The Circuit Court for Howard County offers two in-person programs where attorneys volunteer to provide free legal advice to self-represented litigants. Please see below for information about the Civil Law Center and the Family Law Assistance Program.
The Circuit Court for Howard County Law Library and Legal Resource Center is located in the Circuit Court building and is open to the public Mondays – Fridays, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. The Law Library and Legal Resource Center is closed on court holidays.
- Law Librarian: Sandy Brewer
- Phone: 410-313-2135
- Contact: [email protected]
The Law Library and Legal Resource Center serves the law-related research and information needs of the judiciary and the public. The Law Library and Legal Resource Center provides access to local, state and federal legal resources in a variety of formats, including traditional print and online resources. The Law Library is a non-circulating library.
Reference services include research and instruction in the choice and use of legal information resources. The Law Librarian cannot interpret legal material, give legal advice or recommend language for use on legal documents.
Research at Your Fingertips
The Library is open for in-person use without prescheduled appointments.
Library computers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Library offers visitors six public access Internet terminals for legal research and writing purposes. We are pleased to provide on-site access to WestlawNext for legal research, SASI-CALC for child support calculations, Microsoft Word, and scanners for electronic filing.
WestlawNext is an online legal database that provides access to cases and statutes for all fifty states and a broad range of secondary sources, primarily Maryland law.
SASI-CALC is an online Maryland child support calculator with up-to-date state law changes to determine child support as used by Courts.
The internet is accessible via the Circuit Courthouse’s Wi-Fi.
Legal Assistance Programs/Pro Bono Services
Ask a Lawyer
The Circuit Court for Howard County offers two in-person programs where attorneys volunteer to provide free legal advice to self-represented litigants. The Civil Law Center and the Family Law Assistance Program are designed to provide free legal assistance to low-income self-represented litigants. At these clinics, you can consult one-on-one with an attorney - for about twenty to thirty minutes.
The Law Library, in partnership with the Howard County Library System, offers evening hours for the Circuit Court’s Family Law Assistance Program – by appointment only.
Please contact the law librarian with any questions about the Civil Law Center, the Family Law Assistance Program or to schedule an appointment.
For more information, see the Civil Law Center.
For more information, see the Family Law Assistance Program.
Library Resources
Court Forms - Text Collection
Included in the text collection are books that contain sample forms. These forms can be copied and then adapted by the patron to suit his or her situation.
Do-It-Yourself Resources
See Do-It-Yourself titles, a collection of books written specifically for self-represented litigants.
Library Resources for Attorneys
Maryland Courts Self-Help Centers
Free legal help with your civil
or family matter
8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday - Friday
Copy/Printing
Users should be aware that the printing and downloading of certain material may be subject to the Copyright and related laws in Title 17 of the United States Code.