Baltimore is an independent city in Maryland that runs its own court. How and where to file family court papers for Baltimore: the clerk of court, e-filing, filing fees, and self-help for custody, child support, and divorce.
Baltimore is an independent city in Maryland, which means it runs its own court rather than sitting inside a county. Family court matters for Baltimore residents (custody, child support, divorce, and parenting plans) are filed with the Baltimore court clerk. Use the Maryland statewide resources on this page to reach the right clerk and forms. FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help resource and not a law firm.
Maryland uses Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) File & Serve for electronic court filings. Whether self-represented filers in Baltimore can e-file depends on the court and case type, so confirm with the clerk before you submit. Where e-filing is not open to you, the clerk will accept paper filings in person or by mail.
Divorce filing fee: ~$165. The exact amount is set by the clerk and changes over time, so verify the current schedule before filing. If you cannot afford the fee, Maryland courts let you ask for a fee waiver based on income.
Yes. Maryland maintains a statewide self-help resource for people without a lawyer, and many clerks run a local self-help center too. Use those official resources for forms and procedure, and use FamilyCourtHelp.com to organize your case, draft documents, and prepare. This page is educational and not legal advice.
No. Baltimore is one of Maryland's independent cities, so it is not part of any county and handles its own court matters. File family cases with the Baltimore court rather than a county clerk.