Last page edit 02/11/08

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 FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY - costs and where to file

This website will be updated to reflect the new law by January 31, 2006.
Here is a brief summary of two major changes in the law.
Please note that the sections below may not yet have been updated.

You can file a petition for bankruptcy with the local U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Maryland. Depending on where you live (or have assets), you may file in Greenbelt or Baltimore. You must show: 

  • you live in Maryland; or

  • you had a business or most of your assets in Maryland.

If you cannot show you live or had a business/assets in Maryland for the last 180 days, you can show you were in Maryland more than any other judicial district over the last 180 days.

If you are filing for a business bankruptcy, you can also file wherever a partner or affiliate of your business has already filed for bankruptcy. 28 U.S.C. § 1408(2)

Where to File in Maryland 
If you live in Allegany, Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Montgomery, Prince George's, St. Mary's, or Washington Counties you file your petition with:
 
United States Bankruptcy Court
Federal Courthouse
6500 Cherrywood Lane, suite 300
Greenbelt, MD 20770
301-344-8018
8:00 am - 4:00pm (Call to check if extended business hours are in effect)
 
If you live anywhere else in Maryland (e.g., Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, etc.) you file your petition with:
 
United States Bankruptcy Court
Garmatz Federal Courthouse
101 W. Lombard Street
Suite 8308
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-962-2688
8:00 am - 4:00pm (Call to check if extended business hours are in effect)

Filing Fees  - Chapter 7 (Individual or Joint) - $299           Chapter 13 - $274
The court has a complete updated list of fees. Make cashier's check or money order payable to: U.S. Bankruptcy Court. (No personal checks or credit card payments from debtors are accepted.)
Paying over time - You may also pay your filing fee in up to 4 installments. However, you must make the final installment within 120 days after you file your bankruptcy petition.

Source: Maryland State Law Library (MSLL)

Last date of legal review 02/11/08 (PLL/M.A.J.)
Is this legal advice? This site offers legal information, not legal advice.  We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information and to clearly explain your options.  However we do not provide legal advice - the application of the law to your individual circumstances. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.  See our section on Finding Legal Help.

About this website. The Maryland State Law Library, a court-related agency of the Maryland Judiciary, sponsors this site. The website was developed (1999-2007) as part of an access to justice initiative by the Maryland Legal Assistance Network (MLAN) in collaboration with a number of legal services providers serving low and moderate income Marylanders.  In the absence of file-specific attribution or copyright, the Maryland State Law Library may hold the copyright to parts of this website. You are free to copy the information for your own use or for other non-commercial purposes with the following language “Source: Maryland's People’s Law Library – www.peoples-law.org. © Maryland State Law Library, 2007.”

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