MDEC Policies & Procedures 22

Revised 03/13/2026 27

Optional Services

Optional Services are services that might be required with some filings. These services include

paying Appearance Fees, requesting Sheriff or Constable Service, etc. All associated fees must

be paid at the time of filing.

Example: Requesting Sheriff/Constable or Certified Mail Service in District Court

1. File the document or submission with the court. This step is required.

2. After filing the document or submission, select Add Another Filing.

3. File a separate document that includes service instructions, i.e. which party needs to be

served and how, and use the Request for Sheriff/Constable Service filing code or Request for

Service – Certified Mail, SDAT or MIA filing code, as appropriate. Note: this step has already

been completed in the example above.

4. Click Add Optional Services and Fees. Under Optional Service, select the appropriate

service from the drop-down menu.

Revised 03/13/2026 28

5. Enter the number of parties to be served.

6. Click Save Changes.

Proposed Orders

A proposed order should be filed as a separate document in PDF format with its own filing

code. Both the description and the document should reference the corresponding

motion/pleading.

Original Documents

Examples of original documents are birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates,

wills, deeds, etc. Rule 20-106(c)(3). Original documents may be scanned and filed electronically

as long as the filer complies with the following:

• The filer must retain the original document containing the original signatures and official

seal pursuant to Rule 20-302.

• The filer must present original documents in open court or other judicial proceedings

when directed by the court to do so or required by the rules of evidence.

• If the filer has filed a redacted and un-redacted version, the clerk will docket both and

shield the un-redacted version from public access.

• Any party and any person who is the subject of restricted information in the un-redacted submission may move to strike the un-redacted version.

Revised 03/13/2026 29

Filing Exhibits for Remote Hearings via File & Serve

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryland trial courts are increasing the use of remote

hearings. The preferred Judiciary platform for remote hearings is Zoom for Government.

Filers may pre-file exhibits for remote hearings through File & Serve. A new filing code - Pre-Filed Exhibit - must be selected when uploading any pre-filed exhibit for a remote hearing.

Documents uploaded with this filing code will default to a new security type, Pre-Filed Exhibit.

Use of this filing code and security type will exclude these documents from the case record until

offered as evidence and admitted or denied admission by the judge during the hearing.

Note: Pre-filing of exhibits does not constitute admission of the documents.

Filer Steps

1. Create a Lead Document for each separate exhibit through File & Serve, using the Pre-Filed Exhibit filing code (screenshot item 1). If the correct code is not selected, the clerk

may not recognize the document as a hearing/trial exhibit. This could cause the

document to become part of the record when it should not.

2. Clearly title the exhibit document before uploading. Recommended naming convention to

include a pre-filed exhibit number, the submitting party and a description of the exhibit:

Pre-Filed#1_Plaintiff Smith_Aug2020BankStatement. This description should make it

easier to locate the appropriate exhibit during a hearing (screenshot item 3).

3. Use a filing description similar to the recommended exhibit naming convention to

differentiate between multiple pre-filed exhibit submissions (screenshot item 4).

Revised 03/13/2026 30

Omnibus Motions Not Allowed

An Omnibus Motion combines more than one motion into one document. MDEC does not

permit omnibus motions, which have been replaced by three (3) filing codes. They are:

1) Motion/Demand for Speedy Trial

2) Motion / Request / Demand for Discovery and Inspection

3) Motion to Suppress/Exclude Evidence, Dismiss or Sever

Each code requires a separate PDF and will cover the filings typically included in Omnibus

Motions. Motion / Request / Demand for Discovery and Inspection may be used in both civil

and criminal. Motion to Suppress/Exclude Evidence, Dismiss or Sever, may be used in both civil

and criminal cases where the relief sought is the exclusion of evidence, the dismissal of a case

or the severance of a party.

Odyssey File & Serve provides a filing description field to be used to provide more specific

information about the filing than the code description does. The filing description will appear in

the case events.

Pre-payment Waiver

To request a waiver, the first filing that you upload should be the Request for Prepay Waiver –

New Case (RPWNC) or Request for Prepay Waiver – Subsequent Filing (RPWSF). An affidavit or

statement in support of the Request for Prepayment Waiver should be uploaded with its own

filing code and be a Lead Document within the envelope. The filing that is the subject of the

request should be uploaded as a separate Lead Document within the same envelope. A Notice

of Restricted Information (MDJ-008) must accompany this filing as it contains restricted

financial information, per MD Rule 20-201.1. Once the documents are uploaded the filer should

submit using the waiver payment account for consideration by the court.

• If the filer seeks a waiver of the fee by the clerk pursuant to Rule 1-325(d), the

submission must include the information required by that section.

• If the filer seeks a waiver of the fee by the court pursuant to Rule 1-325(e), the

submission must include the information required by that section, as well as the

proposed order.

• Click here to view more information on court pre-payment procedures to be followed.

Review by Clerk - Correction, Deficiencies and Striking - Rule 20-203

1. As soon as practicable after receiving the e-filing, a clerk will review the submission to make

sure that:

• It is signed in accordance with Rule 20-107

• Any required fee has been paid or waived

• It complies with published policies and procedures of the State Court Administrator.

Rule 20-203(a)(2).

2. Correction by Clerk: The clerk shall promptly correct errors of noncompliance that apply to

the form and language of the proposed docket entry for the submission. Rule 20-203(b)(1).

Revised 03/13/2026 31

3. Striking by Clerk: A submission without a certificate of service when one is required by the

Maryland Rules will be stricken from the case file. The clerk shall notify all parties. Rule 20-

203(c).

4. Deficiency: If the clerk concludes that a submission materially violates a provision of the

Rules in Title 20 or an applicable published policy or procedure established by the State

Court Administrator the clerk shall send a deficiency notice to the filer with a copy to the

other parties. Unless (A) a judge, upon request, orders the clerk to withdraw the deficiency

notice, or (B) the deficiency is otherwise resolved within 14 days after the notice was sent,

upon notification by the clerk, the court shall strike the submission. Rule 20-203(d).

5. Rejection. A submission containing a confidential document will be rejected if the

submission fails to comply with Rule 20-201.1. Filings will be rejected if a submission does

not relate to the case in which it was filed under Rule 20-203(a)(2).

See the State Court Administrator’s Best Practices on How to Avoid Deficiencies or

Rejections.

Note: If you have questions after receiving a deficiency notice, please contact the issuing court.

Signatures

All submissions that are required to be signed by a filer must contain a signature. Rule 20-

107(a)(1). A signature consists of the signer’s typewritten name accompanied by either a visual

image of the signer’s handwritten signature or by the symbol /s/. Rule 20-101(t).

When a submission is required to be signed by the filer it must contain the following: the filer’s

signature Rule 20-107(a)(1), the filer’s address, email address, and telephone number and, if

the filer is an attorney, the attorney number Rule 20-107(a)(2). The clerk will issue a deficiency

notice if any of this information is missing.

Electronic Service

Overview

MDEC provides for certain documents to be electronically served when MDEC is implemented

in the respective jurisdiction. To effectuate electronic service, the filer must:

1. Be a registered MDEC user.

2. Be authorized by law to file the submission.

3. Electronically serve the submission through File & Serve, or another approved electronic

filing service provider.

4. Provide an email address to be used as a Service Contact to receive electronic documents.

5. Be a party in a case filed in an MDEC jurisdiction or an attorney whose appearance has been

entered.

6. Provide a certificate of service stating the date and manner of service for each person to be

served.

If the above requirements are not met, electronic service cannot be affected. In addition, the

filer is responsible for serving submissions on all persons who are not registered users.

Note: Original process and subpoenas cannot be served electronically in MDEC.

Revised 03/13/2026 32

Steps to Electronically Serve a Submission

1. Return to the Filings section and enter the filing details.

2. In the upper left corner, under Filing Type, click the arrow on the drop-down box to

display a menu with options for filing. Select Serve or EfileAndServe from the menu. Select

Serve when the Rules provide for a document to be served but not filed into the court file.

Select EfileAndServe when the Rules provide for a document to be both filed and served.

3. If Serve is selected, see section on Discovery Material.

4. If EfileAndServe is selected, enter the filing details for the filing type as explained in the New

Case Initiation section of the Efiling Process.

Revised 03/13/2026 33

5. The Service Contacts screen will appear. Select the person(s) to be served.

6. If the service contact is missing, locate the contact from the Actions drop-down list and

select Add From Public List.

7. Enter search criteria to locate the service contact from the Public List.

8. If found, select the service contact and the email address will be associated to the party. If

the service contact cannot be found, you must serve in paper.

Revised 03/13/2026 34

Serving the State’s Attorney’s Office

Each firm and/or agency is set up differently. The State's Attorney's Offices have generic email

addresses set up as service contacts to receive service. Do not add individual users. The list of

service contacts for the State’s Attorneys Offices can be found in the Appendix.

Discovery Material

MDEC users should submit discovery materials to other parties directly through MDEC.

Discovery materials are only served on parties; they are not filed with the court. See Rules 2-

401(d)(2), 3-401(b)(2), 4-262(k) and 4-263(k)(4).

To serve discovery materials through MDEC, follow these steps:

1. In the upper left corner, under Filing Type, click the arrow on the drop-down box to

display a menu with options for filing. Select Serve from the menu.

2. On the next line down, under Filing Description, type a brief description of the documents

to be served. This is a mandatory field.

3. Client Reference Number is optional. The client reference number is for the filer’s internal

recordkeeping.

Revised 03/13/2026 35

4. Do not enter any text in the Comments to Court box. Comments in this box will not be

delivered to the court because materials will not be filed into the court file

5. Under Courtesy Copies, add email addresses for anyone to whom you would like to send a

courtesy copy. Sending a courtesy copy using this box does not qualify as service under the

Maryland Rules.

6. Under Service Document, click the gray box with the upload symbol. Follow the prompts.

Revised 03/13/2026 36

7. The Service Contacts screen will appear.

8. Select the Party Responsible for filing fees.

Guidelines for Selecting the Responsible Party:

Select the party you represent in the case or if filing as a self-represented litigant, select

yourself with the following exceptions:

Criminal cases – Select the defendant party when the filer is a state agency or a filer not

representing a case party.

Juvenile cases – Select the petitioner party when the filer is a state agency or a filer not

representing a case party.

Revised 03/13/2026 37

9. Submission Agreement. Read and comply with the requirements next to each checkbox. You

will not be able to continue if you have not checked all three boxes.

10. Summary. Verify all information and click submit to complete your filing. If any information

is incorrect, click the Back button.

Revised 03/13/2026 38

Appendix

MDEC & State’s Attorney’s Offices Email Contacts

Each firm or agency is set up differently. The State's Attorney's Offices have specific generic

email addresses set up to receive e-service. Please refer to the email addresses listed here

when attempting to e-serve the State's Attorney's Offices in MDEC counties.

County Court E-mail

Allegany SAO Circuit Court acsaocircuit@alleganygov.org

Allegany SAO District Court acsaodistrict@alleganygov.org

Anne Arundel SAO Circuit Court sacircuitcourt@aacounty.org

Anne Arundel SAO District Court saadc@aacounty.org

Anne Arundel SAO Glen Burnie District Court sagbdc@aacounty.org

Anne Arundel SAO Juvenile Court sajuvenile@aacounty.org

Baltimore City SAO Circuit Court saocircuitcourtmdec@stattorney.org

Baltimore City SAO District Court saodistrictcourtmdec@stattorney.org

Baltimore City SAO Juvenile Court saojuvenilemdec@stattorney.org

Baltimore County SAO Circuit Court saocircuitcourtmdec@baltimorecountymd.gov

Baltimore County SAO District Court saodistrictcourtmdec@baltimorecountymd.gov

Baltimore County SAO Juvenile Court saojuvenilemdec@baltimorecountymd.gov

Calvert SAO Child Support calvertsaochildsupport@calvertcountymd.gov

Calvert SAO Circuit Court calvertsaocircuit@calvertcountymd.gov

Calvert SAO District Court calvertsaodistrict@calvertcountymd.gov

Calvert SAO Juvenile Court calvertsaojuvenile@calvertcountymd.gov

Caroline SAO Circuit Court ccsaocirct@carolinemd.org

Caroline SAO District Court ccsaodistct@carolinemd.org

Carroll SAO Circuit Court carrollsaocircuit@carrollcountymd.gov

Carroll SAO District Court carrollsaodistrict@carrollcountymd.gov

Carroll SAO Juvenile Court carrollsaojuvenile@carrollcountymd.gov

Cecil SAO Circuit Court scecilcounty@ccgov.org

Charles SAO Circuit Court saocircuitcourt@charlescountymd.gov

Charles SAO District Court saodistrictcourt@charlescountymd.gov

Charles SAO Juvenile Court saojuvenilecourt@charlescountymd.gov

Dorchester SAO All MDEC Courts statesattorney@docogonet.com

Frederick SAO Child Support fredericksaochildsupport@frederickcountymd.gov

Frederick SAO Circuit Court fredericksaocircuit@frederickcountymd.gov

Frederick SAO District Court fredericksaodistrictrpts@frederickcountymd.gov

Frederick SAO Juvenile Court fredericksaojuvenile@frederickcountymd.gov

Garrett SAO Circuit Court gcsacircuit@garrettcounty.org

Garrett SAO District Court gcsadistrict@garrettcounty.org

Harford SAO Circuit Court harfordsaocircuit@harfordcountymd.gov

Harford SAO District Court harfordsaodistrict@harfordcountymd.gov

Harford SAO Domestic Court harfordsaodomestic@harfordcountymd.gov

Harford SAO Family Court harfordsaofamilysupport@maryland.gov

Harford SAO Juvenile Court harfordsaojuvenile@harfordcountymd.gov

Howard SAO Circuit Court hocosaocircuit@howardcountymd.gov

Howard SAO District Court hocosaodistrict@howardcountymd.gov

Howard SAO Juvenile Court hocosaojuv@howardcountymd.gov

Revised 03/13/2026 39

County Court E-mail

Kent SAO Circuit Court kcsaocircuitcourt@kentgov.org

Kent SAO District Court kcsaodistrictcourt@kentgov.org

Montgomery SAO Circuit Court montgomerySAOCircuit@montgomerycountymd.gov

Montgomery SAO District Court MontgomerySAODistrict@montgomerycountymd.gov

Montgomery SAO Juvenile Court MontgomerySAOJuvenile@montgomerycountymd.gov

Prince George’s SAO Circuit Court PGSAOCircuitCourt@co.pg.md.us

Prince George’s SAO District Court PGSAODistrictCourt@co.pg.md.us

Prince George’s SAO Juvenile Court PGSAOJuvenileCourt@co.pg.md.us

Queen Anne’s SAO District Court qacmdecdc@qac.org

Queen Anne's SAO Circuit Court qacmdeccc@qac.org

Somerset SAO All MDEC Courts somersetsao@gmail.com

St. Mary’s SAO All MDEC Courts circuitsao@stmarysmd.com

Talbot SAO Circuit Court circt@talbotcountysao.org

Talbot SAO District Court distct@talbotcountysao.org

Washington SAO Circuit Court washcosaocircuit@washco-md.net

Washington SAO District Court washcosaodistrict@washco-md.net

Washington SAO Juvenile Court washcosaojuvenile@washco-md.net

Wicomico SAO Circuit Court wcsaocc@wicomicocounty.org

Wicomico SAO District Court wcsaodc@wicomicocounty.org

Wicomico SAO Juvenile Court wcsaojc@wicomicocounty.org

Worcester SAO Circuit Court saocircuitcourt@co.worcester.md.us

Worcester SAO District Court saodistrictcourt@co.worcester.md.us

Worcester SAO Juvenile Court saojuvenile@co.worcester.md.us

Revised 03/13/2026 40