State of Maryland Economy:
Three key industries driving the Maryland economy are manufacturing services, education, and biotechnology. Due in large part to its close proximity to the nation’s capital, Maryland had the highest median household income as of 2015.
Location of Maryland Bankruptcy Courts:
Baltimore
101 W Lombard St
Baltimore, MD 21201
Greenbelt
6500 Cherrywood Ln
Greenbelt, MD 20770
Main Tel: 301-344-8018
Maryland Bankruptcy Exemptions
Here’s a list of common Maryland bankruptcy exemptions.
- Personal property. Up to $5,000 in tools needed in your trade, including clothing, books, tools, and inventory (Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-504(b)(4)); professionally prescribed health aids (Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-504(b)(3)); up to $1,000 in appliances and furnishings, clothing, pets, and books for use by you or your dependents (Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-504(b)(4)); burial plot (Bus. Reg. § 5-503)).
- Homestead. Up to $25,150 of equity in any owner-occupied real estate (house, condominium, co-op, or permanently affixed manufactured home (married couples cannot double). (Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-504(f)(1)(i)(2), Real Prop § 8-203(d)(3)(ii).)
- Tax-exempt retirement accounts. Including 401(k)s, 403(b)s, profit-sharing and money purchase plans, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, and defined-benefit plans are also protected under 11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(3)(C) with some limitation.
- Retirement benefits.ERISA-qualified benefits and IRAs (Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-504(h)); state employees retirement accounts and benefits (State Pers. & Pens. § 21-502).
- Public benefits, earnings, and support.Court-ordered child support payments (Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-504(b)(6)); 75% of disposable earnings or $145 per week, whichever is greater (plus medical payments deducted by an employer), or, for residents of Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Worcester counties, 75% of disposable earnings or 30 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is greater (plus medical payments deducted by an employer) (Com. Law § 15-601.1); alimony in an amount equal to your earnings exemption (Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-504(b)(7), Com. Law § 15-601.1); public assistance benefits (Human Serv. § 5-407(a)(1),(2)).
- Insurance and damages. Disability or health benefits, including court awards, arbitration awards, & settlements (Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-504(b)(2)); fraternal benefit society benefits (Ins. § 8-431, Est. & Trusts § 8-115); life insurance or annuity contract proceeds when the beneficiary is the insured’s dependent, child, or spouse (Ins. § 816-111(a)).
- Motor vehicles. Maryland doesn’t have a motor vehicle exemption. You can use the wildcard exemption (see below) to protect equity in your vehicle.
- Wildcard exemptions. Cash or property up to $6,000 in value, plus an additional $5,000 of value in personal property. (Cts. & Jud. Proc. § § 11-504(b)(5), (f)(1)(i)(1).)
- Personal injury, wrongful death, lost future earnings awards. (Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-504(b)(2).)