Bankruptcy Lawyer in Hyattsville, Maryland

If you live in Hyattsville and your paycheck is getting garnished, or a creditor has a judgment against you, you are not out of options. Filing bankruptcy stops the garnishment, usually the same day. You do not have to keep watching a quarter of your check disappear.

I am Sheereen McNair, a Maryland bankruptcy attorney. I help people in Prince George's County file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, and I will tell you honestly which one fits, or whether you should file at all.

You Never Have to Come Into an Office

Everything is handled remotely. Your consultation is a phone call. Your documents are uploaded through our secure client portal. Your case is filed electronically, and your meeting of creditors is normally held on Zoom, where you appear on camera to verify your identity. You do not have to take a day off work to get this started.

Where Hyattsville Residents File

Hyattsville is in Prince George's County, so your case goes to the Greenbelt Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, at 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Suite 300, Greenbelt, MD 20770, phone (301) 344-8018. Most of your case is handled electronically and your meeting of creditors is usually on Zoom, where you appear on camera to verify your identity, so in practice most clients never set foot in the building.

What We See Most in Hyattsville

Wage garnishment. Once a creditor gets a judgment in Maryland, they can garnish up to 25 percent of your disposable income straight out of your paycheck once the court issues a garnishment order. This is the single most common reason people in Hyattsville call us, and it is also the fastest thing to fix. The automatic stay takes effect the moment your case is filed, and your employer has to stop.

Debt collection lawsuits. If you have been served, you have a limited window to respond. Ignoring it turns into a default judgment, and a default judgment turns into garnishment and bank levies. Do not wait for the deadline to pass.

Car trouble. Maryland has no separate car exemption. Your vehicle equity is protected through the wildcard, which covers up to $6,000 of cash or property of any kind. For most people whose car is worth roughly what they still owe on it, there is little or no equity to protect, and the car stays with you as long as you keep paying.

Chapter 7 or Chapter 13

Chapter 7 wipes out most unsecured debt: credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, old collection accounts. It runs about three to four months from filing to discharge. The court filing fee is $338. If your income is at or below the Maryland median for your household size, you qualify. If it is above, the means test looks at your actual expenses, and plenty of above median filers still qualify.

Chapter 13 reorganizes what you owe into a plan you can afford, over three to five years. It is the right tool if you are behind on a mortgage or car and want to catch up rather than give it up. The filing fee is $313.

What You Keep

Most people who file Chapter 7 in Maryland keep everything they own. Maryland protects up to $125,000 of equity in an owner occupied home. That number went up on June 1, 2026, from roughly $27,900, so most of what you will read online about Maryland home equity is out of date. Married couples cannot double it and there is no special senior amount. Maryland has also opted out of the federal exemption system, so you use the Maryland exemptions.

If someone told you a year ago that you had too much equity in your house to file Chapter 7, that advice may simply no longer be true. It is worth having the numbers looked at again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I file bankruptcy if I live in Hyattsville?

Hyattsville is in Prince George's County, so your case goes to the Greenbelt Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court, at 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Suite 300, Greenbelt, MD 20770. Most of the process is electronic and your meeting of creditors is usually held on Zoom, where you appear on camera to verify your identity.

How fast can bankruptcy stop a wage garnishment in Hyattsville?

Immediately. The automatic stay goes into effect the moment your case is filed, and your employer must stop deducting. Most clients see the garnishment stop with their next paycheck.

How much of my paycheck can a creditor take in Maryland?

Once a creditor sues you, wins a judgment, and obtains a garnishment order from the court, they can take up to 25 percent of your disposable income. Filing bankruptcy stops it.

Will I lose my house if I file bankruptcy in Prince George's County?

Usually not. Maryland protects up to $125,000 of equity in owner occupied real estate, raised from roughly $27,900 effective June 1, 2026. Married couples cannot double it and there is no separate senior amount. Most Chapter 7 filers keep their home.

What does it cost to file bankruptcy in Maryland?

The court filing fee is $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13, plus attorney fees. Our consultation is free and we offer payment plans.

Do I have to come into an office to file bankruptcy?

No. Everything is remote. Your consultation is a phone call, your documents are uploaded through our secure client portal, your case is filed electronically, and your meeting of creditors is normally held on Zoom, where you appear on camera to verify your identity. Most clients never travel anywhere.

Getting Garnished in Hyattsville? Let's Stop It.

Free 15 minute phone consultation. No office visit, no paperwork to haul in. Call 240-896-3253 or book online.

Related reading: Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Maryland: The Complete Guide and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Maryland: The Complete Guide. See also How to Stop Wage Garnishment in Maryland and What to Do If You've Been Sued by a Creditor.

Related pages: Prince George's County, and all our Maryland locations.