Short answer. In Maryland, small claims court covers claims up to $5,000. Where to file: The county where the debtor lives, carries on regular business or is employed. The fee to start a case is $34, depending on the claim.
Can I file my claim in Maryland small claims?
Enter an amount to compare it with the Maryland limit of $5,000.
Need the other side served? Process serving with an affidavit of service.
Maryland small claims at a glance
- Limit
- $5,000. $5,000 or less, for money only, and without discovery such as interrogatories.
- Court
- District Court of Maryland (small claims)
- Who can file
- The person or company owed the money.
- Lawyers
- Allowed
- Where to file
- The county where the debtor lives, carries on regular business or is employed.
- Serving the other side
- 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).
- Appeal
- To the circuit court within 30 days after the judgment, filed at the District Court on form DC-CV-037. A small claim ($5,000 or less) gets a new trial (de novo). The appeal costs $175: $10 to the District Court and $165 to the circuit court.
Maryland filing fees
| Fee | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Small claim (up to $5,000), new suit | $34 | plus surcharges noted on the cost schedule |
| 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 |
From the District Court of Maryland Civil Cost Schedule (effective 10/01/2024): small claims (contract or tort, up to $5,000) cost $34 to file, plus surcharges the schedule notes; service is $60 per defendant by sheriff or constable or $10 per defendant if mailed by the clerk.
Want us to handle it?
A runner files your papers in person at the clerk's window and sends you a scan of the stamped copy. We file what you prepared; we don't give legal advice.
Price: Outside New Jersey it goes through our contractor network: quote-based, confirmed before any work starts, and booked once a local contractor accepts. In New Jersey it is from $75 per filing, court fees at cost. Starting rates. Your exact price is quoted after we confirm a local notary/runner, before you pay.
Filing a small claim in Maryland, step by step
- Check that your claim fitsUse the checker above: the Maryland limit is $5,000, and the official wording is in the summary. Count only what you can show with papers or photos.
- Pick the right courtThe county where the debtor lives, carries on regular business or is employed.
- Fill out the claim and pay the feeThe filing fee in Maryland is $34, depending on the claim. From the District Court of Maryland Civil Cost Schedule (effective 10/01/2024): small claims (contract or tort, up to $5,000) cost $34 to file, plus surcharges the schedule notes; service is $60 per defendant by sheriff or constable or $10 per defendant if mailed by the clerk. Online filing: see the official link below.
- Have the other side servedCertified 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).
- Get ready for the hearingLawyers: allowed. Bring the contract, receipts, photos, messages and a short timeline, with copies for the judge and the other side.
- After the decisionTo the circuit court within 30 days after the judgment, filed at the District Court on form DC-CV-037. A small claim ($5,000 or less) gets a new trial (de novo). The appeal costs $175: $10 to the District Court and $165 to the circuit court.
Official Maryland links
- Maryland small claims self-help page
- Maryland online filing
- District Court of Maryland: Administrative Regulation XIX, Civil Cost Schedule (effective 10/01/2024)
- Maryland Judiciary: CourtHelp, After Trial in District Court (appeals)
- Maryland Judiciary: MDEC, E-filing for Self-Represented Litigants (optional without a lawyer; available in all Maryland jurisdictions)
Last checked November 2026.
General information checked against the official Maryland pages above, not legal advice. MCC Solutions isn't a law firm and isn't affiliated with any court. Rules and fees change: the official page and the clerk have the final word. The checker runs in your browser, and nothing you enter is sent or saved.
Maryland small claims questions
What is the small claims limit in Maryland?
$5,000. $5,000 or less, for money only, and without discovery such as interrogatories.
How much does it cost to file a small claim in Maryland?
Small claim (up to $5,000), new suit: $34 (plus surcharges noted on the cost schedule); 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. From the District Court of Maryland Civil Cost Schedule (effective 10/01/2024): small claims (contract or tort, up to $5,000) cost $34 to file, plus surcharges the schedule notes; service is $60 per defendant by sheriff or constable or $10 per defendant if mailed by the clerk.
Can a lawyer represent me in Maryland small claims?
Allowed in Maryland, per the official page. The person or company owed the money.
Where do I file a small claim in Maryland?
The county where the debtor lives, carries on regular business or is employed.
Can I appeal a small claims decision in Maryland?
To the circuit court within 30 days after the judgment, filed at the District Court on form DC-CV-037. A small claim ($5,000 or less) gets a new trial (de novo). The appeal costs $175: $10 to the District Court and $165 to the circuit court.
How is the other side served in a Maryland small claims case?
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).
Compare every state: small claims limits by state · Maine small claims · Massachusetts small claims