Bankruptcy Lawyer in Montgomery County, Maryland

If you live in Montgomery County and a creditor is garnishing your paycheck, has frozen your account, or is threatening your home, bankruptcy may be the fastest legal way to stop it. Montgomery County cases are handled by the Greenbelt Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, and Middleton Legal handles the entire process remotely, from anywhere in the state. Sheereen E. McNair works directly with every client. Montgomery County has some of the highest home values in Maryland, and the state now protects up to $125,000 of home equity, so more homeowners qualify to keep their house than they expect. Call 240-896-3253 for a free consultation.

Where Montgomery County Cases Are Filed

Montgomery County cases go to the Greenbelt Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, at 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Suite 300, Greenbelt, MD 20770, (301) 344-8018.

The court allows new petitions to be filed with the Clerk's Office in either the Baltimore or the Greenbelt Division. In practice you almost never go to the courthouse at all. The whole process is remote. Your consultation is a phone call, your documents are uploaded through our secure client portal, and your case is filed electronically. Your meeting of creditors is held virtually on Zoom, where you appear on camera to verify your identity, so it is not a phone only call. Middleton Legal is a virtual firm serving clients across Maryland, so we do not meet clients in person and you do not come to an office.

What We See Most in Montgomery County

High home equity. Rockville, Bethesda, Potomac, and Silver Spring carry some of the highest property values in Maryland. For years that equity pushed people away from Chapter 7. Since June 1, 2026, Maryland protects up to $125,000 of equity in an owner occupied home, so the math has changed for a lot of homeowners here.

High income and the means test. Montgomery County wages run above the Maryland median, so the Chapter 7 means test matters more here than almost anywhere in the state. Being over the median does not automatically disqualify you, it just means we look closely at your actual expenses. When Chapter 7 is off the table, Chapter 13 still stops garnishment and foreclosure.

Collection lawsuits and garnishment. A creditor that has sued you and won a judgment can ask the court for a garnishment order. With that order, Maryland law lets them take up to 25 percent of your disposable income from your paycheck. The automatic stay stops it the day you file.

Professional and federal income. A large share of the county works for the federal government, contractors, or in licensed professions. Steady income is exactly what makes a Chapter 13 plan workable, and it is worth protecting a professional license by handling debt the right way.

Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 in Montgomery County

Chapter 7 wipes out most unsecured debt, credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, and old collection accounts, usually in about three to four months. You have to pass the means test, which compares your household income to the Maryland median for your family size.

Chapter 13 reorganizes your debt into a three to five year plan. It is the right tool when you are behind on a mortgage and want to keep the house, when your income is too high for Chapter 7, or when you need to catch up on a car loan or back taxes. Given the county's home values and income levels, more Montgomery County cases land in Chapter 13 than people expect. We run your actual numbers before recommending a chapter.

What It Costs

The court filing fee is $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13. Attorney fees are separate and we offer payment plans. In Chapter 13 most of the attorney fee is typically paid through the plan rather than up front, which is one reason Chapter 13 stays reachable even when cash is tight.

Cities We Serve in Montgomery County

We help clients across Montgomery County, including Silver Spring, Rockville, Bethesda, and Gaithersburg. Each has its own detailed page.

Working With Middleton Legal

You work directly with Sheereen, not a case mill. Middleton Legal is a BBB Accredited Business with an A+ rating, and a virtual firm, so you get straight answers from anywhere in Maryland. We treat bankruptcy as a strategic fresh start, not something to be ashamed of.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do Montgomery County residents file for bankruptcy?

Montgomery County cases go 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 held virtually on Zoom, where you appear on camera to verify your identity.

I have a lot of equity in my Montgomery County home. Can I still file Chapter 7?

Often yes. Maryland now protects up to $125,000 of equity in an owner occupied home, effective June 1, 2026, up from $27,900. Married couples cannot double it and there is no separate senior amount, but many homeowners who were told they had too much equity can now keep the home in Chapter 7.

My income is high. Does that disqualify me from Chapter 7?

Not automatically. The means test compares your household income to the Maryland median, but it also accounts for your actual expenses. If you do not pass, Chapter 13 still stops garnishment and foreclosure and reorganizes what you owe.

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

After 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.

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 held virtually on Zoom, where you appear on camera to verify your identity. Middleton Legal is a virtual firm and does not meet clients in person, so you never travel anywhere.

Talk to a Montgomery County Bankruptcy Lawyer Today

Stop the garnishment. Protect your home equity. Start over without shame. Free consultation, no judgment, straight answers. Call 240-896-3253.

Related guides: Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Maryland and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Maryland. Or book online.

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