Rule 2-507.Dismissal for lack of jurisdiction or prosecution

The rule applies to nearly every civil action, with narrow exceptions for the military docket and continuing trusts or guardianships. It creates two separate clocks. First, if a defendant hasn't been served, and the court hasn't otherwise gotten jurisdiction over that defendant, the claim against that defendant becomes subject to dismissal once 120 days pass from the issuance of process. Second, an action becomes subject to dismissal for lack of prosecution once a full year passes without a docket entry — other than an entry made under this rule or the rules governing amended pleadings and revised scheduling — except that permanent alimony actions get two years of inactivity before this clock applies.

Dismissal isn't automatic. The clerk, either on a party's written request or on its own initiative, serves notice on everyone that the case will be dismissed in 30 days unless someone files a motion to defer. A party can move at any point up to 30 days after that notice, and the court can put off dismissal for good cause on whatever terms it thinks proper. If no one moves within that window, the clerk enters "Dismissed for lack of jurisdiction or prosecution without prejudice" on the docket once the 30 days run out; if a motion was filed and denied, the clerk makes that entry promptly after the denial.