Maryland Service of Process Rules

Rule 2-111. Process – Requirements preliminary to summons.

Information report.

Except as otherwise provided by administrative order of the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals approved by the Court of Appeals, the plaintiff shall file with the complaint an information report substantially in the form available from the clerk pursuant to Rule 16-202 b. If the plaintiff fails to file a required information report with the complaint, the court may proceed without the plaintiff’s information to assign the action to any track within the court’s differentiated case management system.

Summons.

For each summons to be issued, the plaintiff shall furnish to the clerk a copy of the complaint, a copy of each exhibit or other paper filed with the complaint, and a copy of the information report specified in section (a) of this Rule.

Instructions for the sheriff.

A person requesting service of process by the sheriff shall furnish to the clerk all available information as to the name and location, including the county where service is to be made, of the person to be served. The information required by this section may be included in the caption of the case. (Amended June 7, 1994, effective Oct. 1, 1994; Jan. 10, 1995, effective Feb. 1, 1995; June 5, 1996, effective Jan. 1, 1997; Dec. 10, 1996, effective Jan. 1, 1997.)

Rule 2-112. Process – Issuance of summons.

Summons.

Upon the filing of the complaint, the clerk shall issue forthwith a summons for each defendant and shall deliver it, together with a copy of each paper filed and a blank copy of the information report form required to be provided by Rule 16-202 b, to the sheriff or other person designated by the plaintiff. Upon request of the plaintiff, more than one summons shall issue for a defendant.