Small Claims Court Prince George's County Maryland

Maryland has District Court locations in every county and Baltimore City, and which one you file in matters. File in the wrong venue and the court may transfer your case before you reach a courtroom.

Venue Rules for Maryland Small Claims

Under CJP § 6-201, you generally file where the defendant lives, works, or carries on a regular business. For a company, that's the county where it maintains its principal office. A negligence claim may also be filed where the cause of action arose under CJP § 6-202(8). If you sue multiple defendants and no single county is proper for all of them, CJP § 6-201(b) permits filing in a county where any defendant could be sued or where the cause of action arose.

County-by-County Filing

Prince George's County. District Court locations are in Upper Marlboro at 14735 Main Street and in Hyattsville at 4990 Rhode Island Avenue. MDEC e-filing is available, though self-represented litigants can file on paper at the clerk's counter. PG County handles a high volume of landlord-tenant and security deposit disputes given its dense rental market.

Anne Arundel County. The Glen Burnie District Court at 7500 Ritchie Highway handles civil filings for Anne Arundel County. Same $44 filing fee, same rules.

Montgomery County. District Court sessions run in Rockville (191 East Jefferson Street) and Silver Spring. Verify which location handles your case by checking with the clerk or through Maryland Case Search.

Howard County. The District Court is at 3451 Courthouse Drive in Ellicott City.

Baltimore City vs. Baltimore County. This distinction catches people off guard. They are entirely separate jurisdictions with different courthouses, clerks, and service processes. Baltimore City District Court is downtown; Baltimore County District Court is in Towson. If your defendant works in the city but lives in the county, check which venue gives you the best procedural footing.

Frederick County. The District Court sits at 100 West Patrick Street. Frederick County sees a steady flow of contractor and home improvement disputes.

How to Confirm Proper Venue

Before filing, verify four things: the defendant's home address, their business or work address, the location where the transaction or injury occurred, and whether the defendant is an individual or a registered business entity. For businesses, SDAT records show the principal office address.

Filing in the wrong county doesn't kill your case permanently — the court may transfer it to the right venue — but the delay wastes time and can push you closer to the three-year statute of limitations.

The Filing Process Is the Same Everywhere

Regardless of county, you use Form DC-CV-001, pay $44, and choose your service method. The rules are statewide. The only practical differences are courthouse hours, available mediation programs, and how busy the docket is.

The Maryland small claims filing guide includes a venue selection worksheet to help you confirm the right county before you file.

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