How to answer a debt lawsuit in Maryland

Deadlines by court, filing, fees and defenses, with a calculator.

Checked against official sources: Oct 24, 2026.

Short answer

District Court (Notice of Intention to Defend): 15 days. District Court, you live out of state: 60 days. Circuit Court: by the date on your summons. Fill out the Notice of Intention to Defend on the bottom half of the summons. Briefly say why you disagree with all or part of the claim.

Time to answer
15 days
Official answer form
Notice of Intention to Defend (part of the District Court complaint/summons form DC-CV-001)

How long you have to answer in Maryland

  • District Court (Notice of Intention to Defend): 15 days.
  • District Court, you live out of state: 60 days.
  • Circuit Court: by the date on your summons.

District Court: file the Notice of Intention to Defend within 15 days after you receive the summons (60 days if you live out of state). A counterclaim can be filed within 10 days after that deadline. Circuit Court: the summons states your deadline.

Law: Md. Rule 3-307; Md. Rule 3-331 (counterclaim)

In nearby states

Count your exact deadline

The date is counted in your browser.

The court's name is at the top of your summons.

An estimate from our state data, not legal advice. Court holidays and local rules can change a deadline. File early, and ask the court clerk if you are not sure.

What can defeat the claim in Maryland

Maryland's time limit to sue on a consumer debt is 3 years, and after it runs out, a payment or promise does not revive the debt. A debt buyer that does not have the required documents may not start the lawsuit at all. Being served improperly, being sued in the wrong county, or being sued for more than $30,000 in District Court are procedural defenses (Maryland Courts).

Law: Cts. & Jud. Proc. §§ 5-101, 5-1202; § 5-1203(a)

A written-contract debt in Maryland must be sued on within 3 years. Raise an older debt as a defense in your answer.

Debt buyer lawsuits in Maryland: the full rules

Fill in Maryland's official answer form: a helper

Start with the official form: Notice of Intention to Defend (part of the District Court complaint/summons form DC-CV-001)

This helper is not a court form and does not file anything. It lists what to copy onto the official form, in plain words.

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What to put on the official form

When service counts in Maryland

Service means officially getting the court papers. Your deadline usually starts that day.

The plaintiff cannot hand you the papers itself. An adult who is not a party (a private process server, friend or relative) or the sheriff must deliver them to you in person, or send them by certified mail, restricted delivery, with a return receipt. If you were not served properly, you can ask the court to dismiss the case for improper service (form DC-002, Motion) before the trial date.

Law: Maryland Courts, Service of Process; What to Do if You Are Sued in District Court

Filing an answer in Maryland

Fill out the Notice of Intention to Defend on the bottom half of the summons. Briefly say why you disagree with all or part of the claim. Cut it off at the perforated line, sign it, and return it to the court address at the top of the summons. Bring your evidence to trial; the trial date may change after you file.

Mediation and settlement in Maryland

District Court mediation is free. A trained mediator helps you and the plaintiff try to settle; if you do not agree, you still have your trial. Prince George's County also holds resolution conferences (Maryland District Court ADR).

What answering costs in Maryland

If you can't pay the fees

Request for Waiver of Prepaid Costs (form CC-DC-089).

Steps to answer in Maryland

  1. Read the papers

    Write down the court, the case number and who is suing you.

  2. Note your last day

    In Maryland: District Court (Notice of Intention to Defend): 15 days; District Court, you live out of state: 60 days; Circuit Court: by the date on your summons.

  4. Request the debt documents

    Send a documents request letter to the plaintiff's lawyer.

Federal rules in every state

  • Where a collector must sue. A debt collector that sues you over a consumer debt must file where you signed the contract or where you live when the suit starts. Law: 15 U.S.C. 1692i(a)(2)
  • Old debts. A debt collector must not sue you, or threaten to sue you, on a debt that is too old to sue on. Law: 12 CFR 1006.26(b)

Free help in Maryland

Questions about answering in Maryland

How many days do I get to answer in Maryland?

District Court: file the Notice of Intention to Defend within 15 days after you receive the summons (60 days if you live out of state). A counterclaim can be filed within 10 days after that deadline. Circuit Court: the summons states your deadline.

How do I answer a debt lawsuit in Maryland?

Fill out the Notice of Intention to Defend on the bottom half of the summons. Briefly say why you disagree with all or part of the claim. Cut it off at the perforated line, sign it, and return it to the court address at the top of the summons. Bring your evidence to trial; the trial date may change after you file.

Where is Maryland's answer form?

Notice of Intention to Defend (part of the District Court complaint/summons form DC-CV-001): https://www.mdcourts.gov/courthelp/suedindistrictcourt

What if I can't afford the court fees in Maryland?

Request for Waiver of Prepaid Costs (form CC-DC-089).

Related Maryland pages

Sources

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

Federal sources
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