Which Maryland court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | District Court: Small Claim | Up to $5,000 | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405 |
| Limited civil | District Court Exclusive at or below $5,000; concurrent with Circuit above $5,000 and below $30,000. | Up to $30,000 | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-401 |
| General civil | Circuit Court $30,000 and above. | No limit | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 1-501 |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 30 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (Md. Rule 2-321(a)). Note: 60 days for out-of-state defendants.
15 Maryland forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to Maryland practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- Writ of Summons (request)Md. Rules 3-114/2-114: clerk-issued; 15-day Notice of Intention to Defend (District) / 30-day answer (Circuit)
- Case Information Report (CC-DCM-002)Md. Rule 2-111: MANDATORY with Circuit Court complaint
- Complaint/Application and Affidavit in Support of Judgment (DC-CV-001)Md. Rule 3-306: affidavit judgment if no Notice of Intention to Defend
- Complaint: Assigned Consumer Debt (DC-CV-106)Md. Rule 3-306(d): MANDATORY for debt buyers; chain-of-ownership documents
- Affidavit of ServiceDC-CV-002 pattern: Md. Rules 3-121/2-126 proof of service
- Motion for Waiver of Prepaid Costs (CC-DC-088)Md. Rule 1-325: fee waiver
- Notice of Voluntary DismissalMd. Rules 3-506/2-506: voluntary dismissal
- Request for Order of DefaultMd. Rule 2-613(b): stage 1; District uses Rule 3-306 affidavit path
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServiceSCRA: 50 U.S.C. § 3931 (embedded in DC-CV-001/010; standalone for default packet)
- Default JudgmentMd. Rule 2-613(f): 10% interest (CJP § 11-107(a)); 6% residential rent
- Request for Writ of Garnishment of Wages (DC-CV-065)Md. Rule 3-646: greater of 75% or 30x state minimum hourly wage exempt
- Request for Writ of Garnishment of Property (DC-CV-060)Md. Rule 3-645: bank accounts & property; 30-day garnishee answer
- Request for Writ of Execution (DC-CV-040)Md. Rule 3-641: sheriff levy on debtor's property
- Interrogatories in Aid of EnforcementMd. Rules 3-633/2-633: attorney-drafted; DC-CV-030 motion to compel
- Notice of Satisfaction (DC-CV-031)Md. Rule 3-626: creditor MUST file when the judgment is paid
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a Maryland matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Writ of Summons (request) · Case Information Report (CC-DCM-002) · Affidavit of Service
Collections: File & Serve
Complaint/Application and Affidavit in Support of Judgment (DC-CV-001) · Complaint: Assigned Consumer Debt (DC-CV-106) · Writ of Summons (request) · Case Information Report (CC-DCM-002) · Affidavit of Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Request for Order of Default · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Request for Writ of Garnishment of Wages (DC-CV-065) · Request for Writ of Garnishment of Property (DC-CV-060) · Request for Writ of Execution (DC-CV-040) · Interrogatories in Aid of Enforcement · Notice of Satisfaction (DC-CV-031)
Fee Waiver
Motion for Waiver of Prepaid Costs (CC-DC-088)
Voluntary Dismissal
Notice of Voluntary Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every Maryland county are in the 1Court Directory: Maryland.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
Confirm venue and court
For unfiled cases, SimpleCase suggests the county, court level, and courthouse, with the statutory basis shown.
Generate the package
Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
Your first 3 cases are free. No card required.
Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.