Law

♥ Check out the following...

Note:  For serious legal issues, the library also has the following reference works for consultation:

• Guide to local, state and federal laws governing tenant-landlord relations : including laws prohibiting discrimination in housing.  ▼★♥ Baltimore, Md. : Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc., c[2010].

• Practice manual for the Maryland lawyer. ▼★♥ 2 vol. 3rd Edition. 1993. (Md Ref 340.07 P 1993)

Baltimore County | Maryland | United States

Laws exists in many forms. A list of just a few: constitutional law, statutory law, decisions, regulations, executive orders, and local laws and ordinances. A law is any public order or decision that is binding upon those to whom it is addressed.

Statutes, also called acts or ordinances, are laws passed by a legislative body, such as the United States Congress, Maryland General Assembly, or Baltimore County Council. Legislatures have the power to make laws because the state and federal constitutions give the power to them.

Codes are where laws are published. They are arranged by subject. So similar laws on the same topic are grouped together. Examples are the Baltimore County Code, the United States Code, and the Maryland Code.

Regulations are laws issued by executive branch agencies, such as the United States Social Security Administration or Baltimore County Office of Planning. The agencies are given the authority to make these laws because legislatures give it to them by passing laws that say they have the authority. Generally regulations provide the specifics on how a statute is to be enforced and implemented. Agencies can only make regulations on subjects the authorizing statutes say they can. You need to read regulations together with the authorizing laws they were made under. Regulations are published in subject arrangements called codes, such as Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) or Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR).

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Baltimore County Codes and Regulations ▼   Codes are where laws made by the County Council are grouped together by broad topics.   Regulations are laws made by executive branch departments, such as County Office of Budget and Finance or County Office of Planning. These agencies have the authority to make regulations because laws passed by the County Council or Maryland General Assembly gave the authority to them.

Baltimore County

The following codes and regulations are in effect in Baltimore County:

 

• Baltimore County Code ▼ The Baltimore County laws and the County Charter adopted by the County Council are found in the County Code. It is updated regularly. To stay up-to-date, be sure to review the recently enacted legislation impacting the County Charter and County Code.

• Baltimore County Zoning Regulations ▼  Updated regularly. Gives specifics on how the County zoning law is to be implemented. The regulations can be very detailed. To stay up-to-date, be sure to review the recently enacted legislation impacting Baltimore County zoning law.

• Building and Fire Codes in Effect in Baltimore County [PDF] ▼ Lists current national and state codes with local amendments currently in effect in Baltimore County. The national code books are available at most Baltimore County Public Libraries.
  
  The Baltimore County Building Code includes several national codes with amendments as stated in County Council Bill Number 47-10 [PDF].
  
  The Baltimore County Fire Prevention Code, also known as County Council Bill Number 48-10 [PDF], adopts several national fire codes with amendments.

• The Baltimore County Plumbing and Gasfitting Code uses the national plumbing code with amendments as stated in County Council Bill 89-09 [PDF]

• Code of Baltimore County Regulations ▼ (COBAR) is a work in progress. The county has many other regulations that have not yet been drafted or added to COBAR.

• Baltimore County Council ▼ The elected body which has all law-making power granted by the County Charter and by the General Assembly of Maryland.

  • How a Council Bill Becomes a Law

  • Legislation - Adopted and Pending

• Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management ▼ Environmental and storm water management regulations and environmental guidelines

• Baltimore County Department of Permits and Development Management ▼
  Frequently asked questions about code inspection and enforcement dealing with development, building, electrical, plumbing, livability and zoning codes. Monitors the Rental Registration program. Miscellaneous Permits provides dog licenses, gathering permits and dozens of other items.

• Rental Housing Registration Licenses ▼ by Baltimore County Department of Permits and Development Management. 

  All buildings or a portion of a building that contain one to six dwelling units intended or designated as rental units must be registered, inspected by a certified home inspector, and licensed with Baltimore County on or before January 1, 2009 (extended deadline). Information about the requirements for the property owner and the home inspector. Download the Rental Housing Application and payment forms, exemption affidavits and required inspection sheet.  Please note that the page at the above link includes links for the Carbon Monoxide Alarm Verification form that became effective on February 13, 2010 and requires compliance by  October 13, 2010

  • Certified Home Inspectors  

  • Guide for the Home Inspector [PDF] describes what they are looking for

  • Maryland Department of Environment Lead Poisoning Program - Rental Property Owners

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Maryland

• Code Lynx  ▼ Provided by the Maryland Codes Administration.  Maryland building, fire, and other codes information. Maryland building, fire and other codes information, including Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code, Maryland Building Performance Standards (MBPS) which is Maryland's law on building codes and standards, Maryland Minimum Livability Code, and Maryland Accessibility Code. Each local jurisdiction uses the same edition of the same codes and may modify these codes to suit local conditions.

• Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR)  ▼ Official regulations issued by Maryland executive branch agencies.

• Maryland Register  ▼ Proposed and recently adopted regulations

  The Charter of Maryland Full text of the historical document dating back to 1632 A.D

• Constitution of Maryland  ▼ Full-text of the state constitution

• Depository Libraries  ▼  Several Maryland libraries receive the documents included in the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR).

• Guide to Legal Aspects of Doing Business in Maryland. 2003 [PDF]  ▼ By Maryland Office of the Attorney General and Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.  Not an exhaustive treatment of the legal obligations of Maryland businesses. Focuses on those matters regulated by State agencies. Covers state law impact on business organization, mergers, foreign business operations in Maryland, securities, taxation, labor and employment, agriculture business, natural resources, environmental law, consumer protection, franchises, antitrust laws, and more.

• Legislative Library and Information Services  ▼ provided by the Maryland Department of Legislative Services.  Answers questions by phone, e-mail, or face-to-face about the Maryland General Assembly, the legislative process, legislation, and state government. Staff will mail a limited number of copies of bills, amendments, votes, and most current year publications.

• Maryland Code  ▼ provided by Michie's Legal Resources.  Word search or search by legal citation either the full text record of public, general and permanent laws passed by the state of Maryland (the Maryland Code).

• Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation  ▼ Wage and employment standards and law, occupational safety, occupational and safety licensing boards, employment of minors, and more.

• Maryland General Assembly  ▼ History and status of bills, full-text of bills, hearings schedules, and more as well as information on the organization and members of the General Assembly

  • General Assembly: The Legislative Branch ▼ from Maryland Manual On-Line.  Its purpose and powers, requirements of office, calendar, how a bill becomes a law, committees

  • How a Bill Becomes a Law in Maryland  ▼  by Maryland Department of Legislative Services

  • Listings of Registered Lobbyists  ▼ by Maryland State Ethics Commission

• Maryland Residential Ground Rent Registration  ▼  provided by Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation.  A ground lease must be registered with the Department before September 30, 2010 or the interest of the ground lease holder is extinguished and the ground rent is no longer payable.

• Maryland Sex Offender Registry (SOR)  ▼ maintained by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.  List of registered sex offenders provided to protect children and others from those with histories of crimes against children and other sexual offenses.

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United States

• Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)  Rules and regulations made by federal agencies and executive departments.

  • Federal Register  Proposed and recently adopted regulations and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as Executive Orders and other Presidential documents

• Federal Depository Libraries from GPO Access.Locate a library and federal publications and other information products available for free public use in Federal depository libraries.

• FedLaw  Easy access to resources for people doing Federal legal research

• GPO Access  From the United States Government Printing Office
  Find Code of Federal Regulations, federal depository libraries, the Federal Register, Presidential materials, Congressional bills, the Congressional Record, recent or pending federal legislation, or other documents from all three branches of United States government.

• Immigration Laws, Regulations and Guides  By the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, United States Department of Homeland Security

• Office of the Clerk United States House of Representatives House history, roll call votes, committee schedules, floor proceedings, and more

• Regulations.gov  Find, review, and submit comments on Federal documents currently open for public comment and  published in the Federal Register.

• THOMAS: Legislative Information on the Internet
  Library of Congress provides searchable information about the United States Congress and the legislative process. Search for recent and pending bills by topic, bill number, title, or sponsor as well as laws by public law or bill number since 1973. Search for the text of the Congressional Record since 1989. Find committee reports by topic or committee name.

• United States Code  Search by keyword or title and section in this consolidation and codification of the laws of the United States by subject. The Code does not include regulations issued by executive branch agencies, Federal court decisions, treaties, or laws enacted by state or local governments.

  • Search by title and section or browse the table of contents (list of titles) or the Table of Popular Names for many laws. Additional search features provided by Cornell University Legal Information Institute.

    View the video tutorial (4:03 minutes) on using the Cornell University Law School's United States Code site created by the Enoch Pratt Free Library/Maryland State Library Resource Center.

• United States House of Representatives Home Page   Official website. Find current debates on House floor, hearings, roll call votes, and more.

• United States Senate Home Page Official website. Track and research bills, votes, and more.

• USA.gov Reference Center: Laws and Regulations  Links to federal laws and regulations, court records, executive orders, and more

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• Consumer InfoCenter  ▼ Provided by Baltimore County Public Library.  Information on many consumer topics, legal and financial assistance, fraud and scams, filing complaints

• Maryland Attorney General Consumer Protection Division ▼ Procedures to file a complaint, printable forms, links to other consumer pages, many publications on a variety of consumer topics, and more

• Maryland's Lemon Law  ▼ A guide to consumer rights and remedies when a new car turns out to be defective

• Peoples Law Library of Maryland  – Consumer Law▼★ Information on filing for bankruptcy, on consumer scams, handling consumer problems, small claims court, stopping telemarketers, and more

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Baltimore County | Maryland | United States

The Circuit Court for Baltimore County is the trial court of general jurisdiction. The court has full common law and equity powers in all civil, juvenile and criminal cases, along with additional powers and jurisdiction conferred by the Constitution and Maryland State law. It is the only court in the county having the authority to conduct jury trials. The court is physically located in the County Courts Building, 401 Bosley Avenue in Towson, Maryland. This is sometimes referred to as the "New Courthouse".

 

The Maryland Judiciary is comprised of four court levels: two trial courts and two appellate courts. The function of a trial court is to consider evidence in a case and to make judgments based on the facts and underlying law and legal precedent. This may result in the awarding of monetary damages or other relief in a civil case, or the imposition of imprisonment or fines in a criminal case. Appellate courts review a trial court's actions and decisions in given cases and decide whether the trial judge properly followed the law and legal precedent. For jury trials, the appellate court may have to decide whether the jury's decision was proper, given the facts presented and the underlying law in the case. Generally, appellate courts do not decide which party won or lost a trial, nor do they conduct a new trial. Rather, they review the earlier trial and determine whether or not it was fair, according to the law.

 

 

While U.S Federal Courts are generally created by the United States Congress under the constitutional power described in Article III, many of the specialized courts are created under the authority granted in Article I. Much greater power is vested in Article III courts because these courts are much more independent of Congress and the President. If Article I courts were able to exercise that level of power, the balance of power between the branches of government would be threatened.

Article III requires the establishment of a Supreme Court and permits the Congress to create other federal courts, and place limitations on their jurisdiction. In theory, Congress could eliminate the entire federal judiciary except for a single Supreme Court Justice (who would be the Chief Justice by default), although the 1st Congress immediately established a system of lower federal courts through the Judiciary Act of 1789.

 

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Baltimore County

• Baltimore County State’s Attorney ▼ Prosecutes the felony, misdemeanor and juvenile cases occurring in Baltimore County. This includes most violations of the Criminal Code that occur in Baltimore County and all traffic violations occurring in Baltimore County where the penalty is incarceration.

• Baltimore County State's Attorney - District Court Division ▼ Prosecutes all misdemeanor criminal offenses, traffic offenses punishable by jail and certain felonies such as theft over $500. There are three District Court locations in Baltimore County - Catonsville, Towson and Essex.

• Circuit Court for Baltimore County ▼ The trial court of general jurisdiction. The court has full common law and equity powers in all civil, juvenile, and criminal cases. Covers jury duty, family law resources, law library information and hours of operation, general legal listings in the County.

  • Circuit Court Law Library ▼ Library is open to the public. Includes publications on topics such as change of name, creating a will, child support modification, and more. Also links to Internet legal resources with focus on Maryland law.

  • Circuit Court Legal Forms ▼

  • Daily Docket ▼
    All scheduled events for civil, criminal and domestic cases. It is updated between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day for the next day's docket.

  • Frequently Asked Questions ▼
    How to obtain a marriage license, become a notary, who to call about land records (deeds) or licenses, and more

• District Courts in Baltimore County ▼
  Jurisdiction of court includes all landlord-tenant cases, replevin actions, motor vehicle violations, misdemeanors and certain felonies. Some legal forms★ are available online in their Forms Index.

• Get Ready for Your Day in Court ▼
  by Maryland's Eastern Shore Regional Library
  Make informed decisions about the need for legal representation in District Court civil cases. This Guide is not just for Eastern Shore residents. It  will  help you understand the Maryland legal system, how to represent yourself effectively, and when (and how) to contact a lawyer.

• Jury Duty ▼
  What you need to know before you serve

• Orphans' Court of Baltimore County ▼
  Specializes in cases involving disputes about wills and or codicils, the administration of estates, guardianships over property left to minors and protection of minors’ assets

• Register of Wills, Baltimore County ▼
  Includes forms and valuable information for administering a decedent's estate

• Small Claims ▼
  Explains how to file a small claim in the District Court of Maryland

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Maryland

• Court Records ▼  from Maryland Judiciary.  Provides public access to case information originating within the Maryland District Court system and the Circuit Courts. Maryland District Court traffic, criminal, and civil cases and Maryland Circuit Court criminal and civil cases, judgments and liens are available. The amount of historical data may vary by jurisdiction. This information included defendant name, city and state, case number, date of birth, plaintiff name (civil cases only), trial date, charge, and case disposition.

  • Maryland Judiciary Case Search (MDJCS) ▼  Information is available on all civil, traffic, and criminal cases in the state. This information includes defendant name, city and state, case number, date of birth, plaintiff name (civil cases only), trial date, charge, and case disposition.

• Maryland Judiciary▼★  Overview of Court of Appeals, Court of Special Appeals, Circuit Courts, District Courts. Searchable index of court opinions, family law and court forms, legal resources, and more.

• Maryland Rules of Procedure▼  Provided by Michie's Legal Resources.  Also called Maryland Court Rules. Lays out the procedures for conducting the business of the Maryland courts. For example, the procedures to follow to serve a legal complaint on a person you want to sue, sets the deadlines and procedures for you to respond to a suit against you, or set limits on evidence a court may consider. Limited number of court forms included in Appendix.

• United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland▼  Federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. Download Official Bankruptcy Forms. Provides general information about filing a Bankruptcy case.

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• Adoption in Maryland ▼
  by Social Services Administration of Maryland Department of Human Resources
  Learn about adoption in Maryland and services to adult adoptees and birth parents who want to reconnect with their blood ties. Includes information about Mutual Consent Voluntary Adoption Registry and Adoption Search Services and adoption records.

• Baltimore County Circuit Court - Family Division ▼
  Law forms, divorce education program, mediation, family support services, family law resources. The Pro Se Family Law Program is staffed by experienced Family Law attorneys who will assist parties in filling-out Family Law forms in Family Division cases.

• DivorceNet - Maryland ▼
  Interactive bulletin boards, local counsel, local mediation, legal forms, paternity testing, family law articles, and more

• Family Law Resources in Baltimore County ▼
  created by the Circuit Court for Baltimore County
  Lists organizations available to available to assist parents with children facing a separation and divorce, to address child support, family support, domestic violence and other concerns

• House of Ruth Legal Clinic ▼
  Provides counseling and direct representation to battered spouses in civil protection order proceedings and divorce and child custody cases. Information explaining Protective Orders and Peace Orders on website.

• Kaufman Center for Family Law ▼
  a project of The Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc.
  Offers many services for Marylanders including the Family Law Hotline, a free telephone service for those with basic family law questions. The Legal Forms Helpline for those who are able to file their family law cases pro se, because their cases are uncomplicated and uncontested but who may need some assistance understanding the process or completing forms and pleadings. The Protection Order Advocacy and Representation Project offers free representation for victims of domestic violence at protection order hearings in Baltimore City and Baltimore County Circuit Courts.

• Maryland Child Support Enforcement Program ▼
  Child support enforcement forms in PDF format: application for child support services, income/expense questionnaire, affidavit of parentage, Maryland new hire reporting

• Maryland Family Law Forms ▼
  Includes domestic relations forms for individuals who do not have a lawyer and need to file papers in one of the following areas: divorce, custody, visitation, child support, alimony, name changes, or contempt. Also includes a brochure explaining Domestic Violence Protection Orders, a Petition for Protection from Domestic Violence, and Addendum.

• Maryland Legal Services Program (MLSP) ▼
  Created for the purpose of ensuring quality and effective legal representation in the State's Circuit Court to children and indigent adults, in which either the local Department of Social Services or the Office of Aging is a party to the case.

• Peoples Law Library of Maryland – Family Law ▼★
  Excellent overviews of divorce, custody, child support, visitation, name change, marriage, cohabitation and other family law matters. Includes forms.

• Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc. ▼
  Experienced family law attorneys staff the Family Law Hotline to provide free advice and counsel to callers. The Law Center addresses the concerns for the legal rights of women and children, especially in the area of family law and in the workplace. Has links to publications (English and Spanish) on topics of Domestic Violence, Legal Rights of Marriage and Divorce in Maryland, Legal Rights of Unmarried Cohabitants, and Sex Discrimination in Employment.

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• Baltimore County Circuit Court Law Library ▼
  Open to the public; extensive collection of law materials, including Baltimore County codes, regulations. Links to selected legal resources on the Internet, with particular focus on Maryland and Federal resources. Also Resource Guides to the Circuit Court Law Library resources on topics such as Landlord and Tenant, Changing Your Name, How to Interpret Legal Citations, How to Research a Legal Problem for a Non-Lawyer. The Guides are useful tools for legal research in the public library as well.

• Emory University School of Law Subject Guides
  Offers research guides on variety of topics, for example, civil law, copyright, and more

• FedLaw
  For Federal legal research. Primarily covers Federal laws, rules, and regulations and Federal judicial decisions; some state laws; arbitration and mediation; general research and reference sources; professional associations; and legal-related how-to locations.

• FindLaw
  Learn about many legal issues that impact individuals, such as employee rights, immigration, or traffic violations. Special content for the small business owner. Site provides videos and legal forms, both free and for purchase. Offers a separate site for legal professionals.

• Getting Started in Legal Research: A Guide for the Average Joe or Jill
  by Social Sciences and Humanities Department of Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore Maryland
  Excellent guide to tackling your legal problem and understanding the law. Not all titles are available in Baltimore County Public Library, but they are available for use by County Residents at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore City.

• Internet Law Library
  by LawGuru.com
  Provided links to a large number of legal resources relating to American (federal and state) and foreign laws

• Law Library of Congress
  The world's largest collection of law books and legal resources about United States federal and state law, foreign law, international law, and comparative law and legislation in the world.  Provides research assistance to the public.

• Legal Information Institute
  by Cornell Law School
  Great place to begin your legal research.

• Maryland State Bar Association ▼★
  Easy-to-read guides about common legal problems and topics, e.g. guardianship, being a witness, divorce and separation, traffic tickets, your rights if arrested, and more.

• Maryland State Law Library ▼
  Legal research facility for government and public. Legal question? The Maryland State Law Library provides legal information to the Maryland public. Information specialists can assist with suggestions for beginning and advanced legal research, assistance in the location and use of sources and finding aids, and recommendations for alternative sources for legal help outside of the Library. They can be contacted directly through e-mail, phone or this webform.

• Nolo Law for All
  While primarily a publisher of books, software and forms, Nolo provides reputable links to free information including a legal dictionary and legal encyclopedia written for the consumer on topics like neighbor and pet law, independent contractors, marriage, divorce, landlords and tenants, copyright and trademarks, small business, parents and children, tax problems, wills and estate planning.

• Peoples Law Library of Maryland ▼★
  First stop for legal and self-help information on Maryland and federal law affecting low and moderate income persons and their families, including tenant rights, traffic and motor vehicle law, job discrimination, family law, consumer, disabilities, domestic violence, elder, foreclosure resources, small claims, welfare benefits, immigration, and more.  Also includes a section which reflects a number of the most frequent legal questions that members of the public have brought to the Maryland public libraries, public law libraries and to legal services providers.

• Thurgood Marshall Law Library ▼
  of the University of Maryland School of Law, Baltimore, Maryland
  Check out the free electronic resources and the research guides on environmental law, health law, federal law, intellectual property law, Maryland law, and international and foreign law. Open to the public.

• Understand Your Legal Issues
  by Lawyers.com
  A good place to start to better understand your legal issue. Covers most areas of law, including bankruptcy and foreclosure, family law, criminal law, real estate and landlord tenant law, immigration, and more.

• University of Baltimore Law Library ▼
  Links to the school law library and online resources. Open to the public.

• Virtual Chase
  Guides on how to do legal research from the law firm, Ballard Spahr Andrews and Ingersoll, LLP.

• WashLaw
  by Washburn University School of Law
  Your guide to legal information on the Internet.

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• Alternative Directions, Inc. ▼
  A statewide organization dedicated to helping male and female prisoners, ex-prisoners and others in need to represent themselves in uncontested family legal matters, particularly in matters involving temporary guardianship, divorce, or child support. Assists families separated due to incarceration to deal with domestic relations, housing and other issues. Provides educational seminars in prisons and jails and refers cases to pro bono counsel.

• Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland ▼
  How to file a complaint against an attorney. Provides a link to a list of disciplinary actions taken, listed by county and attorney's name.

• Attorney Listing ▼
  by the Client Protection Fund of the Bar of Maryland
  Listing of attorneys admitted to practice in Maryland, their addresses, telephone numbers, and year admitted to practice.

• Avoiding Foreclosure: BCPL Can Help ▼
  created by Baltimore County Public Library Information Services Department and Media Support Services Department
  This page presents video clips and links to resources on a variety of topics, including foreclose, to help in these tough economic times. The clips are available for immediate viewing or for download to your computer or portable device.

• Baltimore County Bar Association ▼
  Includes information on fee arbitration and services offered to county residents who wish to represent themselves.

• Baltimore County Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service ▼★
  A non-profit public service project that matches qualified lawyers to clients with specific needs. Nominal consultation fee. Maintains panel of attorneys with experience in specific areas of the law.

• Baltimore County Human Relations Commission ▼
  Investigates complaints of discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, education, public accommodations, and financing. Respond to hate bias incidents. Mediates community disputes.

• Baltimore County Legal Services for Senior Citizens Program ▼
  offered by the Baltimore County Department of Aging. Provides free legal assistance, consultation and/or representation to Baltimore County residents age 60 or over. The program has no income or resource eligibility requirements. The program offers assistance with legal problems involving: Social Security benefits; Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits; Medical Assistance benefits (including Medical Assistance Long Term Care benefits); Medicare; food stamps; evictions; and other legal problems that threaten a person's income, health or safety. The program cannot handle wills, deed changes, estate planning, power of attorney, criminal charges, personal injury cases, traffic tickets and disputes with neighbors. In some instances, callers may be referred to other sources for free or reduced-fee legal help.

• Civil Justice Network ▼
  This site provides a list and searchable database of attorneys who specialize in providing assistance and discounted legal services to low- and moderate-income clients.

• Family Law ▼
  Help with concerns about adoption, separation and divorce, child support, family support, domestic violence and other concerns.

• Foreclosure Resources for Marylanders ▼★
  presented by Maryland's Peoples Law Library
  These resources will help you better understand foreclosures and how you can avoid them.  Explains the foreclosure process and what to do if facing foreclosure.

• Homeless Persons Representation Project ▼
  Provides legal services and advocacy on behalf of the homeless and those at risk of homelessness

• House of Ruth ▼
  Provides counseling and direct representation to battered spouses in civil protection order proceedings and divorce and child custody cases. Information on Protective Orders and Peace Orders on website.

• How do I find Legal Help in Maryland? ▼
  by Peoples Law Library of Maryland
  Offers tips on finding help and links to resources for free, low-cost legal help as well as help for anyone seeking legal assistance. Including specialty law fields such as elder law, family law, consumer law, immigration law, and others.

• Law Firms
  in the Martindale Directory
  Browse by areas of practice or geographic location.

• Lawyer Directory
  by FindLaw.com
  Search for lawyer by city, state, zip code, or by legal issue.

• Lawyer Locator
  in the Martindale Directory
  Attorney directory searchable by name, law firm, location, and areas of practice.

• Lawyer Referral: Bar Association of Baltimore City ▼
  The Bar Association of Baltimore City does not review the work of their attorney members but can find you the name of attorneys interested in your type of case. Not all attorneys licensed to practice in the state belong to a bar association while some attorneys belong to several bar associations.

• Lawyer Search
  Directory from LexisNexis
  Search for a lawyer or law firm by name, practice area or location. Also, provides information for individuals and small businesses on choosing and evaluating a lawyer and finding out about many legal issues.

• Legal Aid Bureau, Inc. ▼★
  Provides free civil legal services in Maryland for low-income people meeting eligibility guidelines

• Maryland Attorney General ▼
  Gives assistance to the public on consumer protection, protect Maryland investors from investment fraud and misrepresentation, securities and franchises, Health Care Decision Act, victim assistance, and more

• Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center, Inc. ▼
  Information about victim's legal rights, provides comfort, support, and assistance to crime victims and their families throughout the criminal justice process and civil action

• Maryland Disability Law Center ▼
  Provides services to persons with disabilities, including information and referrals about many different legal topics, investigations of complaints that persons with disabilities are abused, neglected, or mistreated, legal representation, and more

• Maryland Office of the Public Defender ▼
  Provides legal representation to accused indigent citizens of Maryland. The assistance of the Public Defenders Office is for jailable offenses only. You must meet the Federal Poverty Guidelines to be assisted by a Public Defender (unless you can show good cause).

• Maryland State Bar Association Member Directory ▼

• Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Services ▼★
  Matches professional lawyers with people who need legal help in the areas of family law, bankruptcy, consumer, tort defense, wills, guardianship, landlord-tenant, deed change, name change, tax disputes and tax returns. Clients must meet income eligibility requirements. MVLS cannot handle criminal, DWI, class action, fee generating (e.g., SSI, SSDI, discrimination, harassment, workers' Comp.), child or spousal abuse, paternity, child support, or contempt cases.

• National Immigration Law Center
  Organization whose mission is to defend and advance the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their family members.

• Registers of Wills in Maryland ▼
  Find contact information for registers of wills throughout Maryland and information on appointing personal representatives to administer decedents' estates and for overseeing the proper and timely administration of estates.

• Sixty Plus Program ▼★
  Matches a moderate income person age 60 and older with an attorney in private practice who will handle certain types of cases for a low fee. The first meeting with the attorney is free.  Information about this program is also available from the Maryland State Bar Association's website.

• Tenant-Landlord Hotline ▼★ (410-243-6007 )
  by Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc.
  Counselors provide information to callers but not legal advice.  Free intro packets to tenants and landlords which answer commonly asked questions, such as, security deposits, evictions, rent court, maintenance, and proper notice. Also provides information on anti-discrimination laws pertaining to the sale or rental of housing. Additional contact information★ is also available for departments such as Administration and Fair Housing.

• Victim Services ▼
  by Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
  Provides comprehensive services to the victims of crime. Assistance includes information on the release dates of offenders, the whereabouts of released offenders, and help in navigating the criminal justice process. The Department provides financial assistance through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to the victims of crime who have suffered physical injury or dependents of homicide victims.

• Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc. ▼
  Experienced family law attorneys staff the Family Law Hotline to provide free advice and counsel to callers. The Law Center addresses the concerns for the legal rights of women and children, especially in the area of family law and in the workplace. Has links to publications (English and Spanish) on topics of Domestic Violence, Legal Rights of Marriage and Divorce in Maryland, Legal Rights of Unmarried Cohabitants, and Sex Discrimination in Employment.

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• Advanced Directive and Living Will Forms ▼
  Maryland law tries to help people who want to plan for medical situations when they might not be able to speak for themselves.

  • Making Medical Decisions for Someone Else: A Maryland Handbook. 2006 [PDF] ▼
    by American Bar Association and Maryland Office of the Attorney General.  When someone close to you is seriously ill and can’t make health care decisions, a doctor might ask you “What should we do next?” This happens when someone has named you to make medical decisions for them in a legal document called an advance directive. Some people call this a durable power of attorney for health care. It could also happen because you are a relative or close friend of the patient—or sometimes because a court gave you the responsibility.

• Baltimore County Licenses and Permits Forms ▼
  Access to online forms and information for many licenses and permits issued by Baltimore County.

• Bankruptcy Forms Manual ▼
  by United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland
  Official bankruptcy forms and instructions

• Certificate of Birth, Death, Fetal Death, and Marriage and Verification of Divorce  ▼
  Division of Vital Records of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  Issues certified copies of recent birth, death, fetal death, and marriage certificates for events that occur in Maryland. The Division also provides divorce verifications. For older records, the Maryland State Archives maintains many records that are invaluable for biographical and genealogical research. These include birth records, adoption records, marriage records, divorce records, and death records, and some indices to these records. 

• Circuit Court of Maryland Forms ▼
  Civil case information forms, family law forms, land record intake sheet, expungement of record and more

• District Court of Maryland Forms ▼
  Includes Renewal of Request for Summons, Notice to Renew Judgment, Order of Satisfaction, Civil Appeal/Request for Transcript, Purchase Orders for Civil Forms, expungement of record, and all Peace and Protective Order forms, and more

• 'Lectric Law Library's Business and General Forms
  Dealing with subjects like real estate, corporations, employment, contracts, trusts and wills.

• Family Law Forms ▼
  Includes domestic relations forms for Marylanders who do not have a lawyer and need to file papers in one of the following areas: divorce, custody, visitation, child support, alimony, name changes, or contempt. Also includes a brochure explaining Domestic Violence Protection Orders, a Petition for Protection from Domestic Violence, and Addendum.

• Federal Forms
  by Forms.gov
  Has many, but not all, of the forms issued by Federal agencies

• Immigration Forms
  from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
  Citizenship information, services and benefits and forms for visiting the United States temporarily, employment authorization, seeking citizenship. Also, A Guide to Naturalization [PDF]

• Internet Legal Resource Guide's Legal Forms
  Forms covering basic agreements, buying and selling, credit and collection, employment, leases, loans, assignments, personal and family, and divorce

• Legal Forms Helpline ▼
  a project of The Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc
  The Legal Forms Helpline is for Marylanders who are able to file their family law cases pro se, because their cases are uncomplicated and uncontested but who may need some assistance understanding the process or completing forms and pleadings

• Maryland Attorney General Publications and Forms ▼
  Forms for general consumer complaints, new car and auto repair complaints, new home complaints, securities forms, home builder registration, health clubs, public information and open meetings, and more

• Maryland Business Charters and Articles of Incorporation ▼
  by Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation.
  Anyone wishing to legally form a business does so through the Corporate Charter Division. Such businesses include corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and business trusts. Out-of-state entities doing business in Maryland also must register with the Division.

• Register of Wills for Baltimore County ▼
  For forms and publications and information on wills, living trusts, estate taxes, advance directives, and administering estates throughout Maryland

• Small Business Forms and Contracts
  from FindLaw
  Samples of many popular forms and contracts to help small business owners with many aspects of business operation -- including business startup, employing workers, copyright, patents and trademarks, tips for writing contracts, and more. Search by industry or subject.

• Unemployment Insurance in Maryland ▼
  by Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
  For both the employer and unemployed claimant

• United States Copyright Office
  All the basics on copyright and registration of literary works, visual and performing arts, sound recordings, and more. Find application forms for copyright registration.

• United States Patent and Trademark Office
  Patents protect inventions, and improvements to existing inventions. Trademarks and service marks include any word, name, symbol, or device, or any combination used in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods or services of one manufacturer or seller or provider from goods manufactured or sold or services provided by others, and to indicate the source of the goods or services. Includes basics on getting a patent or a trademark and how to search for a patent or trademark.

• WashLaw's Legal Forms
  from Washburn University School of Law
  Links to collections of legal forms, some charge for forms but many include free forms.

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• Everybody's Legal Glossary
  by Nolo

• Glossary of Legal Terms and Abbreviations ▼
  by Maryland State Law Library

• How do I find Legal Terms ▼
  by Peoples Law Library of Maryland
  Provides definitions of many terms as well as links to two other legal dictionaries

• Law Dictionary
  by FindLaw

• Law.com Dictionary

• Legal Definitions and Legal Terms Defined
  by USLegal
  Detailed definition of many legal terms and how it relates or impacts law. Presents related terms as well.

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• Maryland Mobile Notary Association ▼
  Internet directory of certified notaries public serving Maryland and the District of Columbia. Search by city, county or language

• Maryland Notary Public Database ▼
  offered by Maryland Office of the Secretary of State Notary Division
  Search by person's first name, last name, and county.

• 50 State Notary - Directory
  Search by for a notary by zip code, county or state to find a notary in you area. Other features include add a name to the directory of notaries and find information such as how to become a notary.

• 1-Stop Notary - Notaries Public Nationwide
  List of notary services throughout the nation.

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• Government InfoCenter ▼
  by Baltimore County Public Library
  Links to Baltimore County, Maryland and United States government agencies. Has information on meetings and events, community development, planning and zoning in Baltimore County. Lists current government officials and assists in determining the federal, state and local representative for your election district. Links to state and federal tax forms and property assessment information. Covers elections and voting.

• Law
  from the Internet Public Library
  Alphabetical list of links with description. Some sites are suitable for layperson, some for lawyers.

• Law Topics
  from the Librarians' Internet Index
  Arranged by subject

• Sailor: Maryland Legal Resources ▼
  Regional law sites, courts, codes, statutes and regulations, law schools, legal community

• State Law and Government Pages
  by Emory Law School
  Links to state resources, courts and court decisions, bar associations, law schools, and more

• State Law – State Government and Legislative Information
  Provides links to state laws, state courts and legislatures

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