Small Claims

Small Claims Court is a division of the District Court of Maryland.  It handles disputes involving no more than $5,000 and does so with less formality than other Maryland courts.  

The Court's rules of procedure and evidence are relaxed to make it easier for persons to represent themselves without hiring attorneys, although parties may have an attorney represent you if you choose.  

The cases are decided by the judge. There is no jury.

District Court Filing Fees

A guide to "How to File a Small Claim" produced by the District Court.
Contacting the Small Claims Division of Maryland District Court

Landlord-Tenant Court

Frequently Asked Questions About Small Claims Court
A lawsuit may be filed in Small Claims Court in the District Court if:

  • The suit is for money only (not for the return of property or performance of a service, for example);
  • The suit is for no more than $5,000 plus interest and costs.
  • The person filing suit (plaintiff) is at least 18 years old.  If the plaintiff is not 18 years old, another person who is at least 18 years old must sue on the plaintiffs behalf.
  • Steps for filing a Complaint in the Small Claims Division of Maryland District Court .  

This Small Claims section is intended to help you represent yourself in the Small Claims Court of the District Court of Maryland. There are times when it may be necessary or a good idea to consult an attorney:

  • If your case involves personal injury and medical expense. You should see an attorney in almost all of these cases. They may not be appropriate for Small Claims Court. An attorney can help you decide.
  • If your case involves damages resulting from a traffic accident. If the defendant is insured, he probably will be represented by an attorney provided by the insurance company, and you may also wish to have an attorney.
  • If you have difficulty filling out the forms or have unanswered questions about preparing your case.
Find Legal Help

Consider a Mediator as an alternative to a lawsuit.

Source: Maryland Legal Assistance Network (MLAN), updated by the Maryland State Law Library (MSLL).

Last date of  legal review 5/1/08 (PLL/M.A.J.)
Is this legal advice? This site offers legal information, not legal advice.  We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information and to clearly explain your options.  However we do not provide legal advice - the application of the law to your individual circumstances. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.  See our section on Finding Legal Help.

About this website. The Maryland State Law Library, a court-related agency of the Maryland Judiciary, sponsors this site. The website was developed (1999-2007) as part of an access to justice initiative by the Maryland Legal Assistance Network (MLAN) in collaboration with a number of legal services providers serving low and moderate income Marylanders.  In the absence of file-specific attribution or copyright, the Maryland State Law Library may hold the copyright to parts of this website. You are free to copy the information for your own use or for other non-commercial purposes with the following language “Source: Maryland's People’s Law Library – www.peoples-law.org. © Maryland State Law Library, 2007.”

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