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Small Claims Court Limits in Maryland

In Maryland, the District Court hears small claims of $5,000 or less, the filing fee is $44, and parties may hire a lawyer if they choose.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Maryland at a glance

Maximum claim
$5,000
Excludes interest, costs and recoverable attorney's fees. Landlord tenant rent claims up to $5,000 also qualify.
Filing fee
$44
District Court filing fee for a new small claims contract or tort suit (cost schedule effective March 1, 2026), plus service fees.
Lawyers allowed
Yes
You can hire a lawyer, but procedures are simplified for self representation.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Maryland

What is the small claims court limit in Maryland?

Maximum claim in Maryland: $5,000. Excludes interest, costs and recoverable attorney's fees. Landlord tenant rent claims up to $5,000 also qualify.

How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Maryland?

Filing fee in Maryland: $44. District Court filing fee for a new small claims contract or tort suit (cost schedule effective March 1, 2026), plus service fees.

Can you bring a lawyer to small claims court in Maryland?

Yes. Lawyers allowed in Maryland: yes. You can hire a lawyer, but procedures are simplified for self representation.

Where do the Maryland small claims court limits come from?

The rules above come from Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. 4-405. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Before filing, send the other side a written demand that states what is owed, why, and a deadline to pay. A clear demand letter sometimes settles the dispute without court, and some courts ask whether you tried to resolve the matter first.

Bring organized evidence to the hearing: contracts, receipts, invoices, photos, text messages and any written promise to pay. Prepare a short timeline of what happened. Judges in small claims court decide cases quickly, so a clear, document backed explanation helps.

Winning a judgment does not mean you are paid automatically. If the other side does not pay voluntarily, you may need to use collection tools such as wage garnishment, a bank levy or a lien, and each of those has its own forms, fees and rules.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.