The Circuit Court for Harford County, Maryland Circuit 3
Family Differentiated Case Management Plan
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60-day time limit to serve the defendant. After the time limit has expired, the
summons is no longer valid, unless renewed by motion of the plaintiff. The
following documents must be delivered to the defendant: original complaint and
summons. There are four legal ways to deliver these documents to the defendant: 1)
Certified Mail, 2) Private Process; 3) Sheriff; and 4) hand-delivery by someone other
than the Plaintiff.
(d) Proof of Service. The court requires that the plaintiff fill out an Affidavit of Service
(CC-DR-55) form to prove that the other side has been notified, or served. If the
Court does not receive proof of service within the time allotted for the defendant to
file an Answer, the plaintiff may not be able to present their case on the trial date.
(e) Lack of Jurisdiction or Prosecution. Maryland Rule 2-507.
(1) For lack of jurisdiction. An action against any defendant who has not been
served or over whom the Court has not otherwise acquired jurisdiction is
subject to dismissal as to that defendant at the expiration of one year from the
last issuance of original process directed to that defendant.
(2) For lack of prosecution. An action is subject to dismissal for lack of prosecution
at the expiration of one year from the last docket entry, other than an entry
made under this Rule, Rule 2-131, or Rule 2-132
Answer
The defendant must file an affirmative Answer, typically within 30 days after service of a
summons, for most Circuit Court family law case subtypes (Md. Rule 2-321).
1
These cases
are considered by the Court to be at issue, and the case shall proceed (Md. Rule 2-323). In
addition, if the defendant seeks to modify any information on the original case information
report, or expects to file a counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim, he or she is
required to file with the Answer a Domestic Case Information report.
1
The Maryland Rules allow additional time for filing answers by defendants who reside outside of the State of
Maryland, resident agents, and officers or agencies of the U.S. government, among others. See MD Rule 2-321.