5 Things Baltimore Drivers Should Know About the Chapter 13 910-Day Rule
What the 910-Day Rule Could Mean for Your Car Loan in Baltimore Key Takeaways: Under Chapter 13’s federal 910-day rule, if you bought a car for personal use with a purchase-money loan within 910 days (about 2.5 years) before filing, you generally can’t reduce the secured claim to the car’s lower current value. If you […]
What Is a Final Loss Mitigation Affidavit in Maryland Foreclosure?
Understanding the Document That Can Clear the Way for a Foreclosure Sale Key Takeaways: A Final Loss Mitigation Affidavit is a sworn filing made by a mortgage servicer in Maryland circuit court certifying that a homeowner was reviewed for loss mitigation options, or that no review was required, before a residential foreclosure sale can proceed […]
How the April 2026 Median Income Update Affects Baltimore Chapter 7 Filers
What Changing Median Income Figures Mean for Debt Relief in Charm City Key Takeaways: The April 2026 median income update revises the Maryland figures Chapter 7 filers are measured against, and because eligibility depends on how your household income compares to the median for your household size, an update alone can change who qualifies. The […]
What Is a Confessed Judgment in Maryland and How Can It Reach Your Wages?
When a Signature You Forgot About Turns Into a Court Judgment Key Takeaways: A confessed judgment in Maryland is a court judgment entered against you based on a confession of judgment clause, sometimes called a cognovit provision, that you signed before any dispute arose, allowing a creditor to obtain judgment without a trial or advance […]
What Is a Deficiency Judgment After Voluntary Surrender in Maryland?
Giving Back the Car Does Not Always End the Debt Key Takeaways: A deficiency judgment after voluntary surrender is a court order allowing a lender to collect the balance left after your surrendered vehicle is sold and the proceeds applied to your loan. Voluntarily returning the car generally does not cancel the debt; it may […]
What Are Adequate Protection Payments in a Baltimore Chapter 13 Case?
Understanding a Key Duty When You Keep Property in Chapter 13 Key Takeaways: Adequate protection payments compensate a secured creditor for collateral depreciation, such as a financed car, during a Baltimore Chapter 13 case. Rooted in Fifth Amendment property protections, 11 U.S.C. § 361 authorizes three compliance methods: periodic cash payments, an additional or replacement […]
Can Credit Card Charges Before Chapter 7 Be Denied Discharge in Maryland?
When Recent Charges Can Follow You Into Bankruptcy Key Takeaways: Yes, credit card charges made shortly before filing Chapter 7 in Maryland can be denied discharge, but this is not automatic and mostly affects dishonest spending. Ordinary credit card debt is unsecured and typically wiped out, while narrow fraud exceptions under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2) […]
How to Redeem a Repossessed Car in Baltimore Under 12-1021
Reclaiming Your Vehicle After a Baltimore Repossession Key Takeaways: Under Maryland’s Credit Grantor Closed End Credit Provisions in Section 12-1021, borrowers whose cars are repossessed in Baltimore have the right to redeem them before sale. The lender must retain the vehicle for 15 days after issuing required notice. To redeem, you typically pay the amount […]
What Assets Are Protected by Maryland Bankruptcy Exemptions in Chapter 7?
Keeping What Matters When You File Chapter 7 in Baltimore Key Takeaways: Maryland is an opt-out state, so Chapter 7 filers must use state exemptions rather than federal ones. Exemptions are measured against equity, not total value, so financed property with little equity may be fully protected. Maryland shields essentials including a homestead exemption for […]
Does a Non-Filing Spouse’s Income Count in a Maryland Chapter 13 Plan?
Understanding How Marriage Shapes a Baltimore Chapter 13 Case Key Takeaways: A non-filing spouse’s income can influence your Maryland Chapter 13 plan, but it is not automatically seized by creditors. Either spouse may file alone under 11 U.S.C. § 301(a) or jointly under § 302(a), yet the court reviews household finances to test whether the […]