Find Bankruptcy Records in Charles County
Charles County bankruptcy records are filed with the Greenbelt Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. You can search these records online through PACER, call the VCIS automated line for free case info, or visit the Greenbelt courthouse to look up filings from Charles County residents and businesses.
Charles County Overview
U.S. Bankruptcy Court - Greenbelt Division
Charles County falls under the Greenbelt Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. All bankruptcy cases from La Plata, Waldorf, and the rest of Charles County are filed and administered through the Greenbelt courthouse. The court handles every major bankruptcy chapter: 7, 11, 12, and 13.
The Greenbelt Division is located at the Federal Courthouse at 6500 Cherrywood Lane in Greenbelt. The court is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The intake counter closes from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Plan your visit around that break if you need to hand in documents in person. An after-hours drop box is available on the first floor of the courthouse for submissions outside business hours.
Important: as of December 10, 2025, the Greenbelt Division no longer accepts payments at the counter. If you owe a filing fee for a Charles County case, you must pay through pay.gov online, mail your payment to the Baltimore Division, or bring your payment in person to the Baltimore intake counter. Keep this in mind when you plan your filing.
| Court Name | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Maryland - Greenbelt Division |
|---|---|
| Address | Federal Courthouse 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Suite 300 Greenbelt, MD 20770 |
| Phone | (301) 344-8016 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Intake counter closes 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily |
| Payment | No in-person payments since Dec 10, 2025. Use pay.gov, mail to Baltimore, or pay at Baltimore intake. |
| Filing Fees | Chapter 7: $338 | Chapter 13: $313 | Chapter 11: $1,738 |
| After-Hours Drop Box | First floor of courthouse |
How to Search Charles County Bankruptcy Records
You have several ways to find bankruptcy records for Charles County filers. Online tools cover most needs. In-person visits work well when you need certified copies or access to documents not yet in the digital system.
PACER is the primary search tool for federal bankruptcy records. You can search by the name of a person or business, a case number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. Cases from Charles County are in the Maryland district. The cost is $0.10 per page. If your quarterly charges total less than $30, the fee is waived entirely. Set up your free account at pacer.uscourts.gov. The system holds case filings, dockets, and full document images for most recent cases.
For a nationwide search, try the PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov. This searches all federal courts at once. It is useful when you do not know which district handled a case. Once you spot a Charles County case, you can move to standard PACER for document access. The locator is free to search, though you pay per page for documents.
The Voice Case Information System is free and available at all hours. Call 1-866-222-8029. The automated system gives you the case number, filing date, chapter type, trustee name, and upcoming hearing date. No account needed. This is the fastest no-cost option for a quick check on whether someone in Charles County filed for bankruptcy.
- PACER: $0.10/page, fees waived under $30/quarter, search by name or case number
- PACER Case Locator: nationwide search, free to search
- VCIS phone line: 1-866-222-8029, free, 24/7
- In-person at Greenbelt courthouse: full file access and copies
- SmartScan for archived files: $11 retrieval plus copy fees
Charles County Circuit Court Clerk
The Charles County Circuit Court in La Plata manages state civil, family, and land records. It does not handle federal bankruptcy cases. But state court records can be relevant to bankruptcy proceedings, particularly judgments and liens that may have been included in a bankruptcy estate.
Lisa Yates serves as Clerk of the Circuit Court in Charles County. The office is located at 200 Charles Street in La Plata. Mail should go to P.O. Box 970. Processing times for mailed requests run about one week. The civil clerk handles civil case filings and can be reached at 301-932-3215. Marriage records go back to 1658, land records to 1658, and probate records to 1665, making this one of the oldest archives in southern Maryland.
A scam alert is worth knowing about for Charles County: the court will never call you to demand payment. If you receive such a call, hang up. Report the call to the appropriate authorities. The clerk's office has issued this warning specifically because phone scams targeting court-related payments have been reported in the area.
| Clerk | Lisa Yates |
|---|---|
| Street Address | 200 Charles Street, La Plata, MD 20646 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 970, La Plata, MD 20646 |
| Main Phone | 301-932-3201 |
| Civil Clerk | 301-932-3215 |
| Marriage Records | 301-932-3255 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Mail Processing | Approximately 1 week |
| Copy Fees | $0.50/page standard | $5.00 certification + $0.50/page |
Maryland Judiciary Case Search
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is a free tool for finding state court records. It covers Charles County Circuit Court and District Court cases but does not include federal bankruptcy records. Use it to look up civil judgments, liens, or other state-level legal actions that may be connected to a bankruptcy case.
State case search results are free to view and do not require an account. You can search by name, case number, or court type. If you find a judgment in Charles County that was later discharged in bankruptcy, you would confirm the discharge through PACER using the same party names.
Land Records in Charles County
Property often plays a central role in Charles County bankruptcy cases. Homes, land parcels, and commercial buildings listed as assets in a bankruptcy filing may have recorded deeds, mortgages, and liens at the Circuit Court. These documents can help you understand what was at stake in a bankruptcy estate.
MDLandRec.net offers free online access to land records for Charles County. You need a free account to view documents on the site. The database covers deeds, deeds of trust, releases, and other recorded instruments. Go to mdlandrec.net to sign up. For certified copies, contact the Circuit Court clerk in La Plata at 301-932-3201.
Legal Help for Charles County Residents
Charles County residents dealing with bankruptcy can access free and reduced-cost legal help through several programs. These resources are available whether you are thinking about filing or trying to understand a bankruptcy case that involves you.
Maryland Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to qualifying Charles County residents. Their line is (866) MD-LAW-4U. You can also learn more at mdlab.org. Income limits apply, but many residents qualify. The People's Law Library has a free bankruptcy guide at peoples-law.org/where-file-bankruptcy. It explains each chapter of bankruptcy in plain terms and walks through the filing steps for Maryland residents. This is a solid first stop for anyone who wants to understand the process before talking to an attorney.
The Charles County Bar Association may be able to refer you to local attorneys who handle bankruptcy cases. For general court questions, the clerk's office in La Plata can help with procedural matters even if they cannot give legal advice. Starting with the free tools and legal aid first can save time and money before you decide whether you need a private attorney for your Charles County case.
Cities in Charles County
Charles County includes the community of Waldorf, one of the largest unincorporated communities in Maryland, as well as La Plata, Indian Head, and other towns. All bankruptcy filings from Charles County go to the Greenbelt Division of the federal court. Waldorf residents have a dedicated page on this site.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Charles County. If you need to check a bankruptcy case and are unsure which county the filer lives in, searching nearby counties may help. All are served by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland.