IN-PERSON SELF-HELP CENTER

HOURS OF OPERATION:
Monday through Friday
8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Except for major holidays.  CLICK HERE for a complete list of holiday closures.

LOCATION:
Circuit Court Courthouse
Legal Resource Center & Law Library (Located in the basement of the courthouse)
200 Charles Street
La Plata, Maryland 20646

Who can we help?

An individual with a family or general civil legal problem.  We cannot help relatives or agents on behalf of the person seeking legal advice. We cannot assist businesses or persons on behalf of a business.

Will the attorney represent me in my case or for my scheduled court date?

No, the attorney will not represent you in your case nor will the attorney appear for your scheduled court date.  However, the attorney can provide you with limited legal advice so that you can represent yourself.

How many times can I get help for my legal issue?

There is no limit to the number of times you can visit.

What type of legal issues can I ask about?

• Family Law Matters (divorce, custody, visitation, child support, adoption, paternity, and guardianship)
• Small and Large Claims
• Landlord and Tenant Matters
• Expungement and Shielding of Records
• Consumer Matters (car repossessions, debt collection, and credit card cases)
• Return of Property (replevin and detinue)
• Domestic Violence/Peace Orders
• Foreclosure
• and More

Can the attorney help me with anything else?

Yes, the attorney can help you:

• Complete court forms
• Learn how to file court documents
• Prepare for court
• Prepare for mediation
• Understand court documents

To learn more about how the Court Help Center can assist, please visit Maryland Court Help Center webpage for more information.

The in-person self-help center is sponsored by a collaboration of the following organizations:

Charles County Circuit Court 
District Court of Maryland
Maryland Judiciary's Access to Justice
Maryland Center for Legal Assistance
Charles County Government
Juvenile and Family Services

MARYLAND COURT HELP CENTER PHONE & CHAT SERVICES

HOURS:
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Except for major holidays.  CLICK HERE for a complete list of holiday closures.

Phone Number: 410-260-1392

Chat:  mdcourts.gov/helpcenter

ONLINE SELF HELP RESOURCES

Guide and File - An application created to assist with completion of forms and filing forms via Maryland Electronic Courts.  Guide & File guides the user through a series of questions and explanations related to the user's legal issue.  Upon completion, the program will generate the forms needed and instructions on the next step needed.  The forms can be printed to file in person or can be filed electronically. 

Forms - A collection of forms that can be used to file and respond to court cases. 

People's Law Library - A self-help website managed by the Thurgood Marshall State Law Library.  This site covers many different topics of law and contains information to help the user understand the topic and the court process.  Hyperlinks are embedded in the content of each subject that take you to the relevant statute and if appropriate,  caselaw.

Videos - A collection of videos to help the self-represented with understanding the court process, various topics of law. 

Read about the Law - Collection of court topics and resources for the self-represented litigant, and provides general information on a variety of legal subjects.