Search Montgomery County Bankruptcy Records
Montgomery County bankruptcy records are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, Greenbelt Division. Residents and businesses in Montgomery County who file under Chapter 7, Chapter 11, or Chapter 13 have their cases docketed at the Greenbelt federal courthouse. The full case record is a public document and includes the petition, all schedules of assets and liabilities, the list of creditors, court orders, trustee reports, and the final discharge or dismissal. These records can be searched online through PACER, by phone through VCIS, or in person at the federal courthouse in Greenbelt.
Montgomery County Overview
U.S. Bankruptcy Court - Greenbelt Division
Montgomery County falls under the Greenbelt Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. The courthouse is at 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Suite 300, Greenbelt, MD 20770. The main phone is (301) 344-8016. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The intake counter closes from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM each day, so time your visit accordingly. The Greenbelt location is convenient for Montgomery County residents compared to the Baltimore Division courthouse.
Important: as of December 10, 2025, the Greenbelt Division no longer accepts in-person payments. If you are filing a new case or paying any fee at Greenbelt, you must pay through one of three options: online at pay.gov, by mailing a check or money order to the Baltimore Division at 101 W. Lombard Street, Suite 8530, Baltimore, MD 21201, or in person at the Baltimore courthouse. Do not bring cash or a check to the Greenbelt office expecting to pay there. The clerk will not process the filing without payment, and no exceptions are made for walk-in payments in Greenbelt since December 2025.
Filing fees for Montgomery County cases are $338 for Chapter 7, $313 for Chapter 13, and $1,738 for Chapter 11. These are federal fees set by the U.S. Courts and are the same across Maryland. Low-income Chapter 7 filers can apply for a fee waiver using the official court form. Others can request an installment plan, splitting the fee into up to four payments.
| 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 1-2 PM) |
| Payment (Greenbelt) | pay.gov, mail to Baltimore, or in-person at Baltimore only. No cash or check accepted at Greenbelt. |
| Chapter 7 Fee | $338 |
| Chapter 13 Fee | $313 |
| Chapter 11 Fee | $1,738 |
How to Search Montgomery County Bankruptcy Records
PACER is the primary online tool for finding bankruptcy records. Register at pacer.uscourts.gov for free. Once logged in, you can search the District of Maryland by name, case number, or tax identification number. Every document filed in a Montgomery County bankruptcy case is in the system: petitions, schedules, motions, trustee reports, and the discharge or dismissal order. The charge is $0.10 per page with a $3.00 cap per document. Users who accrue less than $30 in a calendar quarter pay nothing. PACER is the fastest and most complete way to get full case details for Montgomery County filers.
The PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov searches all federal districts in one step. If you are not sure whether a Montgomery County person filed in Maryland or another state, use this tool first. It returns the court and case number, and then you go into that court's PACER to read the full file. This nationwide search is especially useful for businesses that may have filed in Delaware or another bankruptcy-friendly jurisdiction.
VCIS at 1-866-222-8029 is free and open around the clock. The voice system searches by name or case number and returns basic case details: chapter, status, and filing date. No account or registration is needed. Call anytime, seven days a week. This is the right tool when you need a quick confirmation and do not need to read documents.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us shows state court records only. It does not include federal bankruptcy cases. But it shows civil judgments, collection suits, and liens that often precede or follow a bankruptcy. For a complete picture of a Montgomery County debtor's legal history, check both PACER and the state case search.
The image below shows the Montgomery County District Court information page, one of two district courts serving the county along with the Circuit Court in Rockville.
Montgomery County has two district court locations: Rockville at 191 E Jefferson St (301-279-1500) and Gaithersburg at 14 Fulks Corner Ave (301-258-6400). More at statecourts.org.
Both Montgomery County district court locations handle civil matters that may connect to a bankruptcy filing, including creditor suits, default judgments, and wage garnishment orders.
Montgomery County Circuit Court
The Montgomery County Circuit Court is at 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850. The main number is (240) 777-9466. This is the state-level trial court for Montgomery County, handling major civil cases, criminal matters, family law, and land records. It is part of the 6th Judicial Circuit along with Frederick County. Circuit Court judges in Montgomery County also handle Orphans' Court matters directly, since there are no separate Orphans' Court judges in this county.
The Family Law Self Help Center is in Room 1500 South Tower at the Rockville courthouse. The number is (240) 777-9145. It opens Monday through Friday at 8:00 AM and stays open until capacity is reached. On Thursdays it stays open until 5:45 PM to serve working residents. This resource helps self-represented parties with forms and court navigation. It does not give legal advice, but it can help you understand procedural requirements in state court matters that tie to bankruptcy, such as property division or creditor judgments.
The Circuit Court offers several specialized programs. The Child Custody Counsel program assists families with custody disputes. Alternative Dispute Resolution services are available for civil cases. Foreign language interpreters can be arranged for hearings. ADA accommodations are provided for people with disabilities. A law library is on-site at the Rockville courthouse. The court's website is montgomerycountymd.gov/circuitcourt.
The image below shows the Circuit Court's website for Montgomery County, which lists current contacts, forms, and services at the Rockville courthouse.
Visit montgomerycountymd.gov/circuitcourt to access case records, forms, and contact information for the Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville.
The Montgomery County Circuit Court handles state-level civil and criminal cases that may intersect with federal bankruptcy proceedings, including property liens and judgment enforcement.
The Maryland courts directory for Montgomery County is another way to find contact details for all courts in Rockville and Gaithersburg. The image below shows this directory page.
The Maryland courts directory for Montgomery County at mdcourts.gov/courtsdirectory/montgomery lists all judges, clerks, and court locations serving the county.
Use the Maryland courts directory to find the right contact for any court location in Montgomery County before making a trip in person.
Montgomery County District Courts
Montgomery County has two district court locations. The Rockville District Court is at 191 E Jefferson Street and can be reached at 301-279-1500. The Gaithersburg District Court is at 14 Fulks Corner Avenue and can be reached at 301-258-6400. Both courts handle small claims, civil cases up to $30,000, and lower-level criminal matters. Their records appear in the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. These courts often have collection judgments and debt-related actions that precede a bankruptcy filing by a Montgomery County resident or business.
The image below shows the Rockville District Court directory information. It links to the Maryland district court directory for Montgomery County.
The Maryland district court directory for Montgomery County (Rockville) at mdcourts.gov/district/directories/montgomeryROCKVILLE lists contacts, hours, and services for the Rockville district court location.
Civil judgments from the Rockville and Gaithersburg district courts often show up as creditor claims in Montgomery County bankruptcy cases. Check both the state case search and PACER when researching a debtor's full record.
Montgomery County Land Records
Property records for Montgomery County are searchable for free through mdlandrec.net. You need a free account to log in. The system shows deeds, mortgages, recorded liens, and other instruments filed in Montgomery County. This is especially useful when a bankruptcy involves real estate. You can check whether a mortgage is recorded, whether a judgment lien has been attached to a property, and whether any transfer deeds were recorded before or after the bankruptcy filing. Montgomery County has a high volume of real estate activity, so the land records are often central to any bankruptcy research involving property.
In-person land records research is available at the Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville during regular business hours. Standard copy fees apply statewide. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus copy fees. Recording new instruments carries a $40 surcharge per document plus applicable state and county fees. If you need older records not in the online system, call the Circuit Court clerk in Rockville before making the trip to confirm availability.
Legal Help in Montgomery County
Maryland Legal Aid has a Montgomery County office at 600 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 430, Rockville, MD 20852. You can reach them at (240) 314-0373 or toll-free at 1-855-880-9487. Their statewide number is (866) MD-LAW-4U. The website at mdlab.org has eligibility information and online intake options. They provide free legal help to low-income residents dealing with debt, bankruptcy, and related issues. Montgomery County's large and diverse population means this office handles many bankruptcy-related inquiries each year.
The Bar Association of Montgomery County runs a lawyer referral service from its office at 27 W Jefferson Street in Rockville. The phone is (301) 424-3454. The Bar Foundation's Pro Bono Program is at (301) 424-7651 and charges a $25 processing fee. If you need an attorney but cannot afford full hourly rates, the referral service can match you with lawyers who offer reduced-cost consultations or take certain bankruptcy cases at lower fees. The first step is usually a short phone call to describe your situation and get matched with the right type of attorney.
The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org/where-file-bankruptcy is a free online resource that explains how to file bankruptcy in Maryland step by step. It covers which chapter to file, how to complete the required forms, how to pass the means test, and what to expect at the Section 341 meeting of creditors. For Montgomery County residents who want to research their options before meeting with an attorney, or who plan to file on their own, this is a reliable starting point.
The Family Law Self Help Center at the Rockville courthouse is at (240) 777-9145. While focused on family matters, it can often point you to the right self-help resources for civil and financial issues that connect to bankruptcy proceedings in Montgomery County Circuit Court.
Cities in Montgomery County
Montgomery County is the most populous county in Maryland and includes many large communities. The following cities have dedicated bankruptcy records pages with local courthouse information and resources.
Other communities in Montgomery County include Potomac, Chevy Chase, Takoma Park, Damascus, Olney, Burtonsville, and Laytonsville. All file bankruptcy cases through the Greenbelt Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland.
Nearby Counties
Montgomery County borders four Maryland counties. If you are unsure which county your address falls in, check property records or the county boundary maps on the state GIS website.