Understanding Civil Cases

Things to Consider Before Starting a Civil Case

1. When it comes to filing civil cases in Maryland, the District Court has exclusive jurisdiction in civil matters of claims involving $5,000 or less. Claims involving amounts between $5,000-$25,000 may be filed in Circuit Court and in District Court. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction of claims involving amounts in excess of $25,000 except in Landlord-Tenant matters or in replevin. For more information on filing civil claims in the District Court, see the Maryland Attorney General's small claims publication (PDF).
2. Anyone over the age of 18 can initiate a civil filing.
3. Consider whether your case should go to court. Taking a case to court can be an expensive way of solving your problem. If you sue and lose, the Court may order you to pay the costs of the other parties, which could be significant. Moreover, there are several ways to settle your case without going to court, including mediation, arbitration, and negotiation between lawyers involved in the dispute. Finally, consider the cost of taking a case to court as opposed to the cost of each alternative approach. For more information about possible ways to settle the dispute out of court and reduce costs, consult your attorney.
4. If you have a complaint about a product and/or services that you purchased, or any other consumer-related complaints, including problems related to health care and financial matters, first contact the Maryland Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division toll-free at 888-743-0023 or the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection at 240-777-3636.
5. In Maryland, parties must file most cases within 3 years of the time when it was first possible to file. If you are making an old claim, the Court may dismiss your case by “statute of limitations.” If you are uncertain, consult your attorney.

*Other requirements, such as residency, may also apply.

Differentiated Case Management (DCM) Guidelines for Civil Cases

DCM is characterized by the early differentiation of cases entering the justice system in terms of the nature and extent of judicial/justice system resources they will require. Each case is assigned to the appropriate case track that allows for the performance of pretrial tasks and allocates the appropriate level of judicial and other system resources, minimizing processing delays. Established mechanisms avoid multiple court appearances and assure the timely provision of resources for the expeditious processing and resolution of cases on each track.

There are 8 tracks in civil cases. Tracks are numeric categories assigned to each case that drive how dates are scheduled and time standards are met.

For more information, visit the What are DCM Tracks? page.

Download the Civil DCM Plan, revised April 2017 (PDF)