(a) Entry upon notice. — Upon being paid all amounts due on a money judgment, the judgment creditor shall furnish to the judgment debtor and file with the clerk a written statement that the judgment has been satisfied. Upon the filing of the statement the clerk shall enter the judgment satisfied.
Rule 2-626.Satisfaction of money judgment
Circuit Court · Last amended July 1, 1986 · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceDescribes how a paid-off money judgment gets marked satisfied on the record — either voluntarily by the creditor or by court order if the creditor won't cooperate.
Full Text of Rule 2-626
(b) Entry upon motion. — If the judgment creditor fails to comply with section (a) of this Rule, the judgment debtor may file a motion for an order declaring that the judgment has been satisfied. The motion shall be served on the judgment creditor in the manner provided in Rule 2-121. If the court is satisfied from an affidavit filed by the judgment debtor that despite reasonable efforts the judgment creditor cannot be served or the whereabouts of the judgment creditor cannot be determined, the court shall provide for notice to the judgment creditor in accordance with Rule 2-122.
(c) Costs and expenses. — If the court enters an order of satisfaction, it shall order the judgment creditor to pay to the judgment debtor the costs and expenses incurred in obtaining the order, including reasonable attorney’s fees, unless the court finds that the judgment creditor had a justifiable reason for not complying with the requirements set forth in section (a). If the motion for an order of satisfaction is denied, the court may award costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, under Rule 1-341.
Amendment History
Amended Apr. 7, 1986, effective July 1, 1986.
Committee Note & Source
Source. This Rule is new.
Plain-English Summary
Once a judgment debtor pays off a money judgment in full, the record needs to reflect that the debt is gone. Rule 2-626 puts the first move on the judgment creditor: after receiving full payment, the creditor must give the debtor a written statement that the judgment is satisfied and file that statement with the clerk. The clerk then enters the judgment as satisfied.
If the creditor doesn't follow through, the debtor isn't stuck. The debtor can file a motion asking the court to declare the judgment satisfied, serving it on the creditor the same way other papers are served under Rule 2-121. If the creditor can't be located despite a real effort — shown by affidavit — the court can order notice by the alternative methods in Rule 2-122 instead of personal service.
The rule also allocates the cost of the fight. If the court grants the debtor's motion, it orders the creditor to pay the debtor's costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, unless the creditor had a justifiable reason for not filing the satisfaction voluntarily. If the court denies the motion instead, it can award costs and fees against the debtor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a judgment creditor have to do once a judgment is paid off?
Furnish the judgment debtor a written statement that the judgment has been satisfied and file that statement with the clerk. The clerk then enters the judgment as satisfied on the record.
What can a debtor do if the creditor won't file a satisfaction?
File a motion asking the court to declare the judgment satisfied, and serve it on the creditor under Rule 2-121. If the creditor can't be found despite a genuine effort, the debtor can ask the court to order notice under Rule 2-122 instead.
Who pays attorney's fees if a satisfaction motion goes to court?
If the court grants the debtor's motion, it orders the creditor to pay the debtor's costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees — unless the creditor had a justifiable reason for not filing the satisfaction itself. If the motion is denied, the court can award costs and fees against the debtor instead.
Does the debtor have to prove the creditor is avoiding service?
Yes. Before the court will allow notice by alternative means, the debtor must file an affidavit showing that despite reasonable efforts, the creditor can't be served or located.
Source & verification. Rule text, Committee Note, Source note, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Maryland Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Maryland. Last verified July 13, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: satisfaction of judgment marylandhow to clear a paid judgmentmotion to declare judgment satisfiedjudgment creditor won't file satisfaction