Facing Foreclosure in Queen Anne’s County? You Have Options.

If you’ve received a foreclosure notice on your Queen Anne’s County property, don’t give up. Federal bankruptcy law provides powerful protections that can stop the foreclosure and give you time to save your home.

Federal law provides a powerful tool called Chapter 13 bankruptcy — a legal mechanism that can immediately stop your foreclosure and give you a structured path to keep your home.

We represent homeowners throughout Queen Anne’s County — from Centreville and Grasonville to Stevensville, Chester, and Queenstown. Located at the gateway to Maryland’s Eastern Shore just across the Bay Bridge, Queen Anne’s County has seen property values fluctuate significantly, and economic pressures can make mortgage payments difficult to maintain. Our firm understands the unique challenges facing Eastern Shore homeowners.

How Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Saves Your Home

Chapter 13 bankruptcy is specifically designed for individuals with regular income who want to keep their property while catching up on missed payments. Here’s what it does for you:

✅ Stops your foreclosure sale immediately — The federal automatic stay halts all foreclosure proceedings the moment your petition is filed.

✅ Gives you 3–5 years to catch up — Past-due mortgage payments are spread across a manageable repayment plan while you continue making regular monthly payments going forward.

✅ Stops creditor harassment — All collection calls, letters, lawsuits, and wage garnishments must stop.

✅ May reduce other debts — Credit card balances, medical bills, and other unsecured debts can be significantly reduced or eliminated, freeing up income for your mortgage.

✅ Your lender must accept the plan — If your Chapter 13 plan meets federal legal requirements, your mortgage company is required by law to accept it.

Maryland’s Foreclosure Process — What Queen Anne’s County Homeowners Need to Know

Maryland uses a nonjudicial foreclosure process handled by a trustee appointed by the lender. Understanding the timeline is critical because it determines how much time you have to act:

🔹 Notice of Intent to Foreclose: Your lender must send you a written notice at least 45 days before beginning foreclosure proceedings. For owner-occupied homes, this notice must include a loss mitigation application.

🔹 Order to Docket: The foreclosure cannot be filed in the Queen Anne’s County Circuit Court until at least 90 days after default (120 days for federally covered loans) or 45 days after the Notice of Intent — whichever is later.

🔹 Mediation opportunity: Maryland law gives you 25 days to request foreclosure mediation after the Order to Docket is filed. Mediation must be scheduled within 60 days of your request.

🔹 Notice of sale: The trustee must publish a notice of sale in a local newspaper once a week for three weeks, and must mail you a notice between 10 and 30 days before the sale.

🔹 Trustee sale: The property is sold at the Queen Anne’s County Circuit Court. After sale, the court clerk issues notice that the sale will be ratified, and you have 30 days to file exceptions.

Key point: Queen Anne’s County Circuit Court is located at 100 Court House Square, Centreville, MD 21617.

If your property is approaching trustee sale in Queen Anne’s County, time is of the essence. In many cases, we can file a Chapter 13 petition within days to stop the sale.

Frequently Asked Questions — Queen Anne’s County Foreclosure

Can Chapter 13 help if my Queen Anne’s County home is underwater?

Chapter 13 can still help even if you owe more than your home is worth. While the primary mortgage cannot be modified on your principal residence, Chapter 13 can strip off wholly unsecured junior liens (second mortgages or HELOCs where no equity supports them) and eliminate them entirely. It also allows you to catch up on your primary mortgage arrears over 3-5 years while eliminating other debts that free up cash flow.

What about the Bay Bridge area? Do foreclosures spike on Kent Island?

Kent Island and the Stevensville/Chester/Grasonville corridor have some of the highest property values in Queen Anne’s County, which means larger mortgages and potentially larger arrears to cure. Chapter 13 is particularly effective here because it provides a structured 3-5 year timeframe to cure those arrears regardless of the amount, while the automatic stay prevents the lender from proceeding with the trustee sale.

What is Maryland’s right of redemption after a foreclosure sale?

Unlike some states, Maryland does not provide a statutory right of redemption after the foreclosure sale has been ratified by the court. This is why acting before the sale — through Chapter 13 bankruptcy or other intervention — is absolutely critical. Once the sale is ratified, your options become extremely limited.

Can Chapter 13 help with a Maryland tax sale foreclosure?

Yes. Maryland counties conduct annual tax sales for properties with delinquent property taxes. If a tax sale certificate has been issued on your Queen Anne’s County property, Chapter 13 can stop the tax sale holder from obtaining a final foreclosure decree and allow you to pay back the delinquent taxes through your repayment plan.

Related Resources

• Maryland Office
• Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13: Which Is Right for You?
• Complete Guide to Filing Bankruptcy
• Bankruptcy FAQ
• Foreclosure Help in Kent County
• Foreclosure Help in Talbot County

This communication is from a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.