Hiring a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Maryland
How bankruptcy lawyers are paid, the Maryland means test and exemptions, how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Maryland: fee rules
| If a lawyer takes your money | The Client Protection Fund of the Bar of Maryland, created in 1965 and supported by practicing attorneys, reimburses clients who lose money through misappropriation by Maryland lawyers (or out-of-state lawyers authorized to practice in Maryland) acting as attorneys or fiduciaries, except to the extent the loss is bonded; malpractice is not covered. Reimbursement for one claim, or all claims against the same attorney, cannot exceed 5% of the Fund's net balance. Claims must be filed within six months after the claimant discovers the theft (the Trustees may accept late claims). Filing is free, and a lawyer who helps may not charge a fee. Fund home: https://www.mdcourts.gov/cpf ; governing rules: Md. Rules 19-601 to 19-610 |
|---|
Maryland rules to know first
| Standard Chapter 13 lawyer fee | District of Maryland (the state's only bankruptcy district): Appendix F to the Local Bankruptcy Rules (Ver. 25.01, December 1, 2025) provides two fee arrangements presumed reasonable under 11 U.S.C. 329 and allowable under 11 U.S.C. 330 without application or approval (rebuttable on objection or an order to justify fee): (A) a flat fee not to exceed $5,300.00 for representation of the debtor for all matters in the main case, with additional fees available by application (Local Bankruptcy Form E-1) for unexpected, extraordinary work or work done more than 90 days after the confirmation order; or (B) a flat fee not to exceed $6,800.00 for all matters in the main case, with additional fees only for unexpected, extraordinary work and otherwise a waiver of further fee applications. The amounts adjust every 3 years on April 1 (starting April 1, 2025) by the CPI-U, rounded to the nearest $25, and do not apply to cases commenced before an adjustment. Representation covers all matters in the case except adversary proceedings, appeals and U.S. Trustee audits, for which separate arrangements may be made. |
|---|---|
| Means test median income | 1 person: $86,928; 2 people: $114,611; 3 people: $135,949; 4 people: $166,173; add $11,100 for each additional person over 4. These figures apply to bankruptcy cases filed on or after July 15, 2026 (the Census median income data was last updated for cases filed on or after April 1, 2026). The U.S. Trustee updates this table periodically; check https://www.justice.gov/ust/means-testing for the table in effect on the filing date. The table's one-person column is labeled "1 EARNER." Income at or below the median for the household size generally means the Chapter 7 means test's further calculations are not required. |
| Homestead exemption | In bankruptcy, the debtor's interest in owner-occupied residential real property (including a condominium or a manufactured home converted to real property) or a housing cooperative, up to the amount in 11 U.S.C. 522(d)(1) as adjusted under 11 U.S.C. 104. It cannot be claimed on a property if the debtor or a close relative successfully claimed it on that property within the prior 8 years, and both spouses cannot claim it in the same case. The statute ties the amount to the federal homestead figure rather than stating a dollar amount; the current adjusted federal figure was not confirmed from an official source here. |
| State or federal exemptions | Maryland filers must use Maryland exemptions: "In any bankruptcy proceeding, a debtor is not entitled to the federal exemptions provided by § 522(d) of the federal Bankruptcy Code." |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Maryland State Bar Association does not make referrals itself; it says "Your county's bar association can help you find a lawyer in your area" and lists county bar numbers, including Anne Arundel (410) 222-6859, Baltimore City (410) 539-3112, Baltimore County, Carroll and Frederick (410) 337-9100, Harford (410) 836-0123, Howard (410) 313-3853, Montgomery (301) 279-9100, and Prince George's and Charles (301) 952-1440. Fees are set by each county service. |
|---|---|
| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Maryland Judiciary's attorney listing, drawn from its Attorney Information System, lets you search by last name (partial names allowed) and first name, with a similar-names option. An attorney listed as active is in good standing and authorized to practice; other listings may show inactive or retired attorneys, judges, or attorneys with disciplinary or administrative actions affecting eligibility. Questions: Supreme Court of Maryland Clerk's Office, 410-260-1500. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints about Maryland lawyers go to the Attorney Grievance Commission's Office of Bar Counsel, which investigates and prosecutes violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Read the instructions, complete and print the Attorney Complaint Form (English or Spanish), and mail it to the Office of Bar Counsel, 200 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Suite 300, Annapolis, MD 21401. Questions: (410) 514-7051 (staff cannot discuss complaint details by phone). Public sanctions and actions affecting licensure are posted on the Commission's website. Sanctions: https://www.mdcourts.gov/attygrievance/sanctions |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | The Maryland Court Help Center, run by the Maryland Judiciary, offers "Free legal help with your civil matter" by phone at 410-260-1392, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Maryland Legal Aid, the state's LSC-funded legal aid organization, provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income Marylanders. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
|---|
All legal help in Maryland · Do I need a lawyer?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.