Foreclosure Assistance

There are new laws and programs to help people facing possible foreclosure of their home. For more information:

• The People's Law Library Mortgage Foreclosure Assistance Resources. The People's Law Library provides law-related, self-help information for Marylanders, and is sponsored by the Maryland State Law Library. http://www.peoples-law.org/housing/home-ownership/foreclosure.htm.
• MDhope.org (Maryland Home Owners Preserving Equity). MDHope.org is the State's main website for providing foresclosure help. Phone: 1-877-462-7555.

Foreclosure Mediation

If you are filing a Request for Mediation form (this form is provided by your lender), you must pay a filing fee of $50 when you file. Make your check payable to Clerk of Circuit Court, and send or deliver your check with your Request for Mediation form. For more information on Foreclosure Mediation, see http://www.mdhope.org/ForeclosureMediation.aspx

If you cannot afford to pay the filing fee:
A judge may waive or reduce the fee if you cannot afford to pay it. To request a waiver of the filing fee, complete the Request for Waiver of Filing Fee For Foreclosure Mediation form (online at http://mdcourts.gov/courtforms/circuit/cc080.pdf) and send/deliver it, along with your Request for Mediation form, to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. You will receive a copy of the judge's decision on your request for waiver of the fee. As noted at the bottom of the form, if the Court does not grant your request for a fee waiver or fee reduction in its entirety, the Court is to specify in its order the dollar amount that you must pay and the amount of time, not to exceed ten (10) days, within which you must make payment to the Court. If you do not make payment within the time allowed, your request for foreclosure mediation will be stricken.