Maryland Court E-Filing

E-Filing at a Glance

Rules last checked October 2026. Courts update their e-filing rules often, so confirm details with the court or call us at (800) 675-5376.

How E-Filing Works

1. Log In or Create an Account

   Log in to your Direct Legal account, or create one for free.

2. Place an E-Filing Order

   Choose eFiling, then Maryland and the county. Pick a new case or an existing one, and upload each document as a separate, text-searchable PDF.

3. The Court Reviews Your Filing

   We transmit your filing and the court's fees through MDEC. Review times vary by court.

4. Get Your Stamped Copy

   When the court accepts your filing, we email you a link to the file-stamped copy. If it is rejected, we email you the reason and the corrections needed.

Start an Order → or call (800) 675-5376

Our step-by-step guide, How to Place a Maryland Court E-Filing Order (PDF), walks through every screen.

Use Clio or NetDocuments? Pick your documents straight from the matter on the Documents tab, and get the court’s returned documents saved back. See our software integrations.

Maryland E-Filing Rules

A few Maryland rules decide whether an e-filing is accepted and when it counts as filed:

• Attorneys must e-file. Attorneys must file electronically in MDEC courts, which now include every Maryland court except the Orphans' Courts. Self-represented parties may choose to e-file (Md. Rule 20-106).
• When it counts as filed. As long as the clerk does not reject it, a submission is filed on the date it was e-filed, not the date the clerk reviews it (Rule 20-202). You can submit at any hour, and clerks review submissions during business hours (Rule 20-203).
• Clerk review. A submission that lacks a required certificate of service is struck. For other material problems the clerk sends a deficiency notice, and the submission can be struck if the problem isn't corrected (Rule 20-203).
• Signatures. An MDEC signature is the signer's typed name with /s/ or an image of the handwritten signature, and signed submissions include the filer's address, email address, and telephone number. Sworn documents are signed by hand and scanned (Rules 20-101 and 20-107).
• Restricted information. Public submissions must not contain restricted information. When a document must be shielded, the filer marks it and follows Rule 20-201.1 (Rule 20-201).
• Certificate of service. Every submission that must be served needs a certificate of service signed by the filer (Rule 20-201).

Maryland Counties and Baltimore City

We e-file through MDEC in all 23 Maryland counties and in Baltimore City, which is its own jurisdiction. MDEC covers the District Court, the circuit courts, the Appellate Court of Maryland, and the Supreme Court of Maryland.

• Allegany County
• Anne Arundel County
• Baltimore City
• Baltimore County
• Calvert County
• Caroline County
• Carroll County
• Cecil County
• Charles County
• Dorchester County
• Frederick County
• Garrett County
• Harford County
• Howard County
• Kent County
• Montgomery County
• Prince George's County
• Queen Anne's County
• St. Mary's County
• Somerset County
• Talbot County
• Washington County
• Wicomico County
• Worcester County

How to Avoid E-Filing Rejections

Most rejections come from a handful of fixable problems. Before you submit, check that:

• The case number and court are right. Filings in existing cases must match the case number, case title, and courthouse on file.
• Each document is its own PDF. Upload the main document, exhibits, proposed orders, and proofs of service as separate files.
• The document type and fees match. Choose the document type the court expects, and include the first appearance or motion fee when one applies.
• Signatures are in place. Every document needs the required signatures, including electronic signatures where the rules allow them.
• Hearing dates are reserved. Many courts require you to reserve a motion hearing date before you file.

E-Filing Rates

Our e-filing fee applies whether the court accepts or rejects the filing. Concierge e-filing, where we submit the documents for you, is available for California courts only.

We advance the court's fees and bill them, with our fee, on one itemized invoice. If you pay by credit or debit card, our system places a pre-authorization on the card for our base fees. We accept credit cards, debit cards, and ACH (subject to approval).

E-Filing in Other States

In California we e-file with 46 superior courts. See California courts and case types.

Related Services

• California e-filingStatewide electronic filing for civil, family law, probate, and more.
• Process servingRegistered, bonded service of process throughout California and nationwide.
• Out-of-state subpoenasForeign subpoenas domesticated in a California court and California subpoenas to be domesticated in other states.
• Skip tracingCurrent addresses for defendants, witnesses, and debtors, for law firms and legal departments.

Maryland E-Filing Questions