Hiring a Real Estate Lawyer in Maryland
What a home seller in Maryland must disclose, how foreclosure works, how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Maryland: fee rules
| If a lawyer takes your money | The Client Protection Fund of the Bar of Maryland, created in 1965 and supported by practicing attorneys, reimburses clients who lose money through misappropriation by Maryland lawyers (or out-of-state lawyers authorized to practice in Maryland) acting as attorneys or fiduciaries, except to the extent the loss is bonded; malpractice is not covered. Reimbursement for one claim, or all claims against the same attorney, cannot exceed 5% of the Fund's net balance. Claims must be filed within six months after the claimant discovers the theft (the Trustees may accept late claims). Filing is free, and a lawyer who helps may not charge a fee. Fund home: https://www.mdcourts.gov/cpf ; governing rules: Md. Rules 19-601 to 19-610 |
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Maryland rules to know first
| What a home seller must disclose | Yes, for most sales of single-family homes (up to four units). The seller must give the buyer either a Residential Property Condition Disclosure Statement or a Residential Property Disclaimer Statement on the single State Real Estate Commission form, on or before signing the contract. Even with the disclaimer ("as is"), the seller must disclose latent defects the seller actually knows of that threaten health or safety. A buyer who does not receive the form before signing may rescind within 5 days after receiving it (subject to limits tied to a mortgage application). Exemptions include new homes never occupied, foreclosure and sheriff's sales, and sales by a lender that acquired the home by foreclosure. Source: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 10-702 |
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| How foreclosure works | Foreclosure goes through the circuit court in every case. A mortgage or deed of trust may contain a power of sale or the borrower's "assent to a decree," which lets a court-supervised sale proceed without a full lawsuit on the debt; the case starts with an "order to docket" (or a complaint to foreclose) filed in circuit court, and the sale takes effect only after the court finally ratifies it. |
| Foreclosure timeline | For homes of up to four units, a foreclosure case may not be filed until the later of 90 days after the default or 45 days after the Notice of Intent to Foreclose is sent (the court can allow an earlier filing in limited cases, such as fraud or no payments ever made). For an owner-occupied home, the sale may not occur until at least 45 days after service of the court papers with a final loss mitigation affidavit (or 30 days after that affidavit is mailed), or, if postfile mediation is requested, at least 15 days after the mediation is held or the mediation report is filed. For a home that is not owner-occupied, the sale may not occur until at least 45 days after service. |
| HOA foreclosure | Yes, with limits. Under the Maryland Contract Lien Act, a lien may be foreclosed in the same way as a mortgage or deed of trust with a power of sale, and the foreclosure must be brought within 12 years after the statement of lien is recorded. A condominium or homeowners association may foreclose its lien only if the amount secured consists of delinquent regular or special assessments (plus interest) and reasonable lien-related costs and attorney's fees not exceeding the delinquent assessments, and does not include fines or fees for collecting fines. Source: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 14-204 |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Maryland State Bar Association does not make referrals itself; it says "Your county's bar association can help you find a lawyer in your area" and lists county bar numbers, including Anne Arundel (410) 222-6859, Baltimore City (410) 539-3112, Baltimore County, Carroll and Frederick (410) 337-9100, Harford (410) 836-0123, Howard (410) 313-3853, Montgomery (301) 279-9100, and Prince George's and Charles (301) 952-1440. Fees are set by each county service. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Maryland Judiciary's attorney listing, drawn from its Attorney Information System, lets you search by last name (partial names allowed) and first name, with a similar-names option. An attorney listed as active is in good standing and authorized to practice; other listings may show inactive or retired attorneys, judges, or attorneys with disciplinary or administrative actions affecting eligibility. Questions: Supreme Court of Maryland Clerk's Office, 410-260-1500. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints about Maryland lawyers go to the Attorney Grievance Commission's Office of Bar Counsel, which investigates and prosecutes violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Read the instructions, complete and print the Attorney Complaint Form (English or Spanish), and mail it to the Office of Bar Counsel, 200 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Suite 300, Annapolis, MD 21401. Questions: (410) 514-7051 (staff cannot discuss complaint details by phone). Public sanctions and actions affecting licensure are posted on the Commission's website. Sanctions: https://www.mdcourts.gov/attygrievance/sanctions |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | The Maryland Court Help Center, run by the Maryland Judiciary, offers "Free legal help with your civil matter" by phone at 410-260-1392, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Maryland Legal Aid, the state's LSC-funded legal aid organization, provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income Marylanders. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in Maryland · Background guide
Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.
How we source this page: each state-specific rule links to the statute, court rule or official government page it comes from. A rule taken from a public copy of a state code (used only where the official code is not freely readable online) is marked as a secondary source. Spot an error? Use the contact page to report it. About our sources
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.