(a) Levy upon real property. — Except as otherwise provided by law, the sheriff shall levy upon a judgment debtor’s interest in real property pursuant to a writ of execution by entering a description of the property upon a schedule and by posting a copy of the writ and the schedule in a prominent place on the property.
Rule 2-642.Writ of execution — Levy
Circuit Court · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceRule 2-642 tells the sheriff exactly how to carry out a levy once a writ of execution arrives, for real property, personal property, and property held by someone other than the debtor.
Full Text of Rule 2-642
(b) Levy upon personal property. — Except as otherwise provided by law, the sheriff shall levy upon a judgment debtor’s interest in personal property pursuant to a writ of execution by obtaining actual view of the property, entering a description of the property upon a schedule, and (1) removing the property from the premises, or (2) affixing a copy of the writ and schedule to the property, or (3) posting a copy of the writ and schedule in a prominent place in the immediate vicinity of the property and affixing to each item of property a label denoting that the property has been levied upon by the sheriff, or (4) posting a copy of the writ and schedule in a prominent place in the immediate vicinity of the property without affixing a label to each item of property if affixing a label to each item of property is possible but not practical.
(c) Possession of personal property by third person. — When the sheriff has been instructed to remove the property from the premises or exclude others from access or use and finds the property in the possession of a person, other than the judgment debtor, who asserts entitlement to possession and objects to the sheriff’s removal of it or exclusion of that person from access or use, the sheriff may levy and leave the property where found.
(d) Notice of levy. — The sheriff shall furnish a copy of the writ of execution and schedule to any person found by the sheriff to be in possession of the property, and, if that person is not the judgment debtor, the sheriff shall promptly mail a copy of the writ and schedule to the judgment debtor’s last known address.
(e) Return. — Following a levy, the sheriff shall promptly file a return together with the schedule. If the writ of execution was received from another county under Rule 2-641 (b), a copy of the return and schedule shall also be filed in the county where the judgment was entered.
Committee Note & Source
Source. This Rule is derived as follows:
Section (a) is in part new and in part derived from former Rule G49 a.
Section (b) is in part new and in part derived from former Rule G49 a.
Section (c) is new.
Section (d) is new.
Section (e) is in part new and in part derived from former Rule 622 h 2.
Plain-English Summary
A writ of execution only authorizes action; Rule 2-642 spells out how the sheriff performs the levy. For real property, the sheriff describes it on a schedule and posts a copy of the writ and schedule somewhere prominent on the property. Personal property takes more legwork: the sheriff has to physically view the property, describe it on a schedule, and then either remove it, attach a copy of the writ and schedule to it, post the writ and schedule nearby while tagging each item as levied, or — if tagging every item isn't practical — just post the notice nearby without individual tags.
Levies don't always go smoothly. If the sheriff was told to remove property or shut others out, but finds it in the hands of someone other than the debtor who claims a right to it and objects, the sheriff can levy on the property while leaving it where it is rather than forcing the issue. Whoever the sheriff finds holding the property gets a copy of the writ and schedule, and if that person isn't the debtor, the sheriff also mails a copy to the debtor's last known address. After the levy, the sheriff files a return along with the schedule; if the writ came from another county, a copy of that return and schedule also goes back to the county where the judgment was entered.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the sheriff levy on real property?
By writing a description of the property on a schedule and posting a copy of the writ and schedule in a prominent place on the property itself.
What options does the sheriff have for levying on personal property?
After physically viewing the property and describing it on a schedule, the sheriff can remove it, attach the writ and schedule to it, post notice nearby and label each item, or post notice nearby without labeling each item if labeling isn't practical.
What if the property is in the hands of someone other than the debtor who objects?
If that person asserts a right to the property and objects to removal or exclusion, the sheriff can levy on it while leaving it where it was found.
What does the sheriff file with the court after completing a levy?
A return along with the property schedule. If the writ was received from another county, a copy of the return and schedule is also filed in the county where the judgment was originally entered.
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: how sheriff levies property marylandlevy on personal property procedurelevy on real property proceduresheriff schedule of levied propertylevy on property held by third party