Montgomery County Circuit Court
Court-Level Rules, Filing Procedures & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Document Filing Requirements2 rules
Each attorney wishing to obtain such a Security Pass must sign the following certification:
An attorney applying for a security pass must sign the specified certification.
Court's wording
Each attorney wishing to obtain such a security pass must sign the following certification: Certification of Attorney I hereby certify the following: • I will present my security pass for inspection by a Security Officer whenever entering the Circuit Court for Montgomery County or any other court which may choose to accept my security pass. • I will not give, transfer or loan this pass to any other person. • I will not carry or bring any firearm of other dangerous weapon or dangerous instrumentalities of any kind into the Circuit Court for Montgomery County or any court buildings. • I will not carry property of another through security entrances of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County or any other court building without submitting it to inspection. • I will promptly ·surrender my security pass if I should cease to be duly licensed to practice before the Maryland Court of Appeals or when requested by a representative of the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office. • I will promptly notify the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office and the Bar Association of Montgomery County ifmy security pass is lost or stolen. • I will not duplicate my security pass.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Self-represented litigants who are registered users must file all submissions electronically in MDEC actions.
a self-represented litigant in an MDEC action who is a registered user shall file electronically all submissions in the MDEC action.
Page 1 | Self-represented Litigants
Non-registered users must file submissions in paper form.
A person who is not a registered user shall file a submission in paper form.
Page 1 | Other Persons
Registered users who are required or permitted to file must do so electronically.
a registered user who is required or permitted to file a submission in an MDEC action shall file the submission electronically.
Page 1 | Other Persons
Attorneys must file their entry of appearance and all subsequent submissions electronically in MDEC actions.
an attorney who enters an appearance in an MDEC action shall file electronically the attorney’s entry of appearance and all subsequent submissions in the action.
Page 1 | Administrative Order
Self-represented litigants who are not registered users are prohibited from filing electronically.
A self-represented litigant in an MDEC action who is not a registered user may not file submissions electronically.
Page 1 | Self-represented Litigants
Court personnel must file all submissions electronically in MDEC actions.
judges, judicial appointees, clerks, and judicial personnel, shall file electronically all submissions in an MDEC action.
Page 1 | Administrative Order
The Clerk's Office will no longer accept drop box submissions from attorneys or registered self-represented litigants.
the Clerk's Office shall no longer accept submissions using the Court's drop box from attorneys or registered self-represented litigants
Page 2 | Administrative Order
The Clerk's Office will no longer accept submissions via email from any source.
the Clerk's Office shall no longer accept submissions via e-mail from any source
Page 2 | Administrative Order
All documents offered as exhibits in open court must be scanned into the MDEC system by the courtroom clerk.
ORDERED, that all documents offered into evidence as exhibits in open court shall be scanned into the MDEC system by the courtroom clerk;
Page 1 | Disposition of Documents Offered as Exhibits in Open Court
Paper submissions via US mail with a postmark date on or before October 24, 2021 will be accepted for filing.
paper submissions received via US mail with a postmark date of October 24, 2021, or sooner, shall be accepted for filing.
Page 2 | Administrative Order
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A party has 18 days after a motion is filed to respond, unless the Court orders otherwise.
WHEREAS. Maryland Rule 2-31 l(b) and Maryland Rule 1-203(c) provide a party with eighteen ( 18) days after the filing of a motion to file a response. unless otherwise ordered by the Court: and
Civil cases
Page 1 | Motions for Default Judgment
Service and Proof of Service Rules
An officer intending to serve a warrant or other process on court premises must identify themselves upon entry, present credentials, and show the warrant or order to courthouse security.
ORDERED, that any law enforcement officer intending to serve a warrant or other process on court premises must identi1)1 themselves upon entry to the courthouse, present ===== PAGE 2 ===== their credentials, and show the warrant or order to courthouse security personnel;
Page 1 | Service of Warrants or Process on Court Premises
An officer serving a warrant or process must take due care not to interrupt court operations and to preserve public safety.
ORDERED, that any law enforcement officer serving a warrant or process shall take due care to ensure that court operations are not interrupted and the safety of the public is preserved;
Page 2 | Service of Warrants or Process on Court Premises
Warrants or process may not be served in nonpublic secured courthouse areas unless the Administrative Judge or designee, in consultation with the Sheriff or designee, permits access for service.
ORDERED, that no warrant or process shall be served in the secured areas of the courthouse that are not accessible to the public, unless it is determined by the Administrative Judge or their designee, in consultation with the Sheriff or their designee, that such access for service shall be permitted;
Page 2 | Service of Warrants or Process on Court Premises
A warrant or process may not be served before the Court concludes its business with the subject unless the Administrative Judge or designee authorizes it.
ORDERED, that unless otherwise authorized by the Administrative Judge or their designce, no warrant or process shall be served prior to the conclusion of the Court's business with the subject ofthe warrant or process;
Page 2 | Service of Warrants or Process on Court Premises
Filing Fees and Waivers
For covered appointments made on or after September 1, 2026, the hourly rate for court-designated ADR practitioners is $325.
ORDERED, that the hourly rate for all Circuit Court appointments of court designated practitioners conducting ADR in civil law matters, including domestic property matters, made on or after September 1, 2026, shall be and hereby is three hundred twenty-five dollars and zero cents ($325.00).
Civil cases
Page 2 | Court-Designated Practitioner Alternative Dispute Resolution Fees
Court costs in civil and family cases are waived as of August 1, 2019, unless the cases were referred to collections.
ORDERED, that such costs in those civil and family cases shall be waived as of August 1, 2019, unless said cases were referred to collections
Civil cases
Page 1 | ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
When the court imposes costs and immediately reduces them to judgment at sentencing, the matter should be referred to the Central Collections Unit (CCU).
when the court imposes costs and then immediately reduces the costs to judgment, the matter should be referred to CCU.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | ORDERED
If a case is reopened, outstanding court costs will be invoiced.
ORDERED, that if such cases are reopened, said court costs shall be invoiced for those outstanding court costs.
Civil cases
Page 1 | ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
Outstanding court costs incurred before August 1, 2019 are waived, unless the case was referred to collections, regardless of case status.
ORDERED, that all outstanding costs in those cases incurred prior to August 1, 2019 shall be waived as of August 1, 2019, unless said cases were referred to collections, and it is further ORDERED, that this waiver shall apply to all above referenced cases regardless of case status as of August 1,
Civil cases
Page 1 | ORDERED
Court costs are waived as of August 1, 2019 in certain civil and family cases closed or dismissed before invoicing, unless those cases were referred to collections.
such costs in those civil and family cases shall be waived as of August 1, 2019, unless said cases were referred to collections
Civil cases
Page 1 | ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER