Frequently Asked Questions
"I am having a dispute with my neighbors. Who can I contact?"
You can always consult with an attorney to learn your legal rights. As an alternative, the Carroll County Community Mediation Center may be able to help you resolve this issue by providing free conflict management services. They are located at 255 Clifton Boulevard, Suite 311, Westminster, Maryland, 21157 and can be reached by phone at 410-848-1764, and by email at ccmc@carrollcc.edu.
Additional information is available at:
"I would like to research the County Code. How do I access it on-line?"
The Code of Public Local Laws and Ordinances of Carroll County can be accessed by clicking here.
"I would like to purchase a copy of the County Code. Where is it available for sale and how much does it cost?"
I would like to purchase a copy of the County Code. Where is it available for sale and how much does it cost?
The Code of Public Local Laws and Ordinances of Carroll County is only available for sale through the publisher:
American Legal Publishing Corp.
432 Walnut Street
Suite 1200
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
To purchase a code book, please contact the publisher directly at 1-800-445-5588, or email customerservice@amlegal.com.
"I need information about my pending court case. Can the County Attorney help me with that?"
The Department of the County Attorney is not directly affiliated with the court system and cannot provide information on pending court cases.
For information on a pending District Court case, contact the District Court Clerk’s Office at 410-871-3500, TTY 410-735-2258.
For information on a pending Circuit Court case, contact the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office at 410-386-8710.
"I live in Carroll County and I would like a County Attorney to represent me for my divorce. Who can help me?"
The County Attorney represents the Board of County Commissioners and is prohibited from representing or providing legal advice to individual Carroll County residents.
A free legal services clinic is available to assist persons below a certain income level who are not represented by an attorney in the completion of family law forms and/or to provide limited legal advice regarding:
- divorce,
- separation,
- custody,
- visitation,
- child support,
- alimony,
- division of marital property,
- mediation,
- name change,
- guardianship,
- domestic violence,
- contempts
- emergency evaluations
This free legal services clinic opens on Tuesdays from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and on Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Courthouse Annex, Room 208, 55 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland.
Additional information regarding family law services can be found at: http://mdcourts.gov/clerks/carroll/family.html
"I would like a County Attorney to represent me in a criminal case. Who can help me?"
The County Attorney represents the Board of County Commissioners and is prohibited from representing or providing legal advice to individual citizens.
You may contact the Public Defender at 410-871-3636 or the Legal Aid Bureau at 1-800-679-8813. If you wish to hire private counsel and are not familiar with any attorney, you may contact the Lawyer Referral Service at 410-337-9100.
"Do you prosecute criminal cases?"
No. Generally, criminal cases are prosecuted by the Carroll County Office of the State’s Attorney.
You may contact the State’s Attorney’s Office at 410-386-2671
(http://carrollcountystatesattorney.org).
"Does Carroll County have a noise ordinance?"
Yes. Ordinance No. 05-08 became effective September 15, 2005, and is codified as Chapter 93 in the Code of Public Local Laws and Ordinances of Carroll County. For information on how to file a complaint, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 410-386-2900.
"Who would I contact to make a complaint about animals, such as barking dogs, or dogs running at large, etc.?"
The Humane Society of Carroll County, Inc. (http://www.carr.org/humane) responds to complaints such as at large animals, cruelty to animals, dangerous animals, etc. in Carroll County. They can also answer questions regarding animal licensing and vaccination.
The Humane Society is located at 2517 Littlestown Pike, Westminster, Maryland, 21158, and can be reached at 410-848-4810 or 410-875-5379.