What Is Small Claims Court?
In Maryland, the Small Claims Court handles cases where the amount in dispute is $5,000 or less. Court procedures are simple enough for a person to file a claim or to answer a claim without an attorney. Small Claims cases are decided by a judge, not a jury. More
Filing a Small Claims Suit
Before you file a small claims suit, consider the time, effort and expense required to assert your claim. Make sure that you have some proof of the debt such as a receipt, note, bill of sale, warranty or witness. The first step in the small claims process is to file a complaint form with the court. More
Small Claims Trials
The plaintiff and the defendant need to prepare for trial and should bring all witnesses and necessary papers to court. After both parties have presented their witnesses, testimony and evidence, the judge will make a decision, called a judgment. More
Witnesses at a Small Claims Trial
Witnesses are people who come to court to tell what they have seen or heard. These people should either be witnesses who saw what happened or experts on the subject matter of the claim involved. Whether you're the plaintiff or the defendant, you may bring witnesses to trial to support your story.More
After Small Claims Court
Generally, the judge's decision will be announced at the end of a small claims trial. The judgment will specify which side prevailed and if money damages are being awarded and the amount of those damages. If you lose your case, you may appeal the decision to the circuit court. More
Collecting the Judgment
The small claims process isn't necessarily over just because you filed a claim, went to trial and won a court judgment. You may need to take action and spend money to enforce the judgment. The court won't collect the judgment for you. More
Alternatives to Small Claims Court
There are alternative ways to solve your legal problems outside of court. These alternatives are called alternative dispute resolution or ADR. The District Court works with mediation programs throughout the state to provide an alternative to court litigation. More