UTILIZING ONLINE RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE

Objective:

This SOP provides guidance on how to access and utilize the Maryland District Court’s online resources effectively. These resources are crucial for understanding the procedures and legal parameters within which the District Court operates. 

• Scope:
  This procedure applies to all paralegals within the firm who handle cases related to the District Court of Maryland.

Procedure:

1. Accessing the District Court Website:

   • Navigate to the Maryland District Court’s main website at https://mdcourts.gov/district. This site contains comprehensive information about court pleadings and practices.

2. Exploring Specific Legal Areas:

   • For information on specific areas of law, use the following direct links:

     • Money Issues: https://mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/moneyissues

     • Small Claims: https://mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/smallclaims

     • Return of Property: https://mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/returnofproperty

     • Bad Checks: https://mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/badchecks

     • Collecting Judgments: https://mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/collectingjudgment

     • Debt Issues: https://mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/moneyissuesiowe

     • Housing: https://mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/housing

3. Utilizing Additional Resources:

   • Judiciary Home Page: https://mdcourts.gov/

   • Public Forms: https://mdcourts.gov/district/forms

   • Cost Schedules: Links to various fee schedules can be found on the main court website.

   • Videos and Educational Material: https://mdcourts.gov/reference/videolibrary

   • Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC): https://mdcourts.gov/mdec

   • Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Information: https://mdcourts.gov/district/adr/home

   • Case Search: http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch/

   • Self Help Centers: https://mdcourts.gov/selfhelp

   • People’s Law Library: https://www.peoples-law.org/

   • Thurgood Marshall State Law Library: https://mdcourts.gov/lawlib

4. Understanding District Court Jurisdiction:

   • The District Court of Maryland has specific jurisdictional limits detailed on the Judiciary’s website. It is critical for handling cases effectively to understand whether a case falls under the jurisdiction of the District Court or another forum.

   • For general jurisdictional information, consult the sections detailing subject matter jurisdiction and other legal specifics relevant to the District Court’s authority.

Commentary on Use:

• Always ensure that you are accessing the most recent and updated links provided by the Maryland Judiciary. This is crucial as online resources can be updated or URLs can change.

• Familiarize yourself with the layout and navigation of the court’s website to efficiently find necessary documents and information.

• End of Procedure

• This SOP should be reviewed annually to ensure that all links are current and that the procedure aligns with any changes in the District Court’s practices or online resources.