(a) Generally. — Subject to section (b) of this Rule, upon receiving for recordation a copy of a foreign judgment, as defined by Code, Courts Article, § 11-801, that is certified or authenticated in accordance with these Rules or statutes of this State, or of the United States, the clerk shall record and index the judgment. Upon recording a foreign judgment received from a person other than the clerk of the court of entry, the receiving clerk shall notify the clerk of the court of entry.
Rule 3-623.Recording of Foreign Judgments
District Court · Last amended January 1, 2020 · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3-623 lets a judgment from outside Maryland be recorded in District Court, once it's properly certified and the debtor gets notice.
Full Text of Rule 3-623
(b) Affidavit and Notice Requirements. — At the time a foreign judgment is filed, the judgment creditor shall file an affidavit in compliance with Code, Courts Article, § 11-803(a). Upon receipt of the affidavit, the clerk shall mail to the judgment debtor the notice required by Code, Courts Article, § 11-803(b) and make a docket entry notation of the mailing.
Amendment History
Enacted November 19, 2019, effective January 1, 2020.
Committee Note & Source
Cross references. For the authority to file a foreign judgment in the District Court, see Code, Courts Article, § 11-802(a)(1)(ii) and (iii).
Source. This Rule is new.
Plain-English Summary
A judgment from another state, a U.S. territory, or a federal court doesn't automatically carry force in Maryland. Rule 3-623 covers how such a "foreign judgment," as defined by Code, Courts Article § 11-801, gets recorded in the District Court so a creditor can enforce it here.
The creditor brings in a copy that's certified or authenticated under Maryland's rules or statutes, or under federal law, and the clerk records and indexes it. If the copy comes from someone other than the clerk of the court where the judgment was originally entered, the recording clerk lets that original court's clerk know.
Recording alone isn't enough to protect the debtor's due process rights, so the rule adds two requirements. When the judgment creditor files the foreign judgment, the creditor must also file an affidavit meeting the requirements of Code, Courts Article § 11-803(a). Once that affidavit is in, the clerk mails the debtor the notice required by § 11-803(b) and notes on the docket that the notice went out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies as a foreign judgment under this rule?
A judgment that meets the definition in Code, Courts Article § 11-801, generally a money judgment entered by a court outside Maryland.
What does a judgment creditor have to file besides the judgment itself?
An affidavit that satisfies Code, Courts Article § 11-803(a), filed at the same time the foreign judgment is filed.
Does the debtor get notified when a foreign judgment is recorded against them?
Yes. Once the creditor's affidavit is filed, the clerk mails the debtor the notice required by Code, Courts Article § 11-803(b) and records on the docket that the notice was sent.
Can a foreign judgment be filed directly in District Court, or only in circuit court?
It can be filed in District Court. Code, Courts Article § 11-802(a)(1)(ii) and (iii) authorizes filing a foreign judgment there.
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
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