Garrett County Bankruptcy Records
Bankruptcy records for Garrett County residents are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, Greenbelt Division. Searching these records gives you access to Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 cases involving Garrett County filers, including petitions, schedules, discharge orders, and all other court documents entered into the federal docket. The Circuit Court in Oakland also holds related civil records that may supplement a bankruptcy search.
Garrett County Overview
U.S. Bankruptcy Court - Greenbelt Division
Garrett County falls under the Greenbelt Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. This federal court handles all bankruptcy cases filed by Garrett County residents and businesses. The Greenbelt courthouse is located at 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Suite 300, Greenbelt, MD 20770. You can reach the court by phone at (301) 344-8016. Staff are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Note that the intake counter closes from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM each day.
As of December 10, 2025, the Greenbelt Division no longer accepts in-person payments. If you need to pay a filing fee, you have three options. First, pay online at pay.gov. Second, mail a check or money order to the Baltimore Division at 101 W. Lombard Street, Suite 8530, Baltimore, MD 21201. Third, go in person to the Baltimore office to pay. Make sure you plan for this before you travel to the Greenbelt courthouse. The court will not process your filing without payment, and you cannot hand cash or a check to the clerk at Greenbelt.
The Baltimore Division also serves as an alternative filing location. That office can be reached at (410) 962-4295. Both divisions handle Garrett County cases under the same judge and rules. You may use either location for payments.
| Greenbelt Division |
Federal Courthouse 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Suite 300 Greenbelt, MD 20770 Phone: (301) 344-8016 |
|---|---|
| Baltimore Division |
Garmatz Federal Courthouse 101 W. Lombard Street, Suite 8530 Baltimore, MD 21201 Phone: (410) 962-4295 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (intake closes 1-2 PM) |
| Payment (Greenbelt) | pay.gov, mail to Baltimore, or in-person at Baltimore only |
How to Search Garrett County Bankruptcy Records
The main tool for finding bankruptcy records is PACER, the federal court's online access system. PACER stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. You can search it at pacer.uscourts.gov. Every bankruptcy case filed in the District of Maryland, including all Garrett County cases, appears in PACER. You can search by name, case number, or Social Security number last four digits. The system charges $0.10 per page, with a maximum of $3.00 per document. If your quarterly charges stay under $30, the fee is waived.
PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov is a different tool. It searches bankruptcy records across every federal district nationwide. This is useful if you are not sure which district a person filed in. The locator can narrow the case to a specific court, and then you use PACER to get the full file. For Garrett County filers, the District of Maryland is the right court to check first.
VCIS is a free phone option. Call 1-866-222-8029 any time, day or night. The automated system lets you search by name or case number and gives you basic case information at no charge. You can find out if a case was filed, what chapter it is, and the case status. This is a good first step if you just need to confirm whether someone filed.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us covers state court records only. It does not show federal bankruptcy cases. Use it to look up civil judgments, liens, or other state court actions that may relate to a bankruptcy. Both searches together give you a more complete picture of someone's legal history in Garrett County.
The county image below comes from the state court directory for Garrett County. It shows contact details for the local clerk office.
The Garrett County Circuit Court directory page at courts.state.md.us lists local court contacts and services available in Oakland.
Use the directory details shown above to contact the clerk at the Frederick A. Thayer III Courthouse if you need help locating Garrett County court documents in person.
Garrett County Circuit Court Clerk
The Garrett County Circuit Court Clerk is William L. Bittinger. His office is at the Frederick A. Thayer III Courthouse, 203 South Fourth Street, Room 109, Oakland, MD 21550. You can also reach them by mail at P.O. Box 447, Oakland, MD 21550. The main phone is 301-334-1937. Land records inquiries go to 301-334-1942. Email is bill.bittinger@mdcourts.gov.
This office does not hold federal bankruptcy records. What it does hold matters, though. The Circuit Court clerk keeps civil judgments, property liens, and related filings that often come up in connection with bankruptcy. After a bankruptcy case closes, judgment liens and property issues sometimes need to be resolved at the state level. The clerk can help you search those records. The office was established in 1658, making it one of the oldest courts in Maryland.
The Garrett County Circuit Court is part of the 4th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Allegany and Washington Counties. Judge Honorable Justin Gregory presides over the circuit. Family Magistrate Tracey L. Henline handles domestic matters. Court Administrator and Jury Coordinator is Belinda Harvey, reachable at 301-334-5041. Civil assignment questions go to Christina Pratt at 301-334-5013.
| Clerk | William L. Bittinger |
|---|---|
| Address |
Frederick A. Thayer III Courthouse 203 South Fourth Street, Room 109 Oakland, MD 21550 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 447, Oakland, MD 21550 |
| Phone | 301-334-1937 |
| Land Records | 301-334-1942 |
| bill.bittinger@mdcourts.gov | |
| Website | mdcourts.gov/clerks/garrett |
Bankruptcy Filing Fees
Federal bankruptcy filing fees are set by the U.S. Courts and apply to all Garrett County filers regardless of which division handles the case. These fees are paid to the federal court, not the county. The current fees are $338 to file Chapter 7, $313 to file Chapter 13, and $1,738 to file Chapter 11. These are standard nationwide fees. The court does allow low-income filers to apply for a fee waiver on Chapter 7 cases or to pay in installments.
For copies of documents through PACER, the cost is $0.10 per page with a $3.00 cap per document. The SmartScan document retrieval service charges $11.00 for the retrieval plus $9.90 for the first 30 pages and $0.65 for each additional page. The cap for SmartScan is 100 pages per request. The Garrett County Circuit Court charges $0.50 per page for plain copies and a $5.00 base fee plus copy charges for certified documents. A $40 recording surcharge applies per instrument for documents filed in the land records office.
The state image below shows the federal court's filing fee schedule for all Maryland bankruptcy cases.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland posts all current fee information at mdb.uscourts.gov/forms/filing-fees. Check there before you file to confirm current amounts.
The fees shown above apply to all cases filed through the Greenbelt Division, which covers Garrett County bankruptcy petitions.
Garrett County Land Records
Land records matter in bankruptcy cases involving real property. A bankruptcy filing may affect property liens, mortgages, and deeds in Garrett County. You can search these records for free at mdlandrec.net. A free account is required to access the system. The site includes deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents. This is managed through the Maryland State Archives and covers Garrett County alongside all other counties.
The Garrett County Circuit Court land records office is the official custodian for local property documents. Reach them at 301-334-1942. The recording surcharge in Garrett County is $40 per instrument. If you are researching a property involved in a bankruptcy, start with MDLandRec.net to find recorded liens or transfers, then cross-reference with the federal bankruptcy docket in PACER to see how the case affected the property.
More resources for Garrett County property and bankruptcy research are available at garrettcountymd.gov/circuit-court. The county's official page lists local contacts and services tied to the Circuit Court.
Legal Help in Garrett County
Garrett County is a rural area, and in-person legal aid options are more limited than in larger counties. Maryland Legal Aid covers Garrett County and can be reached statewide at (866) MD-LAW-4U. Their website is mdlab.org. They help low-income residents with bankruptcy-related questions and can connect you with attorneys who handle these cases in western Maryland.
The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org has detailed guides on how to file for bankruptcy in Maryland. This free resource explains each chapter type, what forms you need, and how to navigate the Greenbelt Division's process. It is one of the best starting points for Garrett County residents who want to understand the bankruptcy process before hiring an attorney or filing on their own.
The state image below links to the Maryland Legal Aid website, which provides free legal information and referrals for Garrett County residents dealing with bankruptcy or debt issues.
Maryland Legal Aid provides free services to qualifying residents. Visit mdlab.org to learn more about eligibility and services available in Garrett County.
Garrett County residents dealing with bankruptcy can also contact Maryland Legal Aid by phone at (866) MD-LAW-4U for guidance on next steps.
Cities in Garrett County
Garrett County is a rural county in far western Maryland. Its towns and communities are small. None of the cities in Garrett County meet the population threshold for a dedicated bankruptcy records page. Oakland is the county seat. Other communities include Accident, Grantsville, Kitzmiller, and Deer Park. All residents of Garrett County file bankruptcy cases with the Greenbelt Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland.
Nearby Counties
Garrett County borders two other Maryland counties. If you are unsure whether your address falls in Garrett County or a neighboring county, check your property records or contact the clerk offices directly.