Maryland Legal Compass State Laws Guide

This Maryland Legal Compass State Laws guide will attempt to outline some of the important areas of law that will be useful to Maryland residents from young adulthood into their golden years. It will in no way replace expert advice on the law.

Rights and Responsibilities of Young People

The age of majority in Maryland remains at 18. At this age, people are bestowed with several rights and responsibilities.:

• Voting: The right to vote in all elections.
• Contracts: Can enter into legally binding agreements.
• Criminal Justice: Tried as an adult for any offenses.

Maryland has certain labor laws for young workers.

• Minors under 14 cannot work except in specific, limited circumstances.
• 14 and 15-year-olds have restricted working hours during school weeks.
• All minors require work permits to be employed.

For further information about Maryland's labor law and worker protections

Consumer Protection and Debt Management

Maryland continues to maintain robust consumer protection laws, and in 2024, some key updates include:

• Maryland Consumer Protection Act still prohibits unfair or deceptive trade practices.
• Debt Collectors must be licensed and follow strict guidelines. As of 2024, additional regulations have been imposed on third-party debt collectors, enhancing consumer rights to dispute inaccurate debt claims.
• Payday Loans are still effectively prohibited due to strict interest rate caps, and there is increased state scrutiny on online lenders.

For those struggling with debt, Maryland continues to offer several options:

• Debt Management Plans: These are national plans that help people with debt merging and debt management.
• Debt Settlement: Legal, but consumers need to be very cautious about potential risks and scams.
• Bankruptcy: Both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are available, and the new Maryland-specific exemptions in 2024 will increase asset protection thresholds.

To explore debt consolidation options in more detail

For information on debt settlement strategies and considerations

Additional Legal Resources for Consumers:

• [Payday loan laws in Maryland]
• [Maryland bankruptcy laws]

Housing and Property Laws

Housing Law in Maryland carries on holding the interests of tenants and landlords at heart.

Some of the innovations in 2024 include:

• Security Deposits: May not exceed two months' rent; shall be returned within 45 days of the surrender of the premises. The 2024 legislation enhances penalties against landlords for failing to return security deposits.
• Rent Escrow: Tenants can still pay rent in court when landlords are not making the required repairs. A new law taking effect in 2024 also streamlines the process for tenants in dispute with landlords.
• Evictions: Evictions are prohibited without a court order, and landlords must give written notice. New 2024 laws lengthen more tenant protections and provide additional time frames for those facing eviction if they can prove hardships.

For homeowners:

• Property Taxes: Amortized annually, but some homeowners and renters may be credited. Starting in 2024, new property tax changes will amortize more people in need, particularly older homeowners.
• Homestead Tax Credit: Caps the annual increase in taxable assessments.
• Foreclosure: Maryland remains a judicial foreclosure state, which requires court involvement in every foreclosure. New foreclosure mediation programs were implemented in 2024 to help struggling homeowners.

Family Law

Maryland family law continues to cover various aspects of domestic relations:

Marriage:

• Marriage License: Required of all marriages, obtained from the circuit court clerk.
• Same-Sex Marriage: Legal since 2013.

Divorce:

• No-Fault Divorce: Still available after a 12-month separation.
• Fault-Based Divorce: Grounds include adultery, desertion, cruelty, and incarceration.

Child Custody and Support:

• Best Interests of the Child: Still the primary consideration in custody decisions.
• Child Support Guidelines: Based on both parents' incomes and the number of children. As of 2024, new guidelines include clearer provisions for shared custody arrangements and updated income thresholds.

Business and Employment Law

For entrepreneurs and business owners:

• Business Structures: Some options still include sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, and corporation.
• Registration: Most businesses must register with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
• Taxes: Income tax, sales tax, and unemployment insurance tax. The 2024 updated tax laws saw some changes and a few small-business incentives added. This time, most businesses in the technology and green energy fields are being targeted.

Employment laws protect workers' rights:

• Minimum Wage: Maryland's minimum wage will be $15.00/hour starting January 2024, indexed from there, with subsequent increases linked annually to the cost of living.
• Paid Sick Leave: This shall be imposed on most employers with 15 or more employees.
• Anti-Discrimination: This Act prohibits discrimination based on the following grounds: race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. Among the new 2024 amendments are protections against discrimination because of pregnancy-related conditions and caregiver status.

Estate Planning and Elder Law

Estate planning remains crucial for all Maryland adults. In 2024:

• Wills: They still must be in writing and signed by the testator and two witnesses. Recent changes now make it a little bit easier to make electronic wills in some circumstances.
• Advance Directives: Combine living wills and healthcare power of attorney into one form; the registration process should be streamlined by 2024.

Get more information on creating a will in Maryland

Understand the benefits and process of setting up a living trust

Elder Law Considerations:

• Long-Term Care: Maryland Medicaid may pay for nursing home care. Long-term care settings will see 2024 improvements, including stronger protections for seniors against financial exploitation.
• Elder Abuse: The elderly are well protected from physical, emotional, and financial abuse through strict laws. In 2024, measures were introduced to monitor the care facilities for the elderly.
• Senior Tax Benefits: Exemptions and credits that have been improved for those 65 years and older. Th property tax credit for seniors will be improved in 2024.

Criminal Law and Procedure

In Maryland's criminal justice system:

• Categories: Continue using Felonies, Misdemeanors
• Expungement: After waiting periods for certain offenses, the 2024 reforms available for non-violent offenses further expanded the eligibility to have a conviction expunged.
• Recreational Marijuana: By 2024, Maryland will have fully legalized recreational marijuana for those aged 21 and above, with clearly stipulated guidelines on the possession limits allowable for marijuana and its retail sales.

Additional State Legal Resources:

• For official state legal information and consumer protection
• For legal professional services and resources

Other State Legal Resources

• For state legal information and official consumer protection: [Office of the Maryland Attorney General].
• For Attorney Resources and Services: Maryland State Bar Association.