(a) Generally. — A writ of execution directing the sheriff to levy upon property of the judgment debtor to satisfy a money judgment may be issued by the clerk of a court where the judgment was entered or is recorded and shall be issued only upon written request of the judgment creditor. If the levy is to be made upon real property located in a county other than Baltimore City, the clerk shall not issue the writ of execution unless it shall appear from that clerk’s records or from a certification filed by the judgment creditor that a Notice of Lien has been recorded pursuant to Rule 3-621 in the circuit court for the county where the levy is to be made. 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 3-641.Writ of execution — Issuance and content
District Court · Last amended July 1, 2007 · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceA judgment creditor's written request gets the clerk to issue a writ of execution directing the sheriff to levy on the debtor's property, and the writ must carry an exemption notice and detailed instructions.
Full Text of Rule 3-641
(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 M.D.R. G40 b 4, the last sentence of G49 a, and 622 e and i.
Section (b) is in part new and in part derived from former M.D.R. 622 h 1 and 3. Section (c) is new.
Plain-English Summary
A writ of execution doesn't issue on its own — the judgment creditor has to ask for it in writing, and the clerk of the court where the judgment was entered or recorded issues it. If the target is real property outside Baltimore City, there's a prerequisite: the clerk won't issue the writ unless a Notice of Lien has already been recorded in the circuit court for the county where the levy will happen. Every writ has to carry a notice telling the debtor that exemptions may apply and that there's a right to move for release of the levied property.
The creditor's request has to come with instructions for the sheriff covering the debtor's last known address, the judgment and amount owed, the property to be levied and where it is, and whether the sheriff should leave the property where it sits, exclude others from using it, or remove it entirely. A creditor can supplement those instructions later. Nothing stops multiple writs from issuing on the same judgment, but only one satisfaction is ever allowed. When the levy needs to happen in a different county, the clerk who entered the judgment forwards the writ, instructions, and a certified copy of the judgment to that county's clerk. Once the sheriff receives a writ, the receipt gets time-stamped and logged, and if the instructions call for removing property or excluding others from it, the sheriff can require the creditor to post a bond covering the sheriff's expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can request a writ of execution?
The judgment creditor, and only by written request to the clerk of the court where the judgment was entered or is recorded.
Can I levy on real property in a county without recording anything there first?
Not outside Baltimore City. The clerk won't issue the writ for real property in another county unless a Notice of Lien has already been recorded in that county's circuit court.
What must the writ tell the debtor?
That federal and state exemptions may protect some property from the levy, and that the debtor has a right to move for release of the levied property.
Can more than one writ issue on the same judgment?
Yes, but the judgment can only be satisfied once, no matter how many writs are issued.
Does the sheriff ever require security from the creditor?
Yes — if the instructions direct the sheriff to remove property or exclude others from using it, the sheriff can require the creditor to post a bond covering expenses of complying with the writ.
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 maryland district courthow to levy on property marylandsheriff levy instructions marylandnotice of lien before writ of executionrequesting a writ of execution