Bankruptcy Lawyer in Bowie, Maryland

Sheereen E. McNair, Esq.
Jul 11
4 min read

Updated: Jul 25

If you are behind on your mortgage in Bowie and a foreclosure sale date is coming, filing bankruptcy before that date can stop the sale. Bowie is in Prince George's County, so your case goes to the Greenbelt Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court, which serves the county. Chapter 13 lets you catch up the missed mortgage payments over three to five years while you stay in the house. Middleton Legal is a virtual firm serving clients across Maryland. Sheereen E. McNair works directly with every client. Call 240-896-3253 for a free consultation.

Bowie Is a Homeowner Town, and the House Is the Whole Ballgame

Most of the Bowie clients who call us are not trying to walk away from anything. They are trying to keep a house they have paid into for years, after a job loss, a divorce, a medical event, or a stretch of reduced hours put them behind.

If a foreclosure sale date is scheduled, filing before the sale stops it. The automatic stay takes effect immediately when the case is filed. This is the single most time sensitive thing in bankruptcy. Once the sale happens, options narrow dramatically. Call before the date, not after.

Chapter 13 then lets you cure the arrears. The missed payments get spread over the life of your plan, three to five years, while you resume the regular monthly mortgage payment going forward. You are not asking the lender for a favor. This is a court process the lender has to follow.

Chapter 7 does not cure mortgage arrears. It can wipe out other debt to free up cash flow, and it can buy time, but it does not by itself let you catch up on the mortgage. That is why most Bowie foreclosure cases are Chapter 13.

Where Bowie Cases Are Filed

Bowie is in Prince George's County. Prince George's County bankruptcy cases go to the Greenbelt Division, Federal Courthouse, 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Suite 300, Greenbelt, MD 20770. Phone (301) 344-8018. The whole process is remote, and Middleton Legal is a virtual firm, so you do not come to an office. Petitions may be filed with the Clerk's Office in either the Baltimore or the Greenbelt Division, and Prince George's County cases are heard in Greenbelt.

What Filing Stops

The automatic stay stops the foreclosure sale, stops wage garnishment, releases frozen bank accounts, stops repossession, pauses collection lawsuits, and ends the creditor calls.

A Word About Loan Modifications

A lot of Bowie homeowners come to us after months of chasing a loan modification while the foreclosure clock kept running. Modifications can work. The problem is that the sale date does not wait for the servicer to make up its mind. Filing bankruptcy stops the sale and gives you a protected process. In some cases we can pursue a modification while the case is pending. What you should not do is let the sale date arrive while you are still waiting on a phone call.

What It Costs

The court filing fee is $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13. Attorney fees are separate and payment plans are available. In Chapter 13, most of the attorney fee is typically paid through the plan, which is often what makes filing possible when you are already behind.

What You Keep, and How Maryland Exemptions Really Work

Maryland has opted out of the federal exemption system, so the federal exemptions are not available to you. You use Maryland exemptions, and Maryland has no standalone motor vehicle exemption. Vehicle equity is generally protected through Maryland's wildcard exemption, which covers up to $6,000 in cash or property of any kind, and that same $6,000 has to stretch across everything you apply it to. Retirement accounts are generally protected under separate rules. Because the wildcard has to cover several things at once, we run your actual numbers before you file rather than guessing. Most people still keep their home and their car.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can bankruptcy stop a foreclosure sale in Bowie?

Yes, if you file before the sale takes place. The automatic stay stops the sale immediately upon filing. Once the sale has happened, your options are much more limited, so call as soon as you have a date.

How do I catch up on missed mortgage payments?

Chapter 13 lets you cure the arrears over the three to five year life of your plan while you resume the regular monthly payment going forward.

Will Chapter 7 save my house?

Chapter 7 does not cure mortgage arrears. It can eliminate other debt and free up cash flow, but if you are behind on the mortgage and want to keep the home, Chapter 13 is usually the right tool.

Can I use the federal exemptions in Maryland?

No. Maryland has opted out of the federal exemption system, so Maryland filers must use the Maryland exemptions. Maryland also has no standalone motor vehicle exemption, so car equity is generally protected through the wildcard exemption of up to $6,000 in cash or property of any kind.

Where do Bowie residents file bankruptcy?

Bowie is in Prince George's County, so cases go to the Greenbelt Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court, 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Suite 300, Greenbelt, MD 20770.

How much does it cost to file bankruptcy in Bowie?

The court fee is $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13, plus attorney fees. Payment plans are available.

Save the House. Call Before the Sale Date.

Free consultation. If you have a foreclosure date, call today. Call 240-896-3253. Middleton Legal, 6301 Ivy Ln, Ste 700, Greenbelt, MD 20770.