(a) Objections to evidence. — An objection to the admission of evidence shall be made at the time the evidence is offered or as soon thereafter as the grounds for objection become apparent. Otherwise, the objection is waived. The grounds for the objection need not be stated unless the court, at the request of a party or on its own initiative, so directs. The court shall rule upon the objection promptly. When the relevancy of evidence depends upon the fulfillment of a condition of fact, the court may admit the evidence subject to the introduction of additional evidence sufficient to support a finding of the fulfillment of the condition. The objection is waived unless, at some time before the entry of judgment, the objecting party moves to strike the evidence on the ground that the condition was not fulfilled.
Rule 3-517.Method of making objections
District Court · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3-517 sets the timing and form for objecting to evidence and other rulings at a District Court trial, so the objection is preserved for later review.
Full Text of Rule 3-517
(b) Continuing objections to evidence. — At the request of a party or on its own initiative, the court may grant a continuing objection to a line of questions by an opposing party. For purposes of review by the trial court or on appeal, the continuing objection is effective only as to questions clearly within its scope.
(c) Objections to other rulings or orders. — For purposes of review by the trial court or on appeal of any other ruling or order, it is sufficient that a party, at the time the ruling or order is made or sought, makes known to the court the action that the party desires the court to take or the objection to the action of the court. The grounds for the objection need not be stated unless these rules expressly provide otherwise or the court so directs. If a party has no opportunity to object to a ruling or order at the time it is made, the absence of an objection at that time does not constitute a waiver of the objection.
(d) Formal exceptions unnecessary. — A formal exception to a ruling or order of the court is not necessary.
Committee Note & Source
Committee note. With respect to objections to the admissibility of evidence made and denied on pretrial motion, see Jones v. State, 9 Md. App. 455, 265 A.2d 271 (1970).
Source. This Rule is derived as follows:
Section (a) is derived from former Rule 522 d.
Section (b) is new.
Section (c) is derived from former Rule 522 b and c.
Section (d) is derived from former Rule 522 a.
Plain-English Summary
To keep an evidentiary objection alive for appeal, a party has to raise it at the right moment: when the evidence is offered, or as soon after as the grounds for objecting become apparent. Miss that window and the objection is waived. A party doesn't have to explain the grounds for an evidentiary objection unless the court asks. The rule also handles conditional relevance — the court can admit evidence now on the promise that a later piece of evidence will establish the missing fact, and the objecting party preserves the point by moving to strike before judgment if that promised proof never comes.
Section (b) lets a court grant a continuing objection to a whole line of questioning, but that objection only protects questions that clearly fall within its scope — it isn't a blanket shield for anything that comes later. Section (c) relaxes the standard for objecting to rulings and orders outside the evidence context: a party just needs to let the court know, at the time, what action it wants or what it's objecting to, without stating grounds unless a rule or the court requires it. And if a party never gets the chance to object when a ruling is made, that silence doesn't waive the point.
Section (d) does away with formal exceptions altogether — a party doesn't need to say "exception" or anything like it to preserve an objection once it's properly made.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to explain why I'm objecting to a piece of evidence?
No, not unless the court, at a party's request or on its own, directs you to state the grounds.
What if a ruling is made and I never get a chance to object?
You haven't waived the objection. The rule specifically says that if a party has no opportunity to object at the time a ruling or order is made, the absence of an objection at that time isn't a waiver.
Can one objection cover an entire line of questioning?
Yes, if the court grants a continuing objection. But it only protects questions clearly within the scope of what was objected to — it won't cover unrelated follow-up questions.
Do I need to say "exception" after a ruling to preserve it for appeal?
No. A formal exception to a ruling or order is not necessary under this rule.
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 to object at trial Maryland District Courtpreserve objection for appeal Marylandcontinuing objection Maryland trial rulewaiver of objection Maryland District Court