Maryland Process Server Service in All 23 Counties and Baltimore City, Under Maryland Rules 2-121 to 2-126

Private servers

A competent private person who is 18 years of age or older and is not a party to the action. Rule 2-123(a) expressly includes an attorney of record, and the District Court rule, 3-123(a), repeats the same words. The rules add no other qualification for a private server.

Rules 2-⁠123(a), 3-⁠123(a)

Sheriffs, deputies and constables

Rule 1-202 reads "sheriff" to include a deputy sheriff of the county in which the proceedings are taken, an elisor acting for the sheriff and, in the District Court, a court constable. Process that needs execution beyond delivery, mailing or publication goes to the sheriff of the county where it is executed unless the court orders otherwise. If the sheriff is a party or interested, the court may name an elisor on application of any interested party.

Rules 1-⁠202(cc), 2-⁠123(b)–⁠(c)

Issuing the summons

On filing, the circuit court clerk issues a summons for each defendant forthwith, under the court’s seal and the clerk’s signature, and delivers it with a copy of each paper filed to the sheriff or another person the plaintiff designates. More than one summons issues for a defendant on the plaintiff’s request. In the District Court the clerk delivers the summons to the plaintiff or the sheriff, or mails it by certified mail, as the plaintiff directs.

Rules 2-⁠112(a), 2-⁠114(a), 3-⁠112(a)

Life of a summons

60 days after the date it is issued, in both the circuit court and the District Court. A summons not served in that time is dormant and can be renewed only on the plaintiff’s written request. Each summons states its date of issue and the time within which it must be served.

Rules 2-⁠113, 3-⁠113(a), 2-⁠114(b)

Counting the days

The issuance day is not counted; Saturdays, Sundays and holidays inside a period longer than seven days are. A last day that falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday runs to the end of the next day that is none of those. Holidays are the employee holidays of State Personnel and Pensions § 9-201, a list that includes the Friday after Thanksgiving (American Indian Heritage Day) and each statewide general election day.

Rules 1-⁠203(a), 1-⁠202(l); SPP § 9-⁠201

Unserved defendant, circuit court

Subject to dismissal as to that defendant 120 days after original process issues. The clerk, on a party’s written request or on its own, serves notice that dismissal will be entered after 30 days. A motion filed within those 30 days may persuade the court, for good cause, to defer it; otherwise the docket entry reads "Dismissed for lack of jurisdiction or prosecution without prejudice."

Rule 2-⁠507(b), (d)–⁠(f)

Unserved defendant, District Court

Subject to dismissal one year after the last issuance of original process to that defendant. The court may dismiss without prejudice on the defendant’s motion or on its own initiative, and a motion filed within 30 days after the clerk’s notice may, for good cause, have the action reinstated.

Rule 3-⁠507(a), (c)–⁠(e)

In hand and at the home

Delivery of the summons, the complaint and all other papers filed with it to the person to be served, or to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive process for an individual. For an individual, the same papers may instead be left at the dwelling house or usual place of abode with a resident of suitable age and discretion.

Rules 2-⁠121(a)⁠(1)–⁠(2), 2-⁠124(b)

Restricted delivery certified mail

The same papers may be mailed by certified mail marked "Restricted Delivery--show to whom, date, address of delivery." The mailing is service of process, so Rule 2-123(a) applies to it: a sheriff or a competent private person 18 or older may make it, but not a party to the action. Service is complete on delivery, and the proof must include the original return receipt. When the District Court clerk mails the summons, the receipt returned through the Post Office is the proof of service.

Rules 2-⁠121(a)⁠(3), 2-⁠123(a), 2-⁠126(a)⁠(3), 3-⁠126(a)⁠(3)

Minors and incompetent adults

An individual under disability, meaning a person under 18 or one incompetent by reason of mental incapacity, is served in person and, in addition, through the parent, guardian or other person who has care or custody of the individual or the individual’s estate.

Rules 2-⁠124(c), 1-⁠202(n)

Corporations

The resident agent, president, secretary or treasurer. If there is no resident agent, or a good faith attempt on those four has failed, the manager, any director, a vice president, an assistant secretary, an assistant treasurer or another person expressly or impliedly authorized to receive process. The same rule covers incorporated associations and joint stock companies.

Rule 2-⁠124(d)

Insurance, surety and bonding companies

Process may be served on an insurance, surety or bonding company by serving an agent of the kind Courts Article § 6-306 describes, or one of the persons the Maryland Rules describe. Rule 2-124 leaves in force statutes that permit or require service on a particular person, and its committee note names Insurance Article § 4-107, under which service on certain insurance companies is made by serving the Insurance Commissioner. In circuit court, a defendant required by statute to have a resident agent and served through the Insurance Commissioner answers within 60 days after service.

CJP § 6-⁠306; Rules 2-⁠124(a) and committee note, 2-⁠321(b)⁠(3)

LLCs, partnerships and associations

A limited liability company, limited partnership or limited liability partnership is served through its resident agent. When it has none or a good faith attempt on the agent fails, the LLC may be served through any member, the limited partnership through any general partner, and each of the three through any other person expressly or impliedly authorized to receive service of process. A general partnership or unincorporated association sued in its group name under Courts Article § 6-406 is served through any general partner, or any officer or member of its governing board (with no officers or board, any member of the association).

Rule 2-⁠124(e)–⁠(i)

Substituted service on SDAT

An entity that a Maryland statute requires to keep a resident agent may be served by leaving two copies of the papers, with the fee, at the State Department of Assessments and Taxation if it has no resident agent, the agent is dead or gone from the address on file with the Department, or two good faith attempts on separate days to serve the agent have failed. The Director records the service and forwards a copy to the defendant, and in circuit court the defendant then has 60 days to answer.

Rules 2-⁠124(o), 2-⁠321(b)⁠(3); CJP § 6-⁠307

Entities with a Maryland resident agent

In an action, suit or proceeding pending, filed or instituted against it under the Corporations and Associations Article, service of process on the resident agent of a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, limited worker cooperative association or real estate investment trust is effective service under the Maryland Rules. A notice that must be personally served on the resident agent or another agent or officer of any such Maryland or foreign entity required by statute to keep a resident agent here may be served as the Maryland Rules provide for corporations, and that service is equivalent to personal service on the agent or officer.

Corps. & Ass’ns § 1-⁠401(a)–⁠(b)

The State and local government

The State: the Attorney General, or someone the Attorney General designates in a writing filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court; in an action attacking the validity of an order of a State officer or agency not made a party, that officer or agency is also served. A State officer or agency: its designated resident agent or the Attorney General. A Maryland Tort Claims Act complaint is served on the Treasurer. A county, municipality or other local entity: its resident agent; if it has none or a good faith effort to serve the agent has failed, the chief executive or presiding officer or, if none, any member of the governing body. The Baltimore City Police Department is served like a State agency.

Rule 2-⁠124(a), (j)–⁠(l); SG § 12-⁠108(a); CJP § 6-⁠308

The United States

The United States Attorney for the District of Maryland (or a designee named in a writing filed with the clerk) and the Attorney General of the United States in Washington, D.C. In an action attacking the validity of an order of a federal officer or agency not made a party, that officer or agency is also served. A federal officer or agency is served by serving the United States and the officer or agency. In circuit court the United States has 60 days to answer.

Rules 2-⁠124(m)–⁠(n), 2-⁠321(b)⁠(4)

Outside Maryland

Service may be made outside the State when Maryland law authorizes it, and a defendant within the court’s jurisdiction may be served where found. Maryland courts have jurisdiction on any claim over a person domiciled, served with process, organized or keeping a principal place of business in the State. The long-arm statute also reaches a person who transacts business or performs work or service in the State, among other grounds; if jurisdiction over a person is based solely on that section, the person may be sued only on a cause of action arising from an act it lists. Abroad or in another state, the manner the court prescribes or the foreign jurisdiction’s manner also works if reasonably calculated to give actual notice. In circuit court, answers are due in 60 days after service elsewhere in the United States and 90 days after service outside it.

Rules 2-⁠121(a), 2-⁠321(b)⁠(1), (5); CJP §§ 6-⁠102, 6-⁠103, 6-⁠304

Nonresident drivers

A nonresident who drove in Maryland may be served in an accident case through the Motor Vehicle Administration: the process is left with the Administration with a certification of the driver’s last known address and the fee, the Administration mails it by certified mail and files an affidavit of compliance, and the party seeking service sends that affidavit by certified mail to the driver’s motor vehicle insurer.

CJP § 6-⁠313(b)–⁠(e)

Visiting witnesses and parties

A nonresident in Maryland to testify in, prosecute or defend an action may not be served with process while here for that purpose. A nonresident passing through Maryland to or from another state in response to a summons to testify may not be served either, except with process arising from acts done after entering the State.

CJP § 6-⁠305(a)–⁠(b)

Evasion and court-ordered service

On an affidavit that the defendant has acted to evade service, the court may order mailing to the last known residence plus delivery to a person of suitable age and discretion at the defendant’s place of business. On an affidavit that good faith efforts under Rule 2-121(a) failed and that the evasion route is inapplicable or impracticable, the court may order any other means reasonably calculated to give actual notice.

Rule 2-⁠121(b)–⁠(c)

Resisting an officer

When a person blocks an officer by threats, violence, superior force or by keeping the officer out of the premises so that service would take force or personal risk, the officer leaves the process with a responsible person at the premises or, if that is not possible, posts it as near the premises as practicable. That service is as effective as actual personal service.

CJP § 6-⁠303

Other methods

The Rule 2-121 methods are in addition to, not exclusive of, any other method a statute or rule provides, and Courts Article § 6-301 adds the Maryland Rules to any method allowed by law.

Rule 2-⁠121(d); CJP § 6-⁠301

Posting and publication (in rem)

Only in an in rem or quasi in rem action, after an affidavit that the defendant’s whereabouts are unknown despite good faith efforts, the court may order a mailed notice to the last known address plus posting by the sheriff at the courthouse door or on a bulletin board near it, publication once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county, or, where rights in land are involved, posting on the land by a person qualified under Rule 2-123(a). The court may also order any other means of notice it deems appropriate. Mailing and posting or publication must be done at least 30 days before the response date. The proof includes the name, address and telephone number of the individual making service, proof of compliance with Rule 2-122 and a copy of the publication or posted notice; the publisher’s certificate proves publication.

Rules 2-⁠122(a)–⁠(b), 2-⁠126(b)

Finding an insured defendant

On a plaintiff’s written request, the defendant’s liability insurer or self-insurance plan must give the plaintiff the defendant’s last known home and business addresses, if known.

CJP § 6-⁠311(c)⁠(1)

Time to answer

In circuit court, 30 days after service as the general rule. Rule 2-321(b) sets exceptions, among them the longer periods above for service outside Maryland, on SDAT, through the Insurance Commissioner and on the United States.

Rule 2-⁠321(a)–⁠(b)

Private server’s proof

For delivery, the name of the person served, the date, and the particular place and manner of service. For abode service, also a description of the individual served and the facts behind the conclusion that the person was of suitable age and discretion. When an individual other than a sheriff makes service, the proof is under affidavit and states the affiant’s name, address and telephone number and that the affiant is 18 or over. It is due promptly, and in any event within the time the person served has to respond.

Rule 2-⁠126(a)⁠(1)–⁠(2); Rule 3-⁠126(a)⁠(2)

Executing the affidavit

Rule 1-304 lets the affiant make the statement before an officer authorized to administer an oath or affirmation, who certifies it in writing, or sign one of two affirmations instead. The general form reads: "I solemnly affirm under the penalties of perjury that the contents of this document are true to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief."

Rule 1-⁠304

Filing the return

The return goes to the court that issued the process, with a copy of the process if served or the original if not. When service cannot be made, a return is due as soon as practicable, and no later than ten days after the process stops being valid. A failure to make proof does not affect the validity of the service.

Rule 2-⁠126(d)–⁠(g)

Objecting to service

In circuit court, insufficiency of process and insufficiency of service of process, like lack of personal jurisdiction and improper venue, must be raised by motion to dismiss before the answer. If not so raised and the answer is filed, these defenses are waived.

Rule 2-⁠322(a)

Sundays and holidays

Process may be served on a Sunday or a holiday. The one exception: a writ of distraint, or for eviction or possession, may not be served on Sunday. Courts Article § 6-302 says the same for process of a court or of a State or local agency.

Rule 2-⁠125; CJP § 6-⁠302

Maryland subpoenas

Served by delivery to the person named or an agent authorized by appointment or by law, or by restricted delivery certified mail under Rule 2-121(a)(3), by a sheriff of any county or any non-party at least 18. A represented party may be served through the attorney. No one may serve or attempt to serve a subpoena more than 60 days after it issues, though the appearance itself may be set later. For trials and hearings, a party must make a good faith effort to serve at least five days ahead unless impracticable. A witness who disobeys without sufficient excuse is liable to body attachment and a fine.

Rule 2-⁠510(d), (j) and committee note

Out-of-state subpoenas (UIDDA)

Maryland’s Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act covers a subpoena issued by a court of record of another state. The party submits it to the clerk of the circuit court for the county where discovery is to be conducted. The request includes a sworn, written statement, signed under penalty of perjury by the party seeking enforcement or its counsel, that no portion of the subpoena is intended or anticipated to further any investigation or proceeding related to legally protected health care, unless the out-of-state proceeding is based in tort, contract or statute, is a claim for which a similar or equivalent claim would exist in Maryland, and is either brought by the patient (or the patient’s legal representative) or based on conduct that would be prohibited under Maryland law. Rule 2-510.1(c) adds a written undertaking for a deposition subpoena, including one to produce documents or things at the deposition, and Rule 2-422.1(c)(2)(A) requires the same undertaking for a subpoena to enter and inspect land or property: signed by the foreign party and the party’s foreign attorney, if any, it submits them to the circuit court for discovery disputes, motions to quash, enforcement and sanctions. Making the request is not an appearance in Maryland courts. The clerk issues a Maryland subpoena that incorporates the foreign terms and lists the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all counsel of record and of any party not represented by counsel, and motions to quash or enforce go to the same county’s circuit court.

CJP §§ 9-⁠401(c), 9-⁠402, 9-⁠405, 9-⁠407; Rules 2-⁠510.1(a), (c), 2-⁠422.1(a), (c)⁠(2)⁠(A)

Serving the issued subpoena

Courts Article § 9-403 directs service under Rule 2-510, and Rule 2-510.1(f) restates it for deposition subpoenas: a sheriff of any county or any non-party who is at least 18, within 60 days after issuance.

CJP § 9-⁠403; Rule 2-⁠510.1(f)

Subpoenas to enter and inspect land

A subpoena to enter and inspect land or property in Maryland, on a foreign subpoena included, issues under Rule 2-422.1 and may be used only for that purpose. It comes with an undertaking to pay for all damages from the entry and a notice that the person served may object within 30 days after service. Before it is served, the party it is issued for serves a copy on each other party and files a certificate of service with the court. A sheriff of any county or any non-party at least 18 serves it, at least 45 days before the requested entry and no more than 60 days after issuance. For entry on leased land or property, it is served on any record owner and on any occupant or person in possession or control.

Rule 2-⁠422.1(a), (d)⁠(2), (e)

Rules verified October 2026 against the Maryland Rules, read on the official free Westlaw edition the Maryland Judiciary links to: Rule 1-202, Rule 1-203, Rule 1-304, Rule 2-112, Rule 2-113, Rule 2-114, Rule 2-121, Rule 2-122, Rule 2-123, Rule 2-124, Rule 2-125, Rule 2-126, Rule 2-321, Rule 2-322, Rule 2-422.1, Rule 2-507, Rule 2-510, Rule 2-510.1, Rule 3-112, Rule 3-113, Rule 3-123, Rule 3-126, Rule 3-507; and against the Annotated Code of Maryland on the General Assembly’s site: Md. Code Corporations and Associations § 1-401, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 6-102, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 6-103, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 6-301, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 6-302, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 6-303, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 6-304, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 6-305, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 6-306, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 6-307, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 6-308, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 6-311, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 6-313, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 9-401, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 9-402, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 9-403, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 9-405, Md. Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 9-407, Md. Code State Government § 12-108, Md. Code State Personnel and Pensions § 9-201. General information, not legal advice. The rule or statute controls.