For most veterans, VA disability compensation does not count as income on the Chapter 7 means test. The HAVEN Act of 2019 amended the Bankruptcy Code to leave VA disability and certain other benefits out of the current monthly income figure the means test uses. So a veteran whose disability pay would seem to put them over the Maryland median may still qualify for Chapter 7 once that income is set aside. A lot of veterans are told they earn too much and never learn this. If VA disability is...

If you are facing a foreclosure sale, a wage garnishment, or a repossession this week in Maryland, filing bankruptcy can stop it immediately. The moment your case is filed, the automatic stay takes effect, a federal court order that halts foreclosure sales, garnishments, and repossessions right away, before any hearing. If you are up against a deadline, the most important thing is getting your case filed before that deadline passes. Can Bankruptcy Really Stop Something This Fast? Yes. The...

In Maryland, bankruptcy has two cost pieces. The court filing fee is $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13. On top of that are attorney fees, which vary with the complexity of your case. Middleton Legal offers payment plans, so the cost is not one lump sum, and the consultation is always free. For many people the real question is not the price of filing, it is the cost of not filing, the garnished wages, the mounting interest, and the stress. We tell you the full picture up front, with...