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RULE 2-321. TIME FOR FILING ANSWER

West's Annotated Code of MarylandMaryland Rules

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Maryland Rules
Title 2. Civil Procedure--Circuit Court
Chapter 300. Pleadings and Motions
MD Rules, Rule 2-321
RULE 2-321. TIME FOR FILING ANSWER
Currentness
(a) General Rule. A party shall file an answer to an original complaint, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim within 30 days after being served, except as provided by sections (b) and (c) of this Rule.
(b) Exceptions.
(1) A defendant who is served with an original pleading outside of the State but within the United States shall file an answer within 60 days after being served.
(2) A defendant who is served with an original pleading by publication or posting, pursuant to Rule 2-122, shall file an answer within the time specified in the notice.
(3) A person who is required by statute of this State to have a resident agent and who is served with an original pleading by service upon the State Department of Assessments and Taxation, the Insurance Commissioner, or some other agency of the State authorized by statute to receive process shall file an answer within 60 days after being served.
(4) The United States or an officer or agency of the United States served with an original pleading pursuant to Rule 2-124(m) or (n) shall file an answer within 60 days after being served.
(5) A defendant who is served with an original pleading outside of the United States shall file an answer within 90 days after being served.
(6) If rules for special proceedings, or statutes of this State or of the United States, provide for a different time to answer, the answer shall be filed as provided by those rules or statutes.
(c) Automatic Extension. When a motion is filed pursuant to Rule 2-322 or when a matter is remanded from an appellate court or a federal court, the time for filing an answer is extended without special order to 15 days after entry of the court's order on the motion or remand or, if the court grants a motion for a more definite statement, to 15 days after the service of the more definite statement.

Credits

[Adopted April 6, 1984, eff. July 1, 1984. Amended Jan. 10, 1995, eff. Feb. 1, 1995; Nov. 12, 2003, eff. Jan. 1, 2004; Dec. 7, 2015, eff. Jan. 1, 2016.]
MD Rules, Rule 2-321, MD R RCP CIR CT Rule 2-321
Current with amendments received through October 1, 2023. Some sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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