Terms Used In Maryland Code, COURTS AND JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS 7-402

  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • County: means a county of the State or Baltimore City. See
  • including: means includes or including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. See
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Person: includes an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, representative of any kind, corporation, partnership, business trust, statutory trust, limited liability company, firm, association, or other nongovernmental entity. See
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b), (e), (f), and (g) of this section, a sheriff shall collect the following fees:

(1) $5 for service of summary ejectment papers.

(2) $60 for service of a paper not including an execution or attachment.

(3) $40 for service including an execution or attachment by taking into custody a person or seizing real or personal property.

(4) $60 for service of process papers arising out of administrative agency proceedings where the party requesting the service is a nongovernmental entity.

(5) For the sale following the execution or attachment of personal property: Three percent of the first $5,000; two percent of the second $5,000; and one percent of any amount in excess of $10,000. The sheriff shall collect a minimum of $15 and a maximum of $500 under the provisions of this paragraph.

(6) For the sale following the execution or attachment of real property: One and one-half percent of the first $5,000; one percent of the second $5,000; and one-half of one percent of any amount in excess of $10,000. The sheriff shall collect a minimum of $1.50 and a maximum of $250 under the provisions of this paragraph.

(7) $60 for service of a paper originating from a foreign court.

(b) (1) For service including an execution or attachment by taking into custody a person or seizing real or personal property, a sheriff may collect the amount specified in a cooperative agreement with the Child Support Administration under § 10-111 of the Family Law Article.

(2) As part of the costs awarded to a party under § 12-103 of the Family Law Article, a court may not award an amount greater than the amount specified in subsection (a) of this section for the cost of service including an execution or attachment by taking into custody a person or seizing real or personal property.

(c) (1) If the sheriff incurs expenses for the purpose of conserving or protecting the seized property, the sheriff shall be reimbursed for the expense.

(2) If the Sheriff of Washington County incurs expenses for seizing property, the Sheriff shall be reimbursed by the judgment debtor for reasonable expenses.

(d) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, if the sheriff is unable to serve a paper, 50% of the fee shall be refunded to the party requesting the service.

(2) If the sheriff is unable to serve summary ejectment papers, the full fee shall be refunded to the party requesting the service.

(e) A sheriff may not collect a fee for the service of:

(1) A paper from a housing authority created under Division II of the Housing and Community Development Article; or

(2) A summons for a law enforcement officer to appear as a witness in a criminal case.

(f) (1) In addition to the fees specified in subsection (a) of this section and except as provided in subsections (b) and (e) of this section, the Baltimore City Sheriff shall collect a surcharge that may not be more than:

(i) $60 for service of a writ of execution; and

(ii) $40 for service of a paper originating from a foreign court.

(2) The revenue generated from the surcharge on filing fees for the sheriff services under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall fund the enhancement of sheriff benefits and the increase in sheriff personnel to enhance the service of domestic violence orders.

(g) A sheriff shall collect $40 for service of a paper for:

(1) A breach of lease;

(2) A tenant holdover;

(3) A warrant of restitution;

(4) A wrongful entry and detainer; or

(5) An order of levy in distress.