Other Legal Issues

Civil rights generally refers to the rights that individuals living in the United States have under the United States Constitution, certain federal laws, the Maryland constitution and certain state laws.

There are a number of federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination because of age, race, color, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, and pregnancy.

Learn about Federal Civil Rights Claims. Section 1983 empowers individuals to sue state/local officials for violating their constitutional rights, like freedom of speech, religion, due process, and protection against unreasonable searches. Seek damages, injunctions, or attorney's fees for violations.

Maryland law requires many of the Maryland state government agencies and programs to help you if you have trouble with English.

Several Maryland laws prohibit retaliation against an employee who has disclosed wrongdoing by an employer.

In addition to the general requirements you must meet in order to vote in Maryland, there are special rules if you have been convicted of certain crimes and/or are currently under certain restrictions within the criminal justice system.

Learn about who is eligible to register to vote in Maryland, how to register, what identification you need to vote, and your options if there are issues with your registration status and you have to use a provisional ballot.

Asylum is a way to apply for refugee protections from within the United States, including protection from deportation.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a form of immigration relief for certain qualified young people who came to the United States as children. Eligibly individuals may request consideration of deferred action of removal for a period of two years, subject to renewal.

This article describes what a Family Safety Plan is and important terms to know.

This article describes documents that are part of the safety plan and things to consider with each.

If you are in the U.S. on a visa that was granted based on your spouse’s application, a divorce or separation may affect your lawful status and ability to stay in the U.S. You must be careful in choosing whether and when to separate or get a divorce. This article will help you weigh your options.

U.S. federal law governs immigration, including employment-based immigration. Generally, citizens of foreign countries that wish to enter the United States for employment purposes must first obtain a U.S. visa. The purpose of your intended travel to the U.S. and other facts will determine what type of visa you must have under U.S. immigration law.

This article provides information on Immigration Court (also called deportation or removal proceedings) and links to helpful resources for more information.

The U Visa is a form of immigration relief for victims of certain criminal activities and is implemented as a tool to aid law enforcement in identifying perpetrators and aiding victims. The U Visa grants a temporary 4 year stay for holders with some holders eventually qualifying for lawful permanent residency.

This article contains helpful tips for immigrants and new Americans

This article describes notario fraud, or immigration legal services fraud, and what to do if you are a victim of notario fraud.

This article explains the various individuals who can represent you in immigration proceedings.

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) is a form of immigration relief available to undocumented children living in the U.S. who have been abandoned, abused, or neglected by at least one parent and meet several other eligibility requirements.

A standby guardian is a person appointed by a parent (or parents) of a child to take care of the child in the event that the parent is mentally or physically incapable of doing so, or subject to an adverse immigration action.

TPS provides a temporary safe haven to certain foreign nationals in the United States who are unable to return to their countries of origin for safety reasons.

A nonprofit is an organization that does not distribute profit among individual people, such as owners or shareholders. Instead, the income of the organization is used to further the organization’s commitment to public service. There are many kinds of nonprofits - some are exempt from paying taxes, some are not.

This article provides an introduction to cooperatives, as well as an overview of the considerations involved in creating a cooperative. A cooperative is a business or nonprofit organization owned and operated by the people who either use or provide its services. Cooperatives exist in nearly every sector of the economy and employ millions of people each year.

This article explains what a Community Development Corporation (CDC) is and sets forth some of the steps to starting one in Maryland.

Learn about available resources to help you face financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are a non-profit organization thinking about 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, but are concerned about the costs and paperwork, or if you are not yet in a position to apply, then a fiscal sponsorship may be an alternative option for your organization.

One or more people may form an LLC. This article will be most helpful to a single owner, also called a “member,” who wants to form an LLC.

When structuring a business it is important to choose the right entity for your needs because legal responsibilities and protections will differ based on the type of business entity chosen. This article focuses on how to form a stock corporation in Maryland.

501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that have secured tax-exempt status from the IRS often ask for donations from supporters. These organizations must file certain forms with the state of Maryland if they wish to ask people or other organizations to donate money.

Most businesses operating in Maryland must file a report by April 15 each year to maintain "good standing" with SDAT, the State Department of Assessment and Taxation. Without "good standing," a business may lose limited liability or other legal protections associated with being a corporation, limited liability company (LLC), limited partnership (LP), limited liability partnership (LLP), or certain types of trusts or farms.

Benefit corporations are formed to create a public benefit, in addition to creating profit for its shareholders. In Maryland, a company can be recognized by the state as a benefit corporation by stating in its corporate charter that it is a benefit corporation, getting certified as providing a public benefit, taking into consideration more than just profit, and submitting an annual benefit report to each stockholder.

This article explains what sales and use taxes are, who must pay them, and how to file them with the state.

This article describes how to create a nonprofit organization.

If a person invents a new product or process, that individual may consider applying for a patent.

Many charitable organizations rely heavily on volunteers to carry out their missions to offer much-needed services and resources to communities.  Federal and state law encourage people to volunteer by providing some protections from lawsuits, in case of accidents or negligence.

This article covers what a small family child care provider must include in a contract with parents under the Maryland regulations known as Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) Title 13A, Subtitle 15.

A tax-exempt organization that receives income from an activity that is unrelated to the organization’s exempt purpose may have to pay Unrelated Business Income Tax, or UBIT.

To garnish is to take property, most often a portion of someone's salary, by legal authority. Garnishment is a proceeding by a creditor to collect a debt by taking the property or assets of a debtor.

In the past few sessions of the Maryland General Assembly, several new laws were passed that greatly restrict the way minors can operate their automobiles

What does Maryland require to lawfully drive a car? Registration, title and license plates; an inspection; a valid driver’s license; an emissions test; and insurance.

This article describes Maryland's driving while impaired by alcohol laws.

A public record can be corrected or a vehicle titled by petitioning for a writ of mandamus. Mandamus (Latin for "we command") is a writ issued by a court commanding a public official to perform an action.

Under Maryland law every child under 8 years old must ride in an appropriate child restraint and every child from 8 to 16 years old who is not secured in a child restraint must be secured in a vehicle seat belt.

Driving without a license is a criminal offense. This article describes how to replace a lost license.

REAL ID explained: Title II of the REAL ID Act sets standards for state IDs. By May 7, 2025, non-compliant IDs won't board planes or access Federal facilities. Maryland offers REAL ID licenses with 'Core Four' documents: Age, Identity, Social Security, and Address proofs.

Maryland law restricts reading, writing, or sending a text message, or using a handheld telephone, while operating a motor vehicle.

This article describes traffic citation procedure in Maryland.

You are likely to find a "contingency fee" in personal injury cases, accidental claims, property damage cases, or other cases where a large amount of money is in contention.

For a number of reasons, personal injury is an area of the law that is generally not suited to self-representation. This section will give you an overview of the law, give you some tips on things to look out for and help you to find an attorney.

Generally, recoveries for physical harm are not taxable. Other types of monetary settlements are taxable.

​Medical malpractice happens when a doctor’s actions, or failure to act, during patient care do not meet accepted medical standards and cause harm to the patient.

If your earned income falls below certain levels, you may qualify for a reduction in taxes and possibly a refund.

Information on ordering or downloading tax forms, filing electronically, and finding a tax preparer.

Divorce can affect your income taxes. Your written settlement agreement should state how you and your spouse will handle the issues in this article.

Generally, recoveries for physical harm are not taxable. Other types of monetary settlements are taxable.

Under certain conditions, a state court may award a portion of one spouse's military retired pay to the other, as part of a divorce order.

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) suspends certain civil obligations to enable service members to devote full attention to duty and relieve stress on the family members of the deployed servicemembers.

In addition to the general requirements you must meet in order to vote in Maryland, there are special rules if you have been convicted of certain crimes and/or are currently under certain restrictions within the criminal justice system.

Learn about who is eligible to register to vote in Maryland, how to register, what identification you need to vote, and your options if there are issues with your registration status and you have to use a provisional ballot.