In a Nutshell: What every person needs to know about Maryland’s District Court and Small Claims Court

The District Court in Maryland is a single statewide court with 34 court locations  in 12 districts.

• The District Court is one of two trial courts (where most cases start) in Maryland.  The other trial court is called "Circuit Court".
• Over 2 million cases are filed every year.
• The District Court is the court where civil (non-criminal) claims under $5,000 in money damages are heard (called Small Claims Court).

More on the Court’s mission with audio and video overviews  as well as some of the changes in the District Court.

Small Claims Court - This is often a relatively fast way to have a case heard by a Judge. (There is no jury in Small Claims Court). The proceeding is informal. Many people handle their own cases without an attorney.

• Is Small Claims Court the same thing as District Court? No – small claims cases are part of the caseload handled by the District Court. The Court also handles large claims and other types of cases.
• When do I file a civil claim in District Court versus a Circuit Court? You file in District Court for claims up to $5,000. If the claim is between $5,000 and $30,000 (effective 10/1/07; the previous maximum was $25,000), you can file the claim in either the District or Circuit Court. Claims for more than $30,000 must be filed in a Circuit Court.

Types of cases heard in District Court
The District Court hears both criminal and non-criminal (civil) cases.   The types of civil cases include money claims up to $30,000 (effective 10/1/07; the previous maximum was $25,000), domestic violence cases, landlord-tenant problems, motor vehicle and boating violations. More on the types of cases

Do I need a Lawyer?

That will depend on the type of case, your comfort with representing yourself, and how much you have to lose. The best way to decide is to take our 3 quick interactive quizzes designed to help you answer just that question. You may decide that the best course is to have a lawyer help you with part of the case (to keep down the costs). More on how “unbundled legal services” works.

How much will it cost to have a case heard in District Court?

There are filing and service fees and there is the possibility of attorney fees. If you hire an attorney, you and the attorney will decide on the amount of the fees. Should I Represent Myself?

If you file in court, you will need to pay a filing fee (except if you are the petitioner in a domestic violence case). If you ask the court to take some action later in the case, there may be another fee. If the sheriff or the court clerk helps you serve the court papers to the other side, there will be a fee.

The fees in District Court are generally modest, ranging from $2 to $35. More details about the court fees  from the District Court.

Alternatives to Court

Particularly in small claims cases, it makes sense to try to resolve a dispute before going to the expense and time of going to court. More on how to find help and steps to take.

What will happen at the hearing?

The person who filed the lawsuit (the plaintiff) and the person who was sued (the defendant) are the parties to the lawsuit. Both are entitled to appear in court. There will be a judge but no jury in small claims cases. If you request a jury trial, the case will be transferred to Circuit Court.

Both parties are allowed to speak and to present documents, drawings, photographs and other evidence as well as witnesses.

IMPORTANT TIP There are differences in the rules for how the hearing will be conducted in small claims cases (up to $5,000) and large claim cases (over $5,000 to $30,000 (effective 10/1/07; the previous maximum was $25,000)). The rules are much more formal in large claim cases, and the advice or representation of an attorney is likely to be very helpful. Find an attorney

What About Collecting the Judgment?
If you win, the next step will be to collect the amount ordered by the Judge. You will need to collect the funds on your own. The court will not collect it for you, however, if you do not receive the amount due to you in 30 days (unless there was an agreement to pay in installments), you can go back to court.  You can try to have the money taken out of the other person’s pay check or try to claim some of that person's personal property. Obviously, you will need to research the other person’s ability pay. More on Enforcing a Judgment from the District Court.