District Court

• District Court Information - Go here for an introduction to and explanation of MarylandÕs District Court system.

• District Court Forms and Brochures - The District Court of Maryland provides brochures to explain the process for different matters that take place in the District Court. These matters include:

  • Bad Checks (HTML) - How to file bad check violation/restitution. 3 pages.
  • Criminal Complaints (HTML) - How to file a criminal complaint. 2 pages, last updated in November 2004.
  • Criminal Defendants (HTML) - The rights and process afforded to a person charged with a crime. 2 pages, last updated November 2004.
  • How to Collect Property (HTML)- The means to retake possession of property you believe you are entitled to through the processes called ÒDetinueÓ and ÒReplevin.Ó 4 pages, last updated August 2004.
  • How To Remove a Criminal Record (PDF) through a process called expungement. 2 pages, last updated May 2002.
  • Landlord-Tenant Disputes (HTML) - Rights of landlord and tenants in various disputes and the legal process for resolving them. 9 pages, last updated May 2004.
  • Mediation (HTML) - Explanation of alternatives to resolving disputes outside of legal process. 5 pages, last updated July 2004.
  • Small Claims Action (HTML) - Explanation of what is a small claim, and how to file one. 24 pages, last updated June 2004.
  • How To Collect a Judgment (HTML)- Explanation of means available to collect a judgment when you have won a claim in District court. 7 pages, last updated November 2002.
  • Traffic Citations (HTML)- Explains the rights afforded to you when you receive a traffic citation and what legal process you may encounter. 5 pages.
  • Transcripts and Recordings (HTML)- Explains how you can obtain transcripts and/or recordings of court proceedings. 2 pages, last updated October 2003.

Wage Garnishment

• Wage Garnishment  (Maryland District Court) - Information on garnishment of wages, including the law and rules, definitions and procedures. 4 pages, last update July 2004.

Immigration

• Immigration Rights (ACLU) - This web site provides information related to immigration rights and related issues and is run by the American Civil Liberties Union, a national non-profit public interest law firm, whose mission is to protect the civil liberties of all persons in the US.

• What to Do if You are Detained by Immigration (PDF) (NILC) - A fact sheet that explains what are your rights if you are detained by immigration authorities, which is provided by the National Immigration Law Center, a national support center that specializes in immigration law, as well as the employment and immigration rights of immigrants. 2 pages, last updated July 2004.

• Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants (PDF) (USCIS) - A guide created by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services that discusses a wide variety of issues, such as rights and responsibilities as an immigrant, maintaining current status, federal benefits, and much more. 112 pages, last updated January 2005.

Maryland Policy on Providing Translation and Interpreter Services

• Your Rights to Interpretation And Translation From Maryland State Agencies (Maryland Legal Assistance Network) ø Information about and explanation of the Maryland law that requires many of the Maryland state government agencies and programs to help you if you have trouble with English. (May 2007).

• Your Right To An Interpreter in Court (Access to Interpreter Brochure) - You have the right to have an interpreter when you have a case in the Maryland courts. This brochure describes your rights. The Maryland Legal Assistance Network and the Maryland State Bar Associations' Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services created the brochure. You can print it out and take it to court as one way of asking for an interpreter. You can give the brochure to the clerk. There is an English section that tells the clerk which language you speak and notifies the court staff person that you wish to have an interpreter. (2 pages - 2007)

Lead Safety 

• Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home (EPA)

• Protect Your Children From Lead Poisoning (EPA) 

• Reducing Lead Hazards When Remodeling Your Home (EPA)
  

Finding Legal Help

The Maryland Legal Assistance Network (MLAN) supports the work of the organizations providing free legal help to people in Maryland with low and moderate incomes. Many organizations provide help in other languages.  This section is a gateway to the written information currently available in Maryland. 

You may also contact these legal organizations that can provide help using over-the-telephone interpreters in over 145 languages. If you are comfortable reading some English or have a friend who can help, you can find more information on these legal organization and others by searching this directory.

Other sources of legal help:      

• Free Legal Advice for Howard County Residents - Foreign-Born Information and Referral Network (FIRN) (410-992-1923) is a Columbia, Maryland based non-profit organization that provides free legal advice on immigration, housing, domestic violence, health, and employment issues.  When you call the office, request the Spanish-speaking counselor.  You must be a Howard County resident to be eligible for this service; exceptions are made in emergency situations.  FIRN is open Monday, Thursday, and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  

• Immigration Issues Law Firm - USVISA.com Associates (818-999-9088) is a for-profit law firm in Woodland Hills, California that specializes in various immigration issues, including employment and family petitions, national interest waivers, business and investors' visas and visas based on "extraordinary ability."  You may want to first identify a Maryland attorney who can help you in person.  However, this site is a useful source of up-to-date information on immigration issues.  You may view USVISA.com in Spanish or call the office and ask to speak with someone in Spanish. 
  

• Legal Advice on Immigration Issues - Associated Catholic Charities of Baltimore (410-534-8015, fax 410-675-1451) provides a full range of immigration-related legal assistance, including assistance with applications for non-immigrant and immigrant visas, to change or extend legal status, for naturalization, for work permits and temporary protected status, and for asylum; as well as assistance with defenses against deportation. They have Spanish speakers on staff.  Client Consultations are Wednesday mornings from 9:00 AM until noon, and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM on a first-come, first-served basis.  Clients should bring with them their passport or other ID and any documents relating to their case.  The usual consultation fee is $60.  Collect phone calls will not be accepted.
  

• Legal Advice on Race Discrimination Issues - American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Maryland defends the constitutional and civil rights of thousands of Marylanders, and race discrimination cases make up the majority of their work. The ACLU provides phone intake (443-524-2558) in Spanish on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
  

• Legal Advice on Disability Issues - Maryland Disability Law Center (410-727-6352 ext "0" or 1-800-233-7201 ext "0") defends the rights of individuals with disabilities in the State of Maryland and they can provide assistance in Spanish. Calls about education or special education matters are only accepted Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday between 10 a.m. and noon. Calls about all other matters are accepted Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon.
  

• Legal Advice for Domestic Violence Victims - Domestic Violence Center (410-997-0304) provides an array of services focusing on prevention, intervention and advocacy for the victims of domestic violence, and offices and shelters in Howard County, Maryland. They have Spanish speakers on staff and they also have a hotline that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (410-997-2272, 800-752-0191) that provides assistance in Spanish.
  

• Legal Advice on Employment Issues - CASA of Maryland Legal Services (301-431-4185) provides legal assistance, in Spanish, in employment law issues.
  

• Legal Information for Crime Victims - Stephanie Roper Foundation (877-VICTIM-1) provides Spanish speaking referrals, for eligible Maryland crime victims. The Foundation has an English speaking operator, but if you leave them your name and number, an interpreter will call you back. 
  

• Senior Hotline - Run by the Legal Aid Bureau of Maryland, this Hotline (800-999-8904) is available to elderly individuals with legal questions.  These may include questions about public benefits, Medicare, long term care, access to health care, advance directives, as well as issues of neglect and abuse, consumer protection, and many other issues.

Finding Free Translation

Finding Information on the Web

Spanish Legal Dictionaries/Glossaries Available Online

Legal terms can be confusing. These links provide access to legal dictionaries and glossary in Spanish that come from reputable sources, such as state courts, state legal services associations, and federal agencies. Because the glossaries are organized alphabetically by the English word, if you are looking for the English equivalent of a particular Spanish word it may be helpful to go over the glossary with someone who understands English, such as a friend or an attorney. While they may require some searching, these glossaries are all helpful resources in trying to understand legal issues and terminology in your native language.

• English-Spanish Legal Glossary (PDF) (Superior Court of California) Ñ Extensive glossary of legal terms, created by the Superior Court of CaliforniaÑSacramento County. 212 pages, last updated July 2005.
• Legal and Public Benefit Terms (PDF) (LSNV) Ñ English-Spanish glossary of legal terms relevant to public benefits related issues, provided by the Legal Services of Northern Virginia. 43 pages, last updated October 2002.
• Glossary of IRS Terms (PDF) (Internal Revenue Service) Ñ English-Spanish Glossary of terms used in IRS forms and publications. 25 pages, last updated June 1999.
• English-Spanish Glossary of Legal (and Related) Terms & Courthouse Signs (PDF) (Administrative Office for the NJ Courts) Ñ This is a glossary not only of common legal terms, but also of signs and postings that one would encounter in a typical courthouse that has been prepared by Language Services Section of the Administrative Office of the Courts for New Jersey. 28 pages, last updated July 2005.
• English-Spanish Legal Terminology Glossary (HTML) (Utah State Courts) Ñ A basic but helpful English-Spanish glossary created by the Utah State Courts that contains key legal terms. 14 pages (if printed out), last updated December 2006.
• English-Spanish Dictionary of Common Legal Terms (HTML) (NY Unified Court System) Ñ A dictionary of commonly used legal terms that not only provides the Spanish equivalent of English legal terms, but also provides a definition of the word, created by the New York Unified Court System.

Last review July 30, 2007 (MLAN/KF)