Process Serving in Maryland

Maryland civil process is used in the Circuit Courts and the District Court, with separate rules for circuit and district civil proceedings. In personam service commonly proceeds under Maryland Rules 2-121 and 3-121. The rules allow delivery to the individual, service at a home in specified circumstances, and restricted-delivery certified mail; courts may authorize alternatives when the rule’s conditions are met. Business service commonly goes to the company’s resident agent. Court Runner USA connects you with process servers who serve papers across Maryland.

General information, not legal advice. Last checked October 2026.

Sources:

• Maryland Appellate Court opinion discussing Rules 2-121 and 3-121, filed April 28, 2026
• Maryland Courts: Service of Process—How to Serve a Business
• Maryland Rules portal

Maryland Rule 2-123 permits service by a sheriff or, for ordinary delivery, mailing, or publication, a competent private person at least 18 years old who is not a party to the action. An attorney of record may serve, but a party may not serve another party. The District Court service form likewise requires a private process server to affirm that the server is competent, over 18, and not a party. Maryland’s business-service guidance says a resident agent may be served by a sheriff, certified mail, or private process. Some process other than delivery, mailing, or publication is ordinarily executed by a sheriff unless the court orders otherwise. The applicable rule and court order determine whether a particular writ or enforcement process may be handled privately.

Sources:

• Maryland Court of Appeals opinion discussing Rule 2-123
• Maryland District Court service form DC-CV-002
• Maryland Courts: Service of Process—How to Serve a Business

For an individual, Rule 2-121 allows delivery of the summons, complaint, and filed papers to the person; leaving the papers at the person’s home with a resident of suitable age and discretion; or certified mail requesting restricted delivery. If the defendant evades service, a court may permit service by regular mail. If good-faith attempts fail and the rule’s other conditions are met, the court may authorize another means reasonably calculated to give actual notice. Maryland Courts directs plaintiffs serving a registered business to use its full legal name and serve the resident agent; the Judiciary identifies the Department of Assessments and Taxation as the source for business entity and agent information. Service on a government entity or under a specific statute may require a designated officer or agent.

Sources:

• Maryland Appellate Court opinion discussing Rules 2-121 and 2-123, filed April 28, 2026
• Maryland Courts: Service of Process—How to Serve a Business
• Maryland Appellate Court opinion concerning service on a State designee, filed October 5, 2026

Maryland’s summons states the time within which it must be served, the defendant’s response period, and the deadline for return of service. The exact response deadline depends on the court and proceeding; the cited current sources do not establish one answer period for every civil case. Rule 2-126 requires an individual making service by delivery or mail to file proof promptly and within the time during which the person served must respond. The District Court service form instructs that unserved process be returned no later than ten days after its expiration. When a court considers alternative service, the order specifies the permitted method. The 2026 Appellate Court opinion applied Rule 2-121 to court-ordered alternatives and emphasized compliance with the particular order. Confirm the summons and any case-specific order for deadlines.

Sources:

• Maryland Appellate Court opinion discussing Rule 2-114 and service rules, filed October 5, 2026
• Maryland District Court service form DC-CV-002
• Maryland Rules Committee report excerpt discussing Rules 2-126 and 3-126

A private process server must be at least 18 and cannot be a party to the case under Rule 2-123. A resident who accepts papers at the defendant’s home must be of suitable age and discretion; the server’s proof should identify the person and the facts supporting that conclusion. The 2026 Appellate Court decision describes Rule 2-121’s ordinary personal-service methods and its affidavit-based routes for evasion or unsuccessful good-faith attempts. A court-ordered alternative must follow the order and be reasonably calculated to give actual notice. Business service is directed to the registered entity’s resident agent, not merely to a trade name. The sources reviewed do not establish a general statewide Sunday or holiday prohibition or uniform service hours. Check local requirements and any order governing the specific process.

Sources:

• Maryland Court of Appeals opinion discussing Rule 2-123
• Maryland Appellate Court opinion discussing Rule 2-121, filed April 28, 2026
• Maryland Courts: Service of Process—How to Serve a Business

An individual serving process by delivery or mailing must file proof promptly and, under Rule 2-126, no later than the period in which the person served must respond. For delivery, proof identifies the person served, date, place, and manner; abode service also calls for a description of the person served and facts showing suitable age and discretion. The proof includes the server’s name, address, and telephone number under the rule amendment described in the Maryland Rules Committee report. The District Court form asks the server to describe the recipient and the service method. It requires an individual other than a sheriff or constable to affirm under penalty of perjury that the form is true and that the server is competent, over 18, and not a party. The current cited materials do not establish a general notarization requirement.

Sources:

• Maryland Rules Committee report excerpt discussing Rules 2-126 and 3-126
• Maryland District Court service form DC-CV-002
• Maryland Court of Appeals opinion discussing return of service