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Maryland, U.S.A., bearing the nickname The Free State, displays a unique blend of America’s Southern as well as Northeastern heritages and attributes.   MD’s rural southern and eastern shore regions present a distinctly Dixie-like atmosphere, nestling along the shores of Chesapeake Bay.  The densely populated and highly prosperous central region, spreading out from bustling Baltimore and the Washington Metropolitan Area, exhibits more northern Yankee characteristics and lifestyles.

If you’re heading to state court in Maryland you’ll probably go to one of 3 trial courts: the Circuit Court, which handles civil, criminal, family and juvenile cases; the District Court, which handles traffic matters and civil cases for claims up to  $5,000, and has concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts in claims for amounts above $5,000 but less than $30,000; or the Orphans’ Court,  which hears cases involving contested estates, validity of wills, and has concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts in the guardianships of minors and their property.

If you have a personal injury case in Maryland your claim will be heard in civil court.  This FAQs section gives you information about civil lawsuits.  If you are confused about the terms you hear while in court, you may find this list of common legal terms handy.  Once you’ve gone through a trial, you may have the right to appeal your personal injury case to the state Appeals Court in Annapolis, Maryland.

Maryland’s population of more than 5,610,000 (Census 2007 estimate data) concentrates primarily around the cities and suburbs surrounding the nation's capital, Washington D.C., land which once belonged to MD.  Baltimore is the most populous city and historic Annapolis is Maryland’s capital, also home to the prestigious U.S. Naval Academy, established 1845.  Other vital Maryland cities include Frederick, Hagerstown, Columbia, Silver Spring and Rockville. 

Frederick was home to Francis Scott Key, who wrote the Star Spangled Banner.  Frederick residents were some of the first to refuse to pay taxes under Britain’s Stamp Act in the 1760’s.  Today, Frederick houses Fort Detrick, known for the U.S. Army Medical and Biological Research units. 

Maryland has grown into a major life-sciences hub, the third-largest in the U.S., with more than 350 bio-technology firms and organizations, including Human Genome Sciences, the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.  In August 2007, the Census reported that Maryland is now the wealthiest state in America, surpassing New Jersey, which had held that title.  Maryland’s residents show a median household income of $65,144, substantially higher than the national average of $41,994.

Maryland, USA contains a wide range of stunning topography, earning it another nickname: “America in Miniature.”  In the East, sandy dunes and sea grasses beckon, then transform into mysterious marshlands, home to eerie bald cypress trees and a plethora of reptiles and wildlife.  As one continues west, the land becomes gently rolling hills dotted with oak forests in the Piedmont.  Hills turn into majestic mountains in the far western edges of uniquely beautiful and diverse Maryland.

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