(a) Generally. — Upon the written request of a judgment creditor, the clerk of a court where the judgment was entered or is recorded shall issue a writ of execution directing the sheriff to levy upon property of the judgment debtor to satisfy a money judgment. The writ shall contain a notice advising the debtor that federal and state exemptions may be available and that there is a right to move for release of the property from the levy. The request shall be accompanied by instructions to the sheriff that shall specify (1) the judgment debtor’s last known address, (2) the judgment and the amount owed under the judgment, (3) the property to be levied upon and its location, and (4) whether the sheriff is to leave the levied property where found, or to exclude others from access to it or use of it, or to remove it from the premises. The judgment creditor may file additional instructions as necessary and appropriate and deliver a copy to the sheriff. More than one writ may be issued on a judgment, but only one satisfaction of a judgment may be had.
Rule 2-641.Writ of execution — Issuance and content
Circuit Court · Last amended July 1, 2007 · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceRule 2-641 explains how a judgment creditor gets a writ of execution issued and what instructions must go to the sheriff before a levy can begin.
Full Text of Rule 2-641
(b) Issuance to another county. — If a judgment creditor requests the clerk of the court where the judgment was entered to issue a writ of execution directed to the sheriff of another county, the clerk shall send to the clerk of the other county the writ, the instructions to the sheriff, and, if not already recorded there, a certified copy of the judgment for recording.
(c) Transmittal to sheriff; bond. — Upon issuing a writ of execution or receiving one from the clerk of another county, the clerk shall deliver the writ and instructions to the sheriff. The sheriff shall endorse on the writ the exact hour and date of its receipt and shall maintain a record of actions taken pursuant to it. If the instructions direct the sheriff to remove the property from the premises where found or to exclude others from access to or use of the property, the sheriff may require the judgment creditor to file with the sheriff a bond with security approved by the sheriff for the payment of any expenses that may be incurred by the sheriff in complying with the writ.
Amendment History
Amended May 8, 2007, effective July 1, 2007.
Committee Note & Source
Source. This Rule is derived as follows:
Section (a) is in part new and in part derived from former Rules G40 b 4, the last sentence of G49 a, and 622 e.
Section (b) is in part new and in part derived from former Rule 622 h 1 and 3.
Section (c) is new.
Plain-English Summary
Once a court has entered a money judgment, the creditor still has to collect it. Rule 2-641 starts that process: the creditor asks the clerk, in writing, to issue a writ of execution directing the sheriff to levy on the debtor's property. The request has to come with instructions telling the sheriff four things: the debtor's last known address, the judgment and how much is owed, the property to be levied and where to find it, and how the sheriff should handle it once found — leave it in place, lock others out from using it, or haul it away. The writ itself must warn the debtor that state and federal exemptions may protect some property, and that the debtor can ask the court to release it from the levy.
A creditor isn't limited to one writ. Several writs can go out on the same judgment — useful when a debtor's assets are scattered — but only one satisfaction of the judgment can happen no matter how many writs are used. If the property sits in a different county, the clerk who entered the judgment forwards the writ, the instructions, and a certified copy of the judgment to that county's clerk, who then hands everything to the local sheriff. When the instructions call for removing property or shutting others out from access to it, the sheriff can require the creditor to post a bond covering any expenses the sheriff might incur carrying that out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What has to be in the instructions sent with a writ of execution?
The debtor's last known address, the judgment and the amount owed, a description and location of the property to be levied, and directions on whether the sheriff should leave the property where it is, exclude others from using it, or remove it.
Can a creditor request more than one writ of execution on the same judgment?
Yes. Multiple writs can be issued on a single judgment, though only one satisfaction of the judgment is ever recorded once the debt is paid off.
What happens if the debtor's property is located in a different county?
The clerk who entered the judgment sends the writ, the sheriff's instructions, and a certified copy of the judgment to the clerk in the county where the property sits, so that county's sheriff can act on it.
Does the sheriff always need a bond before acting on a writ?
No. A bond is only required when the sheriff is asked to remove property from the premises or exclude others from using it — and even then, only if the sheriff decides to require one as security for the sheriff's own expenses.
What notice does the debtor get once a writ is issued?
The writ must tell the debtor that federal and state exemptions may protect some property from the levy and that the debtor has the right to ask the court to release specific property from it.
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: writ of execution marylandhow to collect a money judgmentlevy instructions to sheriffissuing a writ of execution to another countysheriff bond before removing property