Towson, MD 21285-6754) |
|---|---|
| Phone | (410) 887-2601 |
| Digital Recordings | (410) 887-4873 | BaltCoDigRec@mdcourts.gov |
| Payment | No debit cards. No out-of-state personal checks. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, standard court hours |
| Website | baltimorecountycourt.us |
What Baltimore County Bankruptcy Records Contain
Baltimore County bankruptcy records are comprehensive federal documents. They cover everything from the initial petition through the final court order. Most are available digitally through PACER.
The petition itself states the debtor's name, address, and chapter type. Schedules of assets list real property, vehicles, bank accounts, and personal property. Liability schedules list every creditor and the amount owed. The Statement of Financial Affairs describes recent financial transactions, including income, transfers, and lawsuits. For Chapter 7 Baltimore County cases, the trustee reviews these documents and may liquidate non-exempt assets to pay creditors. The means test determines whether income is low enough to qualify for Chapter 7.
Chapter 13 Baltimore County bankruptcy records include a proposed repayment plan. The plan runs three to five years. Creditors can object, and the court must approve the plan before it goes into effect. Changes to the plan are filed as amendments and also appear in the public docket. All of these documents are part of the record and searchable through PACER once you have an account.
The court directory at mdcourts.gov/courtsdirectory/baltimorecity provides location and contact details for the Baltimore courthouse serving bankruptcy-related state proceedings.
This image shows the Maryland courts directory for the Baltimore area, distinguishing between Baltimore City courts and Baltimore County courts for those searching records.
Fees for Baltimore County Bankruptcy Records
Fees for Baltimore County bankruptcy records follow the standard federal court schedule. They apply equally across all Maryland counties.
PACER charges $0.10 per page. Each document is capped at $3.00. If your total for a quarter is under $30, you pay nothing. Most individuals searching for a single Baltimore County bankruptcy case will not be charged. Attorneys and researchers pulling large numbers of files will see charges build. Downloading a full case PDF in one session is more cost-efficient than viewing page by page.
SmartScan retrieves archived paper cases not yet scanned. The cost is $11.00 for retrieval, $9.90 for the first 30 pages, and $0.65 per additional page, with a 100-page cap. Use this for older Baltimore County bankruptcy cases that predate digital filing. Most recent cases are already in the PACER system.
Filing fees for new Baltimore County bankruptcy cases: Chapter 7 is $338, Chapter 13 is $313, Chapter 11 is $1,738. Standard copies at the state clerk's office are $0.50 per page. Certified copies add a $5.00 certification fee. Transcript fees at the Baltimore County Circuit Court are $3 per page for originals, $0.50 for a first copy. Recording surcharges at the clerk's office are $40 per instrument.
The Baltimore County marriage and divorce records page at baltimorecountymd.gov provides fee details and contact information for related state record types that sometimes appear in bankruptcy cases.
The image shows the Maryland state case search system, which covers civil and criminal cases in Baltimore County courts separate from the federal bankruptcy docket.
Legal Help for Baltimore County Residents
Baltimore County residents have access to several free and low-cost legal resources for bankruptcy and related financial matters. These are worth exploring before paying for private counsel.
Maryland Legal Aid serves Baltimore County residents. Call (866) MD-LAW-4U or apply online at mdlab.org. Eligibility is based on income. Maryland Legal Aid handles consumer debt cases, foreclosure defense, and related civil matters. Baltimore County residents are relatively close to multiple Maryland Legal Aid offices, which helps with in-person appointments.
The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org has free guides on Maryland bankruptcy law. It explains both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 in plain language, covers which property is exempt under Maryland law, and walks through what to expect at the meeting of creditors. The Maryland Courts Help Center at 410-260-1392 answers procedural questions. Veterans in Baltimore County can use the Veterans' Legal Hotline at 443-863-4040 for free guidance. The Family Law Hotline at 1-800-845-8550 helps with financial issues tied to family matters.
Related Records in Baltimore County
Bankruptcy cases often connect to other local records in Baltimore County. Land records, tax liens, and civil judgments are the most common types to check alongside a bankruptcy file.
MDLandRec.net gives free access to Baltimore County property records. A free account is required. You can search by name or document type to find deeds, mortgages, and releases tied to Baltimore County properties. This is useful when a bankruptcy case involves real estate in Towson, Catonsville, Essex, or other parts of the county. Visit mdlandrec.net to get started.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is for state courts only. It does not show federal bankruptcy cases. But it does display civil judgments, tax liens, and other financial actions filed in Baltimore County state courts. Use it with PACER for a full picture. The Baltimore County circuit court website at baltimorecountycourt.us is also a good resource for navigating local records requests.
The Towson District Court information at mdcourts.gov lists contact details for the Towson courthouse, where some related civil proceedings occur alongside bankruptcy filings.
The image above shows the Towson District Court listing, which handles state civil and criminal matters that can connect to Baltimore County bankruptcy proceedings.
Cities in Baltimore County
Baltimore County includes many large communities. Two qualify for dedicated pages on this site. All Baltimore County residents file bankruptcy through the Baltimore Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, regardless of which community they live in. Remember, Baltimore City is a separate jurisdiction and is not part of Baltimore County.
Other significant communities in Baltimore County include Catonsville, Essex, Pikesville, Rosedale, Owings Mills, Perry Hall, Parkville, and White Marsh. All file bankruptcy cases at the Baltimore Division courthouse.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Baltimore County. Each has its own page with local court and bankruptcy record information.