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I was sued for a debt in Maryland District Court. How many days do I have to respond?

By Debt Savvy Editorial Team · Updated 2026-09-23 · Facts checked against the law on 2026-09-30

In Maryland, if you are served with a District Court complaint, you have 15 days from service to file a Notice of Intention to Defend. Out-of-state defendants have 60 days. If you do not respond in time, the court may enter a default order.

Key facts

What the 15-day rule means in practice

If you are served with a District Court complaint in Maryland, you have 15 days from service to file a Notice of Intention to Defend. Out-of-state defendants have 60 days from service. If you do not respond in time, the court may enter a default order. Read the complaint and any attached papers carefully. The date you were served matters. Write it down. Then count the days. If you are not sure when you were served, you can call the court clerk and ask for the service date. Do not assume you have more time than the papers say. Acting early gives you time to prepare and file your response before the deadline passes.

What to do this week

First, find the date you were served. Second, count the days from that date. If you are served with a District Court complaint in Maryland, you have 15 days. If you are an out-of-state defendant, you have 60 days. Third, prepare and file a Notice of Intention to Defend with the court before the deadline. Keep a copy for yourself. Fourth, if you cannot afford a lawyer, contact legal aid or a self-help center at the court. They can explain the process and help you file. Do not wait until the last day. Mail can be slow, and courts can be busy. If you have multiple debts or multiple lawsuits, each one may have its own deadline. Keep them separate and track each one carefully.

Served with a debt lawsuit? The response deadline is the one date on the papers you cannot let slide. You can put a question about your own papers to a lawyer online.

Ask a lawyer about your court papers

Common mistakes that hurt your case

One common mistake is ignoring the papers. Some people think if they do nothing, the case will go away. It will not. If you do not respond in time, the court may enter a default order. Another mistake is not keeping proof of your filing. Always keep a copy of what you filed and note the date. Finally, do not assume the debt is too old to sue. In Maryland, most civil lawsuits, including suits on ordinary debts, must be filed within 3 years. But that rule has details a lawyer can explain. Do not guess about your own case. Read the papers, note the dates, and respond on time.

What changes the answer: paperwork, court, and type of debt

If you are served with a District Court complaint in Maryland, you have 15 days from service to file a Notice of Intention to Defend. Out-of-state defendants have 60 days. The type of debt can also matter. Most civil lawsuits, including suits on ordinary debts, must be filed within 3 years in Maryland. But that is about the deadline for the debt collector to sue you, not about your deadline to respond. Your deadline to respond is based on when you were served. The paperwork you received should say what court you are in and what you are being sued for. Read it carefully. If you are not sure what type of case it is, ask the court clerk or a legal aid lawyer. Do not rely on general information online. The specific papers in your case control. If you have multiple debts or multiple lawsuits, each one may have its own deadline. Keep them separate.

When to get help

You should consider getting help if you do not understand the papers, if you cannot afford to pay the debt, or if you have defenses you want to raise. Legal aid organizations in Maryland provide free help to people who qualify. Court self-help centers can explain the forms and the process. A lawyer can tell you if the debt is within the 3-year filing period, if you have a good defense, and what will happen next. Even if you cannot get a lawyer, you can still file a Notice of Intention to Defend on time. Do not let fear stop you from acting. If you are served with a District Court complaint in Maryland, the deadline is 15 days from service. Out-of-state defendants have 60 days. If you do not respond in time, the court may enter a default order. Getting help early gives you more options.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I miss the 15-day deadline in Maryland?

If you do not respond in time, the court may enter a default order against you. It is best to respond on time. If you are an out-of-state defendant, you have 60 days from service instead.

Do I have more time to respond if I live out of state?

Yes. If you are an out-of-state defendant served with a Maryland District Court complaint, you have 60 days from service to file a Notice of Intention to Defend. If you are served in Maryland, the deadline is 15 days.

How long does a debt collector have to sue me in Maryland?

In Maryland, most civil lawsuits, including suits on ordinary debts, must be filed within 3 years. That is the deadline for the debt collector to file the case. It is separate from your deadline to respond, which is 15 days from service if you are served in Maryland.

What is a Notice of Intention to Defend?

It is the document you file in Maryland District Court to respond to a complaint. If you are served with a District Court complaint in Maryland, you have 15 days from service to file it. Out-of-state defendants have 60 days. If you do not respond in time, the court may enter a default order.

Can I file the Notice of Intention to Defend without a lawyer?

Yes. You can file it yourself. You can still hire a lawyer later if you want one. Legal aid or a court self-help center can explain the process and help you file. If you do not respond in time, the court may enter a default order.

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