The Discovery Guidelines of the Maryland State Bar Association were approved in 1986 by the Board of Governors of the Maryland State Bar Association and by the Conference of Circuit Court Judges. These discovery guidelines were revised by a special committee on the Maryland Discovery Guidelines and approved by the Litigation Section of the Maryland State Bar Association in February, 1990. In 2012, a Special Committee was commissioned by the Litigation Section to revise the Guidelines. The Committee's proposed revisions were approved by the Litigation Section in 2015. In 2016, the revised Discovery Guidelines were approved by the Board of Governors of the Maryland State Bar Association and by the Conference of Circuit Court Judges.

These Guidelines are intended to assist the bench and bar in the fair and efficient resolution of discovery disputes. Although they are not officially part of the Maryland Rules and have not been adopted or approved by the Court of Appeals, the Discovery Guidelines may be of significant value in interpreting and applying Title 2, Chapter 400 of the Maryland Rules.

If any part of these Guidelines conflicts with the Maryland Rules, a standing order of a Circuit Court, or an order of the Court in a particular case, then the conflicting rule or order governs. No stipulation that modifies a court-imposed deadline shall be deemed effective unless and until the Court approves the stipulation.