Rule 2-112.Process — Issuance of summons

Rule 2-112 puts the issuing of a summons squarely in the clerk's hands and on a short clock. Under section (a), as soon as a complaint is filed the clerk issues a summons for each defendant "forthwith" — without waiting for a separate request — and delivers it, together with a copy of every paper filed and a blank information report form, to the sheriff or to another person the plaintiff has designated to make service. If the plaintiff needs more than one summons for the same defendant, the clerk issues additional copies on request.

Section (b) addresses service across county lines. When the sheriff who will make service is in a different county from where the case is pending, the clerk can forward the process directly to that county's sheriff. Alternatively, if a party is willing to pay for personal delivery of the process to the out-of-county sheriff, the clerk hands the paperwork to a person the party designates — but that person still needs the clerk's approval before making the delivery.