What are Maryland Bankruptcy Records?

Maryland bankruptcy records are documents that comprise the details of individuals resident in the state that cannot repay their debts. The U.S laws grants persons with this kind of issue the privilege to file for bankruptcy in hopes of creating liquidation or a debt repayment plan.

The federal bankruptcy court in Maryland is responsible for managing cases on the subject matter. There is only one federal bankruptcy court in the state which stores and disseminates such records to interested parties upon request.

What do Maryland Bankruptcy Records Contain?

Maryland bankruptcy records contain the following information:

• Sources of income
• All creditor names and claims
• Total assets
• Insurance records
• Gross income
• Federal income tax returns
• Bank accounts and statements
• All investments
• Debt collection notices for the previous three months

Are Bankruptcy Records Public Information?

Yes, Maryland bankruptcy records are available to all interested persons in the state. This is in accordance with the Maryland public information act and U.S public information rules. These laws empower the citizens of the U.S to access government agency documents. However, these laws are not without their limits as details such as the record owner’s date of birth, social security number, banking numbers, and any minor/child name. Also, some bankruptcy records filed under sealed records are not readily available to the general public.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. Operating independently of any state government, such platforms often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location. Search engines on these sites may also help when starting a search for specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties may need to provide some or all of the following:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

How to Get Maryland Bankruptcy Records

The four mediums for obtaining a Maryland bankruptcy record are online, in-person, via calls, and mail-in requests. The process by which a person in Maryland can obtain bankruptcy documents is typically divided into groups according to when the lawsuits or claims were filed or concluded.

Online requests: If requesting for cases closed before the 7th of April 2003, interested persons may be able to obtain the bankruptcy document via NARA (National Archives & Records Administration). Interested parties may either request online or contact their office on (215) 305 2000. However, NARA typically requires requesters to provide both the box and transfer number of the records requested. Individuals who do not have these case numbers can reach either the Greenbelt court on (301) 344 8018 or the Baltimore court on (410) 962 2688. After calling the numbers and the recorded message starts to play, the requester should press 9 to get the case numbers.

Alternatively, requesters may obtain the records from certain government authorized agencies. These third-party websites require that individuals sign-up to make use of their services. Fees apply and are charged per page. However, requesters should note that this applies to cases filed on the 1st of December 2003.

In-person requests: cases that have been closed for over a year are only accessible to persons that participated in the case. With the CM/ECF login at hand, the case participants may view information on their case at the Maryland courthouses with public computer terminals. The following is the addresses of the federal district courts in Maryland:

District of Maryland U.S Bankruptcy Court (Greenbelt)
6500 Cherrywood Lane
Greenbelt, Maryland 20770
Phone: (301) 344 8018

District of Maryland U.S Bankruptcy Court (Baltimore)
101 West Lombard Street Room 8530
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Phone: (410) 962 2688

Interested persons should be aware that the records available on the public terminals are cases that were filed before the 1st of December 2003.

Mail-in requests: Interested individuals that cannot make it to the courthouses listed above can have the court send a mail containing the requested bankruptcy record. Requesters are generally advised to contact the appropriate bankruptcy case administrator to make inquiries. Interested parties are charged a fee of 50 cents per page for the records. Mail-in requests only apply to cases filed before the 1st of December 2003. To request for the documents through this medium, the interested-person has to be a participant in the case.

Call-in requests: Another medium for obtaining Maryland bankruptcy records is the VCIS (voice case information system). This tool enables callers possessing certain details to obtain information regarding a bankruptcy case. This service is free for all requesters. The number to call is (866) 222 8029, then after the calls connect, Maryland requesters are to press 4. The necessary details in order to gain access to a bankruptcy case information are, the debtor’s names, social security number, and case number. Below is the information that may be provided through this medium:

• Debtor’s Name
• Filing date
• Case Number
• Name of the trustee
• Name of the judge
• Lawyer’s name
• Case status
• Asset or no asset
• Discharge date
• Chapter
• Business/Consumer
• Voluntary/Involuntary
• Date Closed

How do I Find Out if My Bankruptcy Case is Closed in Maryland?

Individuals sometimes obtain information on the status of a Maryland bankruptcy case by calling the District’s VCIS. Alternatively, requesters may opt to contact the district court clerk’s office where the case/claim got filed. However, it’s helpful to note that different circumstances are attached to the other kind of bankruptcy cases. For instance, certain Chapter 7 cases get closed within ninety days after it was filed as long as there were no disputes. Other chapter 7 cases may require the trustees to sell the assets before the case is closed. The other bankruptcy case types are more complicated with different factors that determine when they get closed.

Can a Bankruptcy be Expunged in Maryland?

The Maryland laws do not cover the expungement of bankruptcy records since such documents are under the federal district court’s jurisdiction. The Maryland federal district court is responsible for handling the cases and under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code gives no direct powers for expunging records on the subject matter. However, bankruptcy documents may be sealed in the Maryland district federal court. To do this, eligible persons are required to submit a petition to seal the bankruptcy courts together with the necessary files. Individuals may also need to call the office of the clerk to make inquiries and an appointment. The petition should state the reasons for sealing and the parts.