---
title: "How to Serve Small Claims Papers in Maryland | MCC Solutions"
description: "How a Maryland small claims case is served, from the court's own guide: Certified mail, private process server, constable or sheriff. The..."
url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/notary/process-serving/how-to-serve-papers-in-maryland"
---

Process serving · Maryland

# How to serve small claims papers in Maryland

Maryland's District Court of Maryland (small claims) lists this method: Certified mail, private process server, constable or sheriff. The defendant generally has 15 days to file a Notice of Intention to Defend (60 days if served out of state or through a state agency). If that method lets you use a private process server or another adult, we can arrange a vetted local server in Maryland, quoted per job and confirmed before any work starts.

Get a Maryland serve quoted

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🌙 We're off the clock. Your case isn't.

Send the details tonight and we'll quote it first thing when we open in the morning. Upload the papers with the request so nothing waits on us.

 [Send the request](/notary/process-serving#request)

**Price**Quoted per job in Maryland (New Jersey serves are from $150 per address)

**Where we cover**Maryland, through vetted local process servers and vendors

Maryland's court guides spell out who delivers a small claims case to the defendant; this page repeats it and says when we can help.

| Court | District Court of Maryland (small claims) |
| --- | --- |
| Service | Certified mail, private process server, constable or sheriff. The defendant generally has 15 days to file a Notice of Intention to Defend (60 days if served out of state or through a state agency). |
| Where the case is filed | The county where the debtor lives, carries on regular business or is employed. |
| Small claims limit | $5,000. $5,000 or less, for money only, and without discovery such as interrogatories. |
| Filing fees | Small claim (up to $5,000), new suit: $34; Counterclaim, cross claim or third-party claim in a small claim: $18; Service by sheriff or constable, each defendant: $60; Service mailed by the clerk, each defendant: $10 |
| Who can file | The person or company owed the money. |

## When we can help in Maryland

If the court lets you use a private server, send us the filed papers, the address and your deadline. A vetted local server makes the attempts and you get the proof of service on the court's form if it has one.

The full Maryland small claims page, with limits and fees, is [here](/tools/small-claims-maryland).

[Alabama](/notary/process-serving/how-to-serve-papers-in-alabama) · [all states](/notary/process-serving/how-to-serve-papers-by-state) · [serving someone in another state](/notary/process-serving/serve-someone-in-another-state)

If you represent yourself, you are responsible for your documents: what they say, that they are complete and signed, which court they go to and that they are filed on time. We are not lawyers, we do not give legal advice or draft pleadings, and we cannot guarantee any legal outcome. We file, serve or pull exactly what you send.

## Sources

- [District Court of Maryland: How to File a Small Claim (DC-CV-001BR, rev. 10/2023)](https://mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-forms/district/forms/civil/dccv001br.pdf/dccv001br.pdf)
- [District Court of Maryland: Administrative Regulation XIX, Civil Cost Schedule (effective 10/01/2024)](https://www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/import/district/dcar/XIX-AdmReg_10.2024.pdf)
- [Maryland Judiciary: CourtHelp, After Trial in District Court (appeals)](https://www.mdcourts.gov/courthelp/aftertrialdistrictcourt)
- [Maryland Judiciary: MDEC, E-filing for Self-Represented Litigants (optional without a lawyer; available in all Maryland jurisdictions)](https://www.mdcourts.gov/mdec/efilingpublic)

### Before you send

- Send the papers to serve as a PDF, with every page in order.
- Give the best address, a description or photo of the person, and the times they're usually home.
- Up to three attempts at different times of day are included.
- You get a notarized affidavit of service once service is made.
- Rules on who may serve papers vary by state. The desk confirms them for your state before assigning a server.

### Prefer to talk?

Call the desk and we'll take the request by phone.

## Questions

**Who serves small claims papers in Maryland?**

The court's guide says: Certified mail, private process server, constable or sheriff. The defendant generally has 15 days to file a Notice of Intention to Defend (60 days if served out of state or through a state agency).

**What does a Maryland serve cost?**

Outside New Jersey every serve is quoted per job, because local server rates and travel differ. We confirm the price before any work starts.

**Can you tell me if service was done correctly?**

No. The Maryland court decides whether service was proper. We send you the server's proof of service so you can file it.

## Want us to handle it?

Get a Maryland serve quoted[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)