Maryland Chapter 7 Means Test Calculator (2026)
The Maryland Chapter 7 Means Test (Part 1)
Compare your household income to the Maryland median for your household size, using U.S. Trustee figures effective July 15, 2026. Nothing you enter is stored.
Maryland Chapter 7 Six-Month Income Worksheet
Enter each of the six complete calendar months used for the current monthly income calculation. The worksheet totals the period, calculates the monthly average, and annualizes it. Nothing entered here is stored.
| Household Size | Annual Median | Monthly Equivalent | Six-Month Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $86,928 | $7,244 | $43,464 |
| 2 | $114,611 | $9,551 | $57,306 |
| 3 | $135,949 | $11,329 | $67,975 |
| 4 | $166,173 | $13,848 | $83,087 |
For households larger than four, add $11,100 per additional person to the annual figure. Use the official table in effect on the expected filing date.
A Maryland Six-Month Example
Assume a two-person Maryland household received $8,596 in each of the six complete calendar months before filing. The six-month total would be $51,576, the current monthly average would be $8,596, and the annualized income would be $103,152. That is $11,459 below the two-person Maryland median shown on this page. This illustrates the first income comparison only. It does not decide the full means test or Chapter 7 eligibility.
How Maryland Changes The Means-Test Estimate
The first comparison is not a national income limit. It uses the Maryland median for the household size and the government table in effect on the filing date. On this page, the annual figures run from $86,928 for one person to $166,173 for four people, a difference of $79,245. A five-person Maryland household would use $177,273 before moving to the expense portion of the test.
A Maryland Close-To-The-Line Example
If a two-person household averaged $9,360 monthly during the six-month lookback period, its annualized income would be $112,320. That is only $2,291 below the current two-person Maryland median used here. A bonus, job change, unpaid leave, or a different filing month could change that comparison, which is why the six actual calendar months matter.
Where Location Inside Maryland Can Matter
Maryland is served by the District of Maryland. The correct filing district depends on venue facts such as where a person has lived or kept a principal residence, assets, or business. Part 2 can also use location-sensitive housing and utility standards. Those allowances may differ by county inside Maryland, so a statewide median-income result should not be treated as a complete eligibility decision.
| Item | Why It Matters In Maryland |
|---|---|
| Filing Date | Controls which U.S. Trustee median table applies. |
| Household Size | Changes the Maryland income threshold, including the added amount above four people. |
| Six-Month Income | Uses income received in the six complete calendar months before filing, not simply current salary. |
| County | Can affect location-based housing and utility allowances used in Part 2. |
| Filing District | Determines the federal bankruptcy court that handles the case. |
Records To Gather For A Maryland Review
- Pay statements and other income records for each of the six complete lookback months.
- Documents supporting household size and regular contributions from other household members.
- Housing, utility, vehicle, tax, insurance, child care, support, and secured-debt amounts that may matter in Part 2.
- The expected filing date and county, especially when the result is close to the median.
Official Resources: U.S. Trustee Means-Testing Data · IRS Local Housing And Utility Standards · U.S. Courts Court Locator
How The Maryland Means Test Works
The Maryland means test runs in two parts. Part 1 compares your annualized income to the Maryland median for your household size, shown above; at or below it, you generally qualify for Chapter 7 in Maryland. Above it, Part 2 (Form 122A-2) subtracts allowed living expenses, and many above-median Maryland filers still pass. Social Security is generally excluded from the income figure. For the full national walkthrough, see our Chapter 7 means test guide.
If You Are Above The Maryland Median
Being above the Maryland median does not end it. Part 2 subtracts allowed expenses, and many above-median Maryland filers still pass. If Chapter 7 does not fit, Chapter 13, debt settlement, or a debt management plan might. Bankruptcy is a lasting decision, so compare the options first.
Other Ways Out Of Debt In Maryland
Chapter 7 is one tool, not the only one. Many Maryland households resolve their debt through settlement or a management plan instead of a filing, each with its own trade-offs on cost, credit, and time. It is worth seeing which fits before you decide. You can check available debt relief options at no cost and with no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income limit for Chapter 7 in Maryland?
It is the Maryland median family income for your household size. Effective July 15, 2026, it is $86,928 for 1 person, $114,611 for 2, $135,949 for 3, and $166,173 for 4, adding $11,100 per additional person. At or below that Maryland figure, you generally pass Part 1.
What if my income is above the Maryland median?
Not a problem on its own. An income over the Maryland median simply moves you to Part 2, which deducts housing, transportation, taxes, and support, and some Maryland filers may pass there.
Does this calculator run the full Maryland means test?
No. It runs Part 1, the income screen, using the official July 15, 2026 medians. It does not calculate Part 2 expense deductions, so treat the result as a starting point and confirm with a licensed bankruptcy attorney.
Is Social Security counted in the Maryland means test?
Social Security benefits are generally excluded from current monthly income for the means test, though most other income is included. A bankruptcy attorney can confirm what counts in your specific situation.
Official Source
Related Resources
- National Chapter 7 means test calculator
- Bankruptcy exemptions calculator
- Debt settlement vs. bankruptcy
- All debt and tax calculators
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