COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Updates

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Maryland Courts Resources - Return to Phase 2

On Monday, November 30, 2020, the Judiciary returned to Phase 2 of its Phased Reopening Plan. Phase 2 will remain in place until January 15, 2021.

Peace and Protective Orders

During the current Phase 2, the court will hear new peace and protective order cases during court hours. To file a new peace or protective order case after court hours, visit a District Court commissioner. Your case will be heard. Learn more about each process: 

Housing: Landlord/Tenant

During Phase 2, District Courts will hear only certain types of landlord/tenant cases, including emergencies. The District Court will accept failure to pay rent filings, but will NOT set failure to pay rent cases for a hearing during Phase 2. Any failure to pay rent cases scheduled between November 16, 2020 through January 15, 2021 are postponed and will be reset. 

The court is processing warrants of restitution for failure to pay rent actions.

Housing: Foreclosure

Foreclosures and Ejectments can resume on July 25, 2020, meaning these matters can be heard beginning on July 25, 2020. There are certain new requirements, such as a verified Declaration of Exemption from Moratorium requirement.

Governor Hogan's Executive Order requires certain notices to borrowers until the state of emergency is lifted. For properties with a federal mortgage loan, the servicer must provide the borrower with notice that the borrower has the right to request a loan forbearance, and the loan servicer has complied with the CARES Act. For properties with a non-federal mortgage loan, the loan servicer must notify the borrower, in writing, that the borrower may request a forbearance of up to 180 days IF the borrower is experiencing hardship due to the COVID-19 health emergency.

Read the Administrative Order: Fifth Amended Administrative Order Lifting the Suspension During the COVID-19 Emergency of Foreclosures, Evictions, and Other Ejectments Involving Residences.

NOTE: The Public Service Commission has extended the prohibition against terminations of gas, electric, and water utilities through November 15, 2020. However, there are some steps you must take. Read the Press Release for more information.

Family Law, CINA, & Guardianship

Some court cases will not be heard. Some hearings already scheduled will be rescheduled or converted to a remote hearing. The court will contact you with any changes. Hearing dates on Case Search may not be accurate, so call the courthouse before traveling to a hearing.

All court orders regarding custody and child support remain in effect. Read the Statement from the Maryland Judiciary on Matters Concerning Children & Families.

Read more about family law cases and see a list of hearings types that will be heard.

Read more about guardianship matters during Phase 2.

Criminal Cases, Jury Trials, and Jury Duty

Jury trials are postponed until February 12, 2021. Courts will restart criminal jury trials on February 16, 2021. For more information on criminal cases that are being heard, read the page on Criminal Cases During the Judiciary's Phased Reopening Plan.

 

Traffic

Most traffic cases will not be heard during Phase 2. Traffic cases involving alcohol related offenses will be heard. 

Filing Court Documents

Clerks’ offices in the District Court of Maryland and circuit courts throughout the state will remain open to the public for emergency purposes and by appointment for other matters. Individual courts and jurisdictions may adjust phases depending on the current state of COVID-19 throughout Maryland. Check for local closure notices and updates.

  • MDEC is available for electronic filing. Learn more about MDEC.
  • Drop Box - Drop boxes may be available at court locations. Check your local court's website for more information.
  • Virtual Drop Box - Non-MDEC jurisdictions (Baltimore City, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County) may still make "virtual drop boxes" available for filings. Check your local court's website for information about availability and additional details.
  • Other Filings Not Required to be Electronic. Individuals may still file documents via mail or using physical drop boxes when permitted.

Filing Deadlines and Statutes of Limitation

Filing deadlines and statutes of limitations are not changed during the Phase 2 period of November 30, 2020 - January 15, 2021. 

Filing deadlines and statutes of limitations were impacted during the previous court closure from March 16 - July 20, 2020. Important details include: 

New Cases – The Court extended the deadline to initiate new matters.

  • Deadlines established by Maryland law or court rules about when you must file new matters in the Maryland state courts, including statutes of limitations, are tolled or suspended effective March 16, 2020.
  • The deadlines are tolled or suspended by the number of days the courts are closed plus an additional 15 days.
  • The number of days that the courts are closed means March 16, 2020 through July 20, 2020, which are the number of days that the offices of the clerks of the court are closed due to the COVID-19 health emergency. This time (March 16 – July 20) does not count against the time remaining to start a new case.
  • More information, including an example, is available on the Maryland Courts website.

Pending Cases - The Court extended the deadline for hearings and other judicial proceedings in existing cases.

  • Deadlines established by Maryland law or court rules in existing cases are tolled or suspended effective March 16 by the number of days the courts are closed plus an additional 60 days.
  • The number of days that the courts are closed means March 16, 2020 through July 20, 2020, which are the number of days that the offices of the clerks of the court are closed due to the COVID-19 health emergency. This time (March 16 – July 20) does not count against the time remaining to conduct judicial proceedings.
  • These proceedings will be scheduled at a future date. Other deadlines remain in effect.
  • See the Maryland Courts website for more information, including examples.

No Dismissals for Lack of Jurisdiction or Prosecution - Under normal circumstances the court may dismiss a civil case for lack of jurisdiction (failure to serve the defendant within a specific time) or lack of prosecution (failure to take any action within 1 year). The court will recalculate when cases are eligible to be dismissed for these reasons in light of the modified deadlines.

Read the Administrative Order: Fourth Revised Administrative Order on the Emergency Tolling or Suspension of Statutes of Limitations and Statutory and Rules Deadlines Related to the Initiation of Matters and Certain Statutory and Rules Deadlines in Pending Matters

 

Remote Hearings

Read the Administrative Order: Amended Administrative Order on Remote Hearings Held During the COVID-19 Emergency

Life Planning and Powers of Attorney

A Message from Chief Judge Barbera

Last Updated: Wed, 12/02/2020 - 12:13 pm
Is this legal advice?

This site offers legal information, not legal advice.  We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information and to clearly explain your options.  However we do not provide legal advice - the application of the law to your individual circumstances. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.  The Maryland Thurgood Marshall State Law Library, a court-related agency of the Maryland Judiciary, sponsors this site.  In the absence of file-specific attribution or copyright, the Maryland Thurgood Marshall State Law Library may hold the copyright to parts of this website. You are free to copy the information for your own use or for other non-commercial purposes with the following language “Source: Maryland's People’s Law Library – www.peoples-law.org. © Maryland Thurgood Marshall State Law Library, 2020.”