A pleading that sets forth a claim for relief, whether an original claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third- party claim, shall contain a clear statement of the facts necessary to constitute a cause of action and a demand for judgment for the relief sought. Relief in the alternative or of several different types may be demanded.
Rule 3-305.Claims for relief
District Court · Last amended July 1, 2026 · Last verified July 13, 2026
This rule prints two full, separately-dated versions in the official compilation (a pending-amendment straddle); both are shown below.
In one sentenceRule 3-305 requires a claim for relief in District Court to lay out the facts behind it and demand the judgment sought, and — starting July 1, 2026 — to flag and disclose extra information when the claim is for medical debt.
Full Text of Rule 3-305
Rule 3-305. Claims for relief — Effective until July 1, 2026
Rule 3-305. Claims for relief — Effective July 1, 2026
(a) Generally. — A pleading that sets forth a claim for relief, whether an original claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim, shall contain a clear statement of the facts necessary to constitute a cause of action and a demand for judgment for the relief sought. Relief in the alternative or of several different types may be demanded.
(b) Medical debt. — If a demand for money judgment seeks payment of medical debt as defined by Code, Real Property Article, § 14-203.1, the complaint shall (1) indicate that the judgment sought is for medical debt and (2) state the address of the primary residence of the defendant. Cross references. — See Code, Courts Article, § 11-402(b) for pleading requirements for a complaint seeking judgment for medical debt. For pleading requirements and other procedures when attorneys' fees are claimed, see Rule 3-741.
Amendment History
Effective until July 1, 2026
Amended Nov. 12, 2003, effective Jan. 1, 2004; Nov. 1, 2012, effective Jan. 1, 2013; Oct. 17, 2013, effective Jan. 1, 2014.
Effective July 1, 2026
Amended Nov. 12, 2003, effective Jan. 1, 2004; Nov. 1, 2012, effective Jan. 1, 2013; Oct. 17, 2013, effective Jan. 1, 2014; Feb. 19, 2026, effective July 1, 2026.
Committee Note & Source
Effective until July 1, 2026
Cross references. For pleading requirements and other procedures when attorneys' fees are claimed, see Rule 3-741.
Source. This Rule is derived from former M.D.R. 301 a (ii) and the 1966 version of Fed. R. Civ. P. 8 (a).
Effective July 1, 2026
Source. This Rule is derived from former M.D.R. 301 a (ii) and the 1966 version of Fed. R. Civ. P. 8 (a).
Plain-English Summary
Whether it appears in a complaint, a counterclaim, a cross-claim, or a third-party claim, a claim for relief in District Court needs two things: a clear statement of the facts that make out a cause of action, and a demand for the judgment sought. A party is not locked into one theory of recovery — relief can be demanded in the alternative or in several different forms at once. Where attorneys' fees are part of the claim, Rule 3-741 supplies the pleading and procedural requirements that go with that demand.
A change taking effect July 1, 2026 adds a new layer for a specific category of claim. If a demand for a money judgment seeks payment of medical debt as defined in the Real Property Article, the complaint must say so and must state the defendant's primary-residence address. That disclosure ties into a companion statute governing pleading requirements for medical-debt judgments. Until that date, Rule 3-305 stays limited to the general facts-and-demand requirement that has applied to claims for relief all along.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a claim for relief have to include?
A clear statement of the facts that make out a cause of action and a demand for the judgment sought. Relief can be demanded in the alternative or in several different forms.
Does this rule apply only to complaints?
No. It applies to any claim for relief — an original claim, a counterclaim, a cross-claim, or a third-party claim.
Can I ask for attorneys' fees under this rule?
The rule lets you include a claim for relief that covers fees, but the pleading and proof requirements specific to an attorneys'-fee claim come from Rule 3-741.
What changes on July 1, 2026?
A new subsection requires a complaint seeking a money judgment for medical debt to identify the claim as medical debt and state the defendant's primary-residence address.
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: claims for relief district court marylanddemand for judgment marylandmedical debt lawsuit maryland disclosure requirementMd Rule 3-305pleading medical debt maryland district court