Equity that blocks a careless Chapter 7
We will not file Chapter 7 as a convenience. If the house needs protection, Chapter 13 is the conversation.
Montgomery County · Silver Spring, MD
Stephen A. Thomas: Attorney Serving Bethesda, MD
Montgomery County | High housing costs | Meet in Silver Spring
Bethesda clients usually have real home equity and a salary that looks fine on a Red Line commute until the mortgage, childcare, and a medical event are subtracted. You meet at 8403 Colesville Rd in Silver Spring. You file in the court that matches where you live — almost always Maryland, not D.C., if Bethesda is home.
- 35+ yearsLicensed legal practice
- Free consultConfidential case review
- Colesville Rd8403 Colesville Rd, Suite 1100
- VerifyMaryland attorney listing
Local landscape
How Bethesda consultations actually look
NIH, hospital, consulting, and two-lawyer households are common. Nominal income can sit above Maryland’s median even when the household is drowning in a first mortgage and a HELOC. Chapter 7 is not promised on a ZIP code. If equity exceeds what Maryland exemptions protect, Chapter 13 is how you keep the house.
The mistake Bethesda residents make is hiring a D.C. form service because they work in the District. Venue follows residence. We sort that in the first meeting so a petition is not filed in the wrong court.
Downtown Bethesda to downtown Silver Spring is a short Ride On, Metro, or drive. The Colesville Road office exists so you do not have to go to F Street for a Maryland matter.
Why Bethesda is not a cloned city page
Problems Bethesda residents bring to consultation
Montgomery County lawsuits
Credit-card plaintiffs sue in county court. A judgment becomes a garnishment. Bring the papers to Silver Spring.
Working in D.C., living in Bethesda
Your job address does not pick the bankruptcy court. Your home does.
Court & process
Maryland venue, Silver Spring meeting
Maryland residents generally file in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. Montgomery County collection suits are state-court process. The Silver Spring office is where we map both. D.C. exemption elections do not apply to a Bethesda home.
How we can help in Bethesda
Service lines for Bethesda, MD residents
Confidential consultation
- Residency and venue mapped before any chapter is chosen
- Free consult at Colesville Road or by phone
- Evening and weekend appointments when needed
Bankruptcy guidance
- Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 in plain English
- Maryland, D.C., or Michigan court — whichever matches your residence
- Read the firm’s bankruptcy overview, then we apply it to your county
Washington, D.C. filings
- If you live in the District, the F Street office is the filing practice
- D.C. exemption election and District court rules
- Silver Spring remains available as a meeting place when it is more convenient
Office access
Getting to Silver Spring from Bethesda
8403 Colesville Rd, Suite 1100, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Call (855) 940-2265. Bring a mortgage statement and the last two pay stubs. If you were served in Montgomery County, bring the complaint.
Stephen A. Thomas, PLLC
Call (855) 940-2265 to discuss a Bethesda matter.
Nearby communities
Related pages near Silver Spring, MD
Direct answers
Bethesda questions
Should a Bethesda resident file bankruptcy in Washington, D.C.?
Almost never, if you actually live in Bethesda. Venue follows residence. Working on the Hill or taking Metro to Farragut does not make you a D.C. debtor.
Is Bethesda too expensive a city for Chapter 7?
Housing costs are why many Bethesda clients need Chapter 13, not why they are barred from bankruptcy. The means test and exemption math decide the chapter.
Can I meet in Silver Spring instead of going downtown D.C.?
Yes. The Colesville Road office is the Maryland meeting place. Call (855) 940-2265.
Bethesda
Schedule a consultation
Call (855) 940-2265 or send the form. Mention you are in Bethesda so we can apply the right court and exemption rules.