Filing bankruptcy is not the end of anything except the phone calls. The moment your case is filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, an automatic stay stops the foreclosure, the wage garnishment, the collection lawsuit, and (for most people) the worst of the stress. Chapter 7 wipes out most unsecured debts in 3 to 6 months. Chapter 13 keeps your house and pays creditors back through a 3 to 5 year plan. Below: 1 vetted Baltimore firm plus respected outside options that handle Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcies. All offer a free first call.
Bankruptcy is the right tool when you cannot reasonably pay your debts within 5 years, when collection actions are about to take your wages or your home, or when an unexpected event — job loss, illness, divorce, lawsuit, business failure — has put you in a hole that math alone cannot fix. Talk to a Baltimore bankruptcy lawyer if any of the following is true:
The free consultation is the right first move whether you end up filing or not. Many Baltimore families come in expecting bankruptcy and leave with a debt-settlement or hardship-plan strategy that works better for their specific situation.
Chapter 7 — Liquidation. Most unsecured debts (credit cards, medical bills, old utilities, most personal loans) are wiped out in 3 to 6 months. You give up "non-exempt" property to the trustee, but Maryland's exemptions cover almost everything most filers actually own. You must pass the Maryland means test. Chapter 7 is the right tool when your income is below or near the Maryland median and you do not need to save a house from foreclosure.
Chapter 13 — Reorganization. You keep your property. You pay creditors (in whole or in part) through a 3 to 5 year court-supervised plan. The plan amount is based on your disposable income — what is left after necessary expenses. Chapter 13 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 have nondischargeable debts (recent taxes, certain student loan situations) that you want to pay off under court protection.
Chapter 13 attorney fees are typically paid through the plan rather than up front. Many Baltimore firms accept payment plans for Chapter 7 attorney fees as well, so you can file before, not after, the wage garnishment or foreclosure hits. Ask at the consult.
Maryland opted out of the federal exemption scheme. Filers use Maryland state exemptions:
18+ year Baltimore-area attorney with a Super Lawyers rating. Consumer bankruptcy practice alongside criminal defense, DUI, and family law. Plain-spoken at the consult about whether bankruptcy is the right move for your specific situation — including when it is not.
These are independent Baltimore-area bankruptcy firms not currently profiled on LawFirmSquare. Cross-check current ratings on Justia, Super Lawyers, and Avvo before retaining.
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