(a) Summons. Upon the filing of the complaint, the clerk shall issue forthwith a summons for each defendant and, as directed by the plaintiff, shall either deliver it, together with a copy of each paper filed, to the plaintiff or to the sheriff or mail it to the defendant by certified mail pursuant to Rule 3-121. Upon request of the plaintiff, more than one summons shall issue for a defendant.

(b) Delivery to Another County. When process is to be served by the sheriff of another county, the clerk may send the process to that sheriff for service. If a party requests personal delivery of the process at that party's expense to the sheriff of another county, the clerk shall furnish the process to a person designated by the party and approved by the clerk to make delivery.

Source: This Rule is derived as follows:

Section (a) is derived from former M.D.R. 103 c and e and the 1980 version of Fed. R. Civ. P. 4 (a).

Section (b) is derived from former Rule 103 j.