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Maryland Small Claims Court

District Court of Maryland (small claim), for claims up to $5,000.

Last checked November 1, 2026

The most you can ask for$5,000
LawyersLawyers allowed
Time to sue on a contract3 years
Good to know

Money only, not counting interest, costs and attorney fees. A small claim can't use discovery such as written interrogatories.

How it works in Maryland

  1. Try to resolve the dispute by talking, writing a demand letter, or using the District Court's mediation program.
  2. Complete the Complaint (DC-CV-001), online through Guide & File or on paper.
  3. File with the court and pay the $44 fee and the service fee.
  4. The court issues a Writ of Summons so the defendant can be served.
  5. File Proof of Service (DC-CV-002) to show the defendant was served.
  6. The defendant has 15 days from receiving the summons to file a Notice of Intention to Defend. Prepare for trial.

What it costs

$44, plus service: $20 per defendant if mailed by the clerk, or $60 by sheriff or constable.

How long you have to sue

Written contract3 years
Spoken agreement3 years
Damage to property3 years
Personal injury3 years

Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101. These are general limits. The clock can start late, pause or be much shorter, as it is for claims against a government agency.

If you lose

Either party can appeal within 30 days of the final judgment, and the case is tried again from the start in Circuit Court.

District Court Cost Schedule DCA-109 was revised 03/2026. It lists the $44 fee and an appeal cost of $10 plus $165 to Circuit Court. Whether the fee changed in that revision wasn't confirmed. No change to the $5,000 limit found.

Sources

Cities in Maryland

MarylandBaltimoreDistrict Court of Maryland for Baltimore City

Have a dispute in Maryland?

A demand letter settles many disputes before court. Build one here, or compare lawyers and their prices.

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General information to help you get organized, last checked November 1, 2026. It isn't legal advice, and SueYou isn't a law firm. Laws change and every case is different, so confirm anything important with a lawyer or the court. No lawyer has reviewed this page yet.