Washington County Bankruptcy Records
Washington County bankruptcy records are filed through the Greenbelt Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. Residents of Hagerstown and the rest of Washington County who need to search bankruptcy cases, get case status updates, or find court documents can use PACER online, call the VCIS line, or visit the Greenbelt courthouse in person. This page covers how to find those records and what you need to know about the process.
Washington County Overview
U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Greenbelt Division
Washington County falls under the Greenbelt Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. This is the federal court that handles all bankruptcy cases for residents and businesses in Washington County. The Greenbelt courthouse is located at 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Suite 300, Greenbelt, MD 20770. The main phone number is (301) 344-8016. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Note that intake counters close daily from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM for lunch.
There is one important change to know about the Greenbelt Division as of December 10, 2025. The Greenbelt location no longer accepts in-person payments. If you need to pay a filing fee or other court charge, you have three options. You can pay online through pay.gov, mail your payment to the Baltimore Division at 101 W. Lombard Street, Suite 8530, Baltimore, MD 21201, or go to Baltimore in person to pay. This applies to all Washington County filers who use the Greenbelt courthouse. Plan for this before you go to Greenbelt so you do not make a wasted trip.
The Circuit Court in Washington County is a separate court from the federal bankruptcy court. The Circuit Court at 24 Summit Avenue in Hagerstown handles state civil and criminal matters. Clerk Kevin Tucker oversees that office. The phone number for the Washington County Circuit Court is 301-733-8660. That office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. State court records and bankruptcy records are two different things. Make sure you contact the right court for what you need.
| Bankruptcy Court (Greenbelt) |
Federal Courthouse 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Suite 300 Greenbelt, MD 20770 Phone: (301) 344-8016 |
|---|---|
| Bankruptcy Court (Baltimore) |
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 counters close 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM) |
| Payment Note | Greenbelt is cashless since Dec 10, 2025. Pay via pay.gov or at Baltimore. |
| Circuit Court (State) | 24 Summit Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21740 | Phone: 301-733-8660 |
How to Search Washington County Bankruptcy Records
The main tool for searching federal bankruptcy records in Washington County is PACER. PACER stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. You can use it at pacer.uscourts.gov. PACER covers all cases filed in the District of Maryland, including those from Washington County. You can search by name, case number, or Social Security number. The cost is $0.10 per page. No charge applies if you spend less than $30.00 in a quarter.
If you just need basic case status and do not want to set up a PACER account, use the VCIS phone line. VCIS stands for Voice Case Information System. The number is 1-866-222-8029. It is free to call and works 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can get the case number, filing date, trustee name, and status of the case. You will need the debtor's name or Social Security number to search. This is a fast way to check on a bankruptcy case for free without logging in to any system.
The Washington County Circuit Court also has an online search tool for state court records. Maryland Judiciary Case Search is available at casesearch.courts.state.md.us. This system covers state court filings only. It will not show federal bankruptcy cases. Use it if you need to look at civil judgments, liens, or other state court matters tied to a Washington County debtor. Both searches together give you a full picture of someone's legal history in this county.
The Washington County Circuit Court requires a case number for record searches since October 5, 2020. The office cannot search by name alone and cannot certify that a record does not exist.
The family law help clinic at the Washington County Circuit Court offers free attorney consultations for state court matters. It is walk-in only, first come, first served. Hours are Tuesday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Thursday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The clinic is in the Circuit Court Law Library at 24 Summit Avenue. The attorney can give limited advice but cannot represent you in court. For bankruptcy-specific legal help, contact Maryland Legal Aid at 301-694-7414 or call the statewide number at (866) MD-LAW-4U.
The Washington County Circuit Court accepts several payment methods: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, cash, certified checks, and money orders. American Express, Google Pay, and Apple Pay are not accepted. Credit cards cannot be used for posting bonds. For marriage licenses, the court requires cash, certified checks, or credit card only. Personal checks are not accepted for marriage licenses. Keep these payment rules in mind when you visit the courthouse for any reason.
The Washington County Circuit Court's family law and case search resources are detailed on the Maryland Courts website. Visit the Washington County family court page for more on state civil filings and local procedures.
This page shows the family court services available through the Washington County Circuit Court, which handles state civil matters separate from federal bankruptcy cases in Hagerstown.
PACER Access and Fees for Washington County Cases
PACER is the standard way to get federal court records including bankruptcy cases from Washington County. To use it, you create a free account at pacer.uscourts.gov. Once logged in, you can search the District of Maryland and find all cases tied to Washington County filers. Document images cost $0.10 per page. The cap is $3.00 per document, no matter how long it is. If your total charges in a quarter stay under $30.00, they are waived entirely.
For physical document retrieval, the court offers SmartScan. This service costs $11.00 for retrieval, plus $9.90 for the first 30 pages, then $0.65 per page after that. The maximum is 100 pages per request. SmartScan is useful if you need older case documents that are not yet digitized or if you need a printed copy of a filing. Contact the court directly to request SmartScan for Washington County cases.
The Maryland Courts website provides information on business filings and court procedures for Washington County. See the Washington County clerk's business page for details on state court filing requirements and available services.
This resource covers the clerk's office services in Hagerstown and explains what documents you can file in person, by mail, or through e-filing systems like SimpliFile.
Bankruptcy Filing Fees for Washington County
Bankruptcy filing fees are set by federal law and apply the same way across all of Maryland, including Washington County. The fee to file a Chapter 7 case is $338. Chapter 13 costs $313. Chapter 11 costs $1,738. These fees must be paid when you file. Because the Greenbelt Division no longer accepts in-person payments as of December 2025, Washington County filers must use pay.gov, mail payment to Baltimore, or pay at the Baltimore courthouse.
Low-income filers in Washington County may qualify for a fee waiver or installment plan for Chapter 7 cases. To apply for a waiver, you submit Official Form 103B with your petition. To pay in installments, submit Official Form 103A. The court may grant up to four installment payments. Income and expenses are reviewed before the court decides. Legal aid attorneys can help you fill out these forms if you qualify for free services. For the current fee schedule, see mdb.uscourts.gov/forms/filing-fees.
The Maryland Judiciary provides a full overview of filing costs and court fee structures. See the Washington County Circuit Court page for state court fees that may apply alongside a bankruptcy case.
The Circuit Court page outlines services available in Hagerstown and links to related state court resources that may be relevant to Washington County bankruptcy filers.
Legal Help for Washington County Residents
Washington County residents who need help with bankruptcy have several options. Maryland Legal Aid serves this area and can help people with low income. The local number is 301-694-7414. The statewide line is (866) MD-LAW-4U. Legal Aid attorneys can advise on whether bankruptcy is the right choice, help fill out forms, and in some cases represent clients in court at no charge.
People's Law Library has a free guide on where to file bankruptcy in Maryland. It covers which division handles your county and how to start the process. Visit peoples-law.org/where-file-bankruptcy for step-by-step help. This is a good first stop if you are not sure what type of bankruptcy to file or how the process works in Washington County.
The Washington County Circuit Court also runs a Family Law Help Clinic for state civil matters. While it does not cover federal bankruptcy cases directly, an attorney there may be able to point you to the right resource. The clinic is walk-in only. It runs Tuesday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Thursday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Circuit Court Law Library, 24 Summit Avenue, Hagerstown. E-filing is available through SimpliFile for state court documents. Virtual courtroom information is also available for remote hearings in Washington County.
Maryland Legal Aid is a key resource for low-income filers in Washington County. Visit mdlab.org to find local offices, check eligibility, and get help with bankruptcy and other legal matters.
Maryland Legal Aid serves clients across the state including Washington County, offering free legal help for those who meet income guidelines and need assistance with debt and bankruptcy matters.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County's largest city is Hagerstown. No cities in Washington County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All Washington County residents, regardless of which city or town they live in, file bankruptcy cases through the Greenbelt Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland.
Cities and communities in Washington County include Hagerstown, Martinsburg Road area, Williamsport, Boonsboro, Smithsburg, Sharpsburg, and Clear Spring. All of these fall under the same Greenbelt Division jurisdiction for federal bankruptcy purposes.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Washington County in Maryland. If you are not sure which county you should file in, check your current address. Bankruptcy cases are filed in the federal district that covers your county of residence.