Searching for Maryland Statutes When You Don’t Have a Citation

Searching for Maryland Statutes When You Don’t Have a Citation

Many public libraries in Maryland subscribe to the Annotated Code of Maryland in print. This print version of the Code is the version you should use if possible for two reasons: (1) It is the official version, the one most accepted by Maryland's courts; and (2) at the end of each statute section, the Code's editors list, summarize, and provide citations to cases that have interpreted that statute section. These case annotations will give you a head start on finding cases related to your problem. Here are the steps for using the Annotated Code of Maryland in print:

1. Look up words related to your problem in the subject index.

2. Look up the code sections cited after each of the words you looked up.

3. Each of those code sections will appear in a hardbound volume. The hardbound volume may be several years old, so you need to update it. The first step in updating a statute is to look for a soft pamphlet in the back of the hardbound volume. This soft pamphlet is called a pocket part.

4. If you find a pocket part, look for your section number in it. If you find your section in the pocket part, read for changes made to the section since the hardbound volume was published.

5. If you don’t find a pocket part, look for a soft supplemental pamphlet sitting next to the hard volume on the shelf. If you find a supplemental pamphlet, check it for changes to your section.

6. After you check the pocket part or supplemental pamphlet, you still have to look for pamphlets at the end of the code called “Advance Sheets” or “Advanced Legislative Service.” These pamphlets are published monthly to show any changes made since the pocket parts to each code volume were published. The advance sheets update the entire code, not just one volume. They are usually shelved right before the index volumes.

The unannotated Maryland statutory code is available free on the web through the Maryland State Law Library website . Unfortunately, because it is "unannotated" it will not give you any summaries of or citations to cases that discuss the statutes you find. If you don't have access to a public library or your local branch library doesn't subscribe to the Annotated Code of Maryland, however, it is better than nothing. To search this free, unannotated version of the Maryland Code, first click in the box to the left of “Maryland Code” to select that database, then type words related to your legal problem in the box next to “Search,” and click the “Go” button. A new screen will appear that shows you a linked list of Code sections that have your search terms in them. You can click on any linked item in the list to go to that Code section.

Finding Statutes

Looking for the Law