Community Resources
Employment Referrals
Lawyer Referrals (PLL)

Advice Lines

Special Topics
Attorney Complaints
Identity Theft (PLL)
Incorporating a Nonprofit
Speakers' Bureaus
Incorporating a Small Business

First Call for Help - health and human services
United Way's statewide general information and referral. (Spanish) 24 hrs a day / 7 days a week.
Phone: Toll-free (800)492-0618; Balt. City Metro (410)685-0525; TTY (410)685-2159                
Walk-In Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
100 S. Charles  5th Floor Baltimore, MD 21201

Attorney General's Office

Child (Support / Protective Services / Care/Juvenile)

MD State agency which helps to secure child support from the absent parent. Services available through the child support enforcement offices are: searching for the absent parent, proving the paternity of the child, getting a court order for support, collecting support payments, and enforcing the court order. Lawyers are available to take child support cases to court. Custodial parents seeking to establish/enforce child support are entitled (by law) to be represented by the Administration. Field Offices by county. 

Section called "eChild Support" allows registered custodial and noncustodial parents to enter a password-protected area to see detailed payment history on a case. (Useful on-line demonstration). 

Phone: (410) 925-4434 (TTY), toll-free Customer Service (800) 332-6347
Location: 311 West Saratoga Street Baltimore, MD 21201

Child Support Enforcement Administration Office of Interstate Operations
Department of Human Resources helps secure child support from parent by locating absent parents, proving the paternity, obtaining court orders for support, enforcing court orders, and collecting support payments. Lawyers are available. No financial screening, but some cases require a one-time fee of $25. Applications are available by mail, and may be filed by mail.Field Offices by county. 
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Location: 311 W. Saratoga Street Baltimore, MD   21201

Parents who have been sued for Child Support

Parents who owe child support are entitled to counsel through the Public Defender if they face incarceration for contempt based on nonpayment. Other parents who have been sued for child support are not entitled to a lawyer but can get help through a self-help program or lawyer referral. More on Bar Associations - Reduced Fee Panels.

Child Protective Services - Local CPS agencies (listing by county)
State agency that investigates (through local Departments of Social Services) reports of child abuse or neglect.  Services provided may include: day care, emergency food or shelter, counseling.

• State of Maryland: 
  Phone: 1-800-332-6347                                                 Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.  

• Baltimore City: 
  Phone: (410) 361-2235 (24 hours); Fax (410) 361-3150   Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
  Location: 1900 N. Howard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218 

Child in Need of Assistance (CINA)
Abused and/or neglected children (as determined by the courts) and their parents are entitled to free legal representation

• Children are represented by attorneys under contract with the state. Contractor varies by county and handle cases by court referral only.  See the MLAN centralized intake database for listing.
• Parents of abused and neglected children are represented by the Public Defender he Public Defender provides representation to the parents of children who have been determined to be “CINA” – Child In Need of Assistance. Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center,
  Phone:  443-263-8963 Fax:  443-263-8952
  Location:  300 N. Gay Street, Baltimore, MD  21202

Child Care Assistance 
MD State program issues vouchers to eligible families to pay for child care (may be a co-pay). Apply at Department of Social Services.
Phone: (800) 332-6347

Juvenile Services (Department of)  
Maryland juvenile court system information and answers to victim's rights questions.
Phone: (410) 333-4199 or TDD (for the hearing impaired): 1-800-735-2258
Location: One Center Plaza, 120 West Fayette St., Baltimore, MD 21201

Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, JJC has variety of youth-focused publications. Parents may order publications by phone, e-mail, or fax. Fact sheets and other short publications are available from JJC via fax-on-demand by calling 1-800-638-8736.
Phone: toll-free (800) 638-8736     Fax: (301) 519-5600
Mail: P.O. Box 6000 Rockville, MD 20850
 

Civil Rights / Discrimination

Consumer / Credit / Tax (Also see Credit Bureau and Counseling Listing)

See the MD Attorney General's Office - Consumer Protection

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Federal enforcement agency takes on-line complaints, and provides information about fraudulent business practices.
Phone: 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) or 202-326-2222       Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Location: CRC-240, Washington, D.C. 20580

MD Dept of Assessment and Taxation 
State agency administers and enforces property assessment and property taxes; tax exemption information.
Phone: toll-free (888) 246-5941; (800) 735-2258 (TTY)       Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: List of offices by county

Division of Financial Regulation
MD regulatory agency investigates complaints about credit counseling agencies, credit companies, and banks.
Phone: (410) 230-6100 or (410) 230-6097           Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: 500 N. Calvert Street, Suite 402 Baltimore, MD, 21202

Also see Credit Bureau and Counseling Listing
 

Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection
Investigates consumer complaints against merchants and provides consumer credit counseling. Complaints that cannot be mediated or resolved are referred to small claims court. The Office only investigates (it does not legally represent individuals) but will make referrals for legal issues outside its purview. Services are free to Montgomery County residents.
Phone: 240-777-3636             Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm
Fax: 240-777-3768
Location: 100 Maryland Ave, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20850

Courts (Maryland / Family / Baltimore City)

Courts - Family
     Family Court Coordinators by county
     Family Court Support Services by county

Courts - Baltimore City
     Circuit Court 
     Phone: (410) 396-4916          Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
     Location: Courthouse East, 111 North Calvert St., Room 208, Baltimore, MD 21202

     Gamily ! Las Clerk 
     Phone: 410-333-3711           Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
     Location: Room 462, Courthouse East, 111 North Calvert St., Baltimore, MD, 21202

     Land Records
     Phone: MD toll free (800) 235-4045 or (410) 260-6400. Fax: (410) 974-3895
     Location: Maryland State Archives, 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401

     Register of Wills
     Hon. Mary W. Conaway Register of Wills Baltimore City
     Phone: 410-752-5131 or (888) 876-0035         Hours: Open from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
     Location: 111 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
 

Public Defender - Maryland 
Provides assistance for jailable offenses if low income. See Details on guidelines, fees and what to bring.

Baltimore City 410-333-4900 - County office listing of Public Defender's offices 

• Mental Health - Provides representation to indigents on admission to mental institutions/6-month and annual reviews/those seeking judicial release.
  Phone: 410-508-2253            Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• Juvenile Service - Includes CINA (Child in Need of Assistance)
  Phone: 410-223-3780
   
• Federal Public Defender's Office
  Provides free legal representation to indigent criminal defendants in federal cases when appointed by the Court.  (See separate listing for Public Defender's Office for state and local criminal cases).
  Phone: (410) 962-3962    Hours: Monday - Friday  8:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
  Nations Bank Center 100 S. Charles Street, 11th Flr., Tower II Baltimore, MD  21201

Juvenile Services (Department of)  
Maryland juvenile court system information and answers to victim's rights questions.
Phone: (410) 333-4199 or TDD (for the hearing impaired): 1-800-735-2258
Location: One Center Plaza, 120 West Fayette St., Baltimore, MD 21201

Division of Parole and Probation
State agency responsible for parolees. Investigates persons applying for pardons.
Phone: 410-585-3500 or 877-227-8031; V/TTY (800) 735-2258   Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: 6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 305, Baltimore, MD 21215-2341 

Inmate Grievance Office
Reviews complaints filed by prisoners in the custody of the Division of Correction or Patuxent Institution. Any prisoner complaint against employees or officials of the Division of Correction or Patuxent Institution, including (but not limited to) classification appeals, disciplinary appeals, property loss, etc.
Phone: (410) 318-6000    Hours: Monday - Friday  8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: 115 Sudbrook Lane, Suite 200 Pikesville, MD  21208 

Criminal Record Expungement - Resources and information on the Peoples Law Library.
 

Elder Issues

State Ombudsman Office
State agency investigating long-term-care facility conditions. 
Phone: (410) 767-1074          Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Local Ombudsman Offices: county-by-county list of contacts for local offices. 

Commission on Aging and Retirement Education (CARE) 
State-funded project advocating on behalf of Baltimore city residents in retirement systems and long-term care.
Phone: (410) 396-4932 or 410-396-CARE(2273)     Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Fax: (410) 385-0381
The Equitable Building, 10 N. Calvert Street, 3rd Floor, Ste. 300, Baltimore, MD 21202-4004

Maryland Department of Aging
State agency provides information about state services to Maryland's residents age 60+.
Phone: (410) 767-1100 or 1-800-AGE-DIAL(243-3425); TTY 410-767-1083   Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Fax: (410)-333-7943            
Location: 301 West Preston Street, Suite 1007, Baltimore, Maryland 21201

Employment Complaints (also see Discrimination)

Employment Standards Service 
State agency investigates complaints from workers who worked in Maryland and believe that they are due unpaid wages. 
Phone: 410-767-2357 Fax: 410-333-7303          Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: 1100 N. Eutaw Street, Room 607, Baltimore, MD, 21201

Department of Labor - Fair Labor Standards - (Maryland Offices)
Enforces and administers laws governing legally-mandated wages and working conditions, including child labor, minimum wages, overtime and family and medical leave; equal employment opportunity in businesses with federal contracts and subcontracts; workers' compensation for certain employees injured on their jobs; internal union democracy and financial integrity, and union elections, which protect the rights of union members; and other laws and regulations governing employment standards and practices.
Phone: 1-866-4-USA-DOL, TTY: 1-877-889-5627
Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210

Coalition for Fair Contracting, Inc.
Assists construction workers and contractors to comply with labor laws during government-funded projects and advises public officials (e.g. inspector generals) about their oversight responsibilities regarding workers’ fair treatment (e.g. pay and benefits). Services are free for anyone in Maryland (and D.C. and Virginia) involved with such a project. Provides referrals for legal matters.
Phone: 1-800-530-2021          Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm
Location: 5853 Allentown Rd., Camp Springs, MD 20746

National Labor Relations Board, Baltimore Office
Independent federal agency that administers the law governing relations between private sectors unions and employers (except airlines, railroads, agriculture or government). Processes charges of unfair labor practices or petitions for employee elections. (51 offices)
Phone: (410) 962-2822     Hours: Monday-Friday 8:15 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Location: 103 S. Gay Street, Appraiser’s Store Bldg., 8th Flr. Baltimore, MD 21202

Government Waste

• On-line reporting form - click on the red stop sign labeled “ Stop Fraud” on the
  Office of Legislative Audits  website.
• Call 1-877-FRAUD-11 (1-877-372-8311) Hotline hours - 24 hours a day.

Health and Medical Complaints

Board of Physicians 
State enforcement agency handles consumer complaints against physicians and health care providers such as physician assistants, cardiac rescue technicians, EMT-paramedics, medical radiation technologists, nuclear medical technologists, and respiratory care practitioners.
Phone: (410) 764-4777 or (800) 492-6836; TTY 800-735-2258  Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: 4201 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21215-0095

Download a complaint form (in Adobe Acrobat format) 

Health Education and Advocacy Unit
Helps consumers resolve billing disputes with hospitals, doctors, insurance companies and other health care providers. The HEAU also helps consumers negotiate refunds for medical equipment that is defective or was never delivered, and seek repairs for medical equipment and other health care products.
Phone: 410-528-1840 or 1-877-261-8807

Health Care Dispute Resolution Office
State agency providing arbitration for all medical malpractice claims, and links to necessary forms to file a complaint.
Phone: 410-767-8200        Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Health Professionals Licensing - Listing of Boards and Commission contact information and some websites.
 

Eviction Check (Sheriff's Department) - Baltimore City
Sheriff's Office helps landlords or management groups evict tenants in Baltimore City.
Phone: 410-396-7412          Hours: Monday-Friday, 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Baltimore City Eviction Prevention Program
Eviction prevention and homelessness prevention through landlord-tenant negotiations, financial assistance, and agency brokering. Crisis intervention and landlord-tenant issues.  Assistance with stays of eviction and rent arrearages. Baltimore City resident with a failure to pay rent and/or warrant of restitution notice.
Phone: (410) 878-8650
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. –1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.- 4:30 p.m

Home Improvement Commission
State licensing agency; how to find a licensed home improvement contractor; on-line complaint form and information on how to make a monetary damage claim from the Guaranty Fund. See Details as information on the website can be hard to find.
Phone: 410-230-6309          Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Location: 500 N. Calvert Street, Room 306, Baltimore, MD, 21202

HUD Housing Discrimination
Implements and enforces the Fair Housing Act and other civil rights laws. Investigate claims of Housing discrimination based on  race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability. Website provides online complaint form  and a directory of regional offices.

Maryland Regional Office
Phone: (Toll Free) 1-888-799-2085

HUD Approved Agencies for Foreclosure Counseling
A list of HUD approved agencies both locally and nationally which give advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures, credit issues, and reverse mortgages.
Phone: 1-800-569-4287

Real Estate Commission 
State agency that licenses, investigates, and disciplines realtors operating in Maryland. 
Phone: 410-333-6230 or 1888-218-5925         Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Location: 500 N. Calvert Street, Room 308, Baltimore, MD, 21202-3651
 

Maryland Insurance Administration 
State regulatory agency investigates complaints; answers questions about insurance companies operating in Maryland.
Phone: 410-468-2000 or toll-free, 1-800-492-6116          Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: 525 Saint Paul Place, Baltimore, MD 21202

File Complaints with Maryland Insurance Administration

Public Benefits

Welfare Programs County-by-county list of Department of Social Services (DSS) offices (to file applications and appeals. 

DSS Baltimore City 
Phone: 410-361-4700 or 410-361-4600    Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Mail: P.O. Box 17259, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-7259

Black Lung 
Federal program compensates miners with black lung; frequently asked questions and claims information
Phone: 800-347-3753            
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. 
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 200 Constitution Ave., N. W., Wash., D.C., 20210.

Social Security 
Federal agency administers Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Programs plus SSI (Supplemental Security Income), and handles Medicare applications.

Local Social Security District Office (DO): file an application, make appeals and ask about active files. Find local District Office (DO) by zip code

SSA National Hotline: 1-800-772-1213            
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. - Best for general inquiries where there is no pending case. Issue such as: Replacement Social Security card, name and address corrections, direct deposit, report a death

Also see www.peoples-law.org information on Social Security Benefits
 

Unemployment Compensation (www.dllr.state.md.us/)
State agency handles claims for unemployment benefits; website has FAQs about eligibility. 
Phone: Toll-Free at (877) 293-4125        Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. 
 

Vital Records

Vital Records
marriage, birth, divorce and other statistical records for Maryland and out of state records listing with local contact information and costs by state and county see the Peoples Law Library.
MD Office Phone: 410-764-3069    Hours: Mon.-Fri. and every third Sat., 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
 

Weatherization Program

• Description of eligibility criteria and services is on the Dept. Of Human Resources.
   
• Applications for MD Energy Assistance (MEAP) can be made via the county contacts listed on the Dept. Of Human Resources website or through the MEAP offices - listing by county

Toll Free Number for Information - (800)-352-1446
 

Workers Compensation

Workers' Compensation Commission (www.wcc.state.md.us)
State agency adjudicates claims for compensation arising under Workers' Compensation law.  Workers’ Comp Board claims tips/info or call for claim form.
Phone: (metro/Baltimore)(410) 864-5100 or 1-800-492-0479        Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Location: 10 East Baltimore St., 4th floor, Baltimore, MD 21202-1641

U.S. Office of Workers Compensation, National Call Center
Phone: 1-866-4-USA-DOL (1-866-487-2365)       Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Workers’ Compensation Programs in Other States 
Listing of website links (updated monthly) from the MD Workers’ Compensation Commission