Maryland Pro Se Help: Free Court Self-Help Centers and Legal Aid by County
Pro se means representing yourself. In Maryland, free help for pro se parents comes from two places: the court's own self-help programs and nonprofit legal aid. Find your county below to see exactly who to call, or type your city in the search box.
Statewide: Maryland Court Help Center, phone (410) 260-1392. Free phone and chat help with civil court questions for people without a lawyer, statewide.
Allegany County: court help from Allegany Family Services, phone (301) 722-3390. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Barton, Cumberland, Frostburg, Lonaconing, Luke, Midland, and Westernport.
Anne Arundel County: court help from Anne Arundel Family Law Self Help Center, phone (410) 222-1153. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Annapolis and Highland Beach.
Baltimore County: court help from Baltimore County Access to Justice Resource Center. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Arbutus, Baltimore Highlands, Bowleys Quarters, Carney, Catonsville, and Cockeysville.
Baltimore City: court help from Baltimore City Family Law Self Help Center. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Baltimore.
Calvert County: court help from Calvert County Family Law Self Help Center, phone (410) 535-1600 ext. 2516. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Chesapeake Beach and North Beach.
Caroline County: court help from Caroline Family Services. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Denton, Federalsburg, Goldsboro, Greensboro, Henderson, Hillsboro, Marydel, Preston, Ridgely, and Templeville.
Carroll County: court help from Carroll Family Law Administration, phone (410) 386-2751. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Hampstead, Manchester, Mount Airy, New Windsor, Sykesville, Taneytown, Union Bridge, and Westminster.
Cecil County: court help from Cecil Family Law Assistance, phone (410) 996-1157. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Cecilton, Charlestown, Chesapeake City, Elkton, North East, Perryville, Port Deposit, and Rising Sun.
Charles County: court help from Charles Family Services. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Indian Head, La Plata, and Port Tobacco Village.
Dorchester County: court help from Dorchester Family Services, phone (410) 228-1395. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Brookview, Cambridge, Church Creek, East New Market, Eldorado, Galestown, Hurlock, Secretary, and Vienna.
Frederick County: court help from Frederick Family Services, phone (301) 600-1899. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Brunswick, Burkittsville, Emmitsburg, Frederick, Middletown, Mount Airy, Myersville, New Market, Rosemont, Thurmont, Walkersville, and Woodsboro.
Garrett County: court help from Garrett Family Services, phone (301) 334-7602. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Accident, Deer Park, Friendsville, Grantsville, Kitzmiller, Loch Lynn Heights, Mountain Lake Park, and Oakland.
Harford County: court help from Harford Self Help Center, phone (410) 638-4916. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Aberdeen, Bel Air, and Havre de Grace.
Howard County: court help from Howard Family Law Assistance, phone (410) 313-2135. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Columbia, Elkridge, Ellicott City, Fulton, Highland, and Ilchester.
Kent County: court help from Kent Family Law Assistance, phone (410) 810-1059. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Betterton, Chestertown, Galena, Millington, and Rock Hall.
Montgomery County: court help from Montgomery Family Law Self Help Center, phone (240) 777-9145. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Barnesville, Brookeville, Chevy Chase, Chevy Chase Section Five, Chevy Chase Section Three, Chevy Chase View, Chevy Chase Village, Gaithersburg, Garrett Park, Glen Echo, Kensington, and Laytonsville.
Prince George's County: court help from Prince George's Family Division, phone (301) 780-8000. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Berwyn Heights, Bladensburg, Bowie, Brentwood, Capitol Heights, Cheverly, College Park, Colmar Manor, Cottage City, District Heights, Eagle Harbor, and Edmonston.
Queen Anne's County: court help from Queen Anne's Family Law Clinic. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Barclay, Centreville, Church Hill, Millington, Queen Anne, Queenstown, Sudlersville, and Templeville.
St. Mary's County: court help from St. Mary's County Family Services, phone (301) 475-7844 ext. 4110. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Leonardtown.
Somerset County: court help from Somerset Family Law Self Help Center, phone (410) 621-7582. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Crisfield and Princess Anne.
Talbot County: court help from Talbot Family Services, phone (410) 770-6806. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Easton, Oxford, Queen Anne, St. Michaels, and Trappe.
Washington County: court help from Washington Family Law Clinic, phone (240) 313-2580. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Boonsboro, Clear Spring, Funkstown, Hagerstown, Hancock, Keedysville, Sharpsburg, Smithsburg, and Williamsport.
Wicomico County: court help from Wicomico Family Law Self Help Center, phone (410) 334-3110. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Delmar, Fruitland, Hebron, Mardela Springs, Pittsville, Salisbury, Sharptown, and Willards.
Worcester County: court help from Worcester Family Law Self Help Center, phone (410) 632-5638. Free legal aid from Maryland Legal Aid, phone (888) 465-2468. Covers Berlin, Ocean City, Pocomoke City, and Snow Hill.
Where can I get free help with a family court case in Maryland without a lawyer? Start with Maryland Court Help Center, run by Maryland Judiciary, phone (410) 260-1392. 24 of 24 counties also have their own local court help listed on this page. For free legal advice, contact Maryland Legal Aid if you qualify by income.
Does every Maryland county have its own self-help center? No. 24 of 24 counties have local court help listed here. Every other county is served by Maryland Court Help Center, which you can call or visit online from anywhere in Maryland.
Who gives free legal aid in Maryland? Maryland is served by one federally funded legal aid office: Maryland Legal Aid. Each one serves set counties, so check the listing for your county. Help is free for people who qualify, usually by income.
What is a court self-help center? It is a free help desk run by or for the court for people handling their own case without a lawyer. Staff can explain which forms you need, how to fill them out, how filing and service work, and what happens next. They are not your lawyer, so they cannot tell you what to ask for or how to argue your case.
What is the difference between a self-help center and legal aid? A self-help center helps anyone who walks in or calls, whatever their income, with forms and court steps. A legal aid office is a nonprofit law office that can give free legal advice and sometimes a free lawyer, but only to people who qualify, usually by income. Many parents use both.
What should I have ready before I call? Your county, your case number if you have one, the names of both parents and the children, any papers you were served, and any deadline or hearing date. Write down the date you called, who you spoke to, and what they told you.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get free help with a family court case in Maryland without a lawyer?
Start with Maryland Court Help Center, run by Maryland Judiciary, phone (410) 260-1392. 24 of 24 counties also have their own local court help listed on this page. For free legal advice, contact Maryland Legal Aid if you qualify by income.
Does every Maryland county have its own self-help center?
No. 24 of 24 counties have local court help listed here. Every other county is served by Maryland Court Help Center, which you can call or visit online from anywhere in Maryland.
Who gives free legal aid in Maryland?
Maryland is served by one federally funded legal aid office: Maryland Legal Aid. Each one serves set counties, so check the listing for your county. Help is free for people who qualify, usually by income.
What is a court self-help center?
It is a free help desk run by or for the court for people handling their own case without a lawyer. Staff can explain which forms you need, how to fill them out, how filing and service work, and what happens next. They are not your lawyer, so they cannot tell you what to ask for or how to argue your case.
What is the difference between a self-help center and legal aid?
A self-help center helps anyone who walks in or calls, whatever their income, with forms and court steps. A legal aid office is a nonprofit law office that can give free legal advice and sometimes a free lawyer, but only to people who qualify, usually by income. Many parents use both.
What should I have ready before I call?
Your county, your case number if you have one, the names of both parents and the children, any papers you were served, and any deadline or hearing date. Write down the date you called, who you spoke to, and what they told you.