Maryland Court Records
- Search By:
- Name
- Case Number
MarylandCourtRecords.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on MarylandCourtRecords.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
What Is the Statute of Limitations in Maryland?
The statute of limitations in Maryland is the deadline for taking a case to court, and it helps make sure cases are decided while evidence and memories are still fresh. Civil cases, like personal injury, contracts, or property damage, each have their own time limits, with some shorter and others longer. Serious crimes such as murder or rape have no time limit, so the state can bring charges at any time, while less serious crimes usually have deadlines of a few years. A big change in Maryland now allows victims of child sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits at any time, with no deadline, even for older cases.
How Long Is the Statute of Limitations in Maryland?
Maryland law sets clear time limits for filing a lawsuit and for the state to bring criminal charges. For civil cases, most follow the three-year rule. A person has three years to file a personal injury or property damage claim. In medical malpractice, the deadline is three years from when the injury is discovered but never more than five years from when the mistake happened. Contract cases also have limits—most written contracts must be filed within three years, but those signed under seal can be enforced for up to twelve years.
The rules for criminal cases are different. Most misdemeanors have to be tried within a year, but some can take longer. There is no statute of limitations on serious felonies like murder or some sex crimes, so people can be charged with them at any time. Some felonies have time limits of three to ten years. Most of the time, minor offenses have a one-year deadline.
Below is a table that summarizes the statutes of limitations in Maryland:
| Case Type | Statute of Limitations | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanors | 1 to 3 years | Most are 1 year, but exceptions exist (e.g., misconduct in office). |
| Felony | None to 10 years | Murder, manslaughter, and some sex crimes have no time limit. |
| Infractions | 1 year | Applies to minor offenses unless specified. |
| Personal Injury | 3 years | From the date of accident/injury (§ 5-101). |
| Medical Malpractice | 3 years from discovery, max 5 years total | (§ 5-109). |
| Written Contracts | 3 years (12 if under seal) | (§ 5-102). |
| Property Damage | 3 years | General civil rule applies. |
What Crimes Have No Statute of Limitations in Maryland
The following crimes in Maryland are classified as crimes with no statute of limitations in Maryland, meaning they can be prosecuted at any time in Maryland, regardless of how many years have passed: murder, manslaughter (including unlawful homicide), rape and certain sexual offenses such as sexual crimes involving minors, and misdemeanors punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary. Maryland law says that these crimes are so serious that the need for accountability and justice is more important than worries about the passage of time. This means that anyone can be charged with these crimes in Maryland.
Common crimes with no statute of limitations in Maryland:
- Murder
- Manslaughter (including killing someone without permission)
- Rape
- Sexual crimes against minors, such as child sexual abuse
- Misdemeanors that can lead to jail time in the penitentiary
Criminal Statute of Limitations in Maryland
The criminal statute of limitations in Maryland establishes deadlines for bringing charges. Regarding felony time limits Maryland, serious felonies such as murder, rape, and aggravated assault in Maryland are exempt from the statute of limitations. For other felonies, the time limits range from three to ten years, depending on the crime. The misdemeanor statute of limitations in Maryland is generally one year, though certain offenses allow two to four years. If the suspect leaves the state, the statute clock pauses until their return.
The table below outlines these limits:
| Crime Type | Statute of Limitation |
|---|---|
| Murder / Manslaughter / Rape | None |
| Solicitation to Commit Murder, Computer Crimes | 3 years |
| Sexual Extortion | 5 years |
| Stalking | 10 years |
| General Misdemeanors | 1 year |
| Ethics/Driver’s License/Vulnerable Adult Misconduct | 2 years |
| Election Law Misdemeanors | 4 years |
| Welfare / Tax / Licensing / Environmental Misdemeanors | 3 years |
Is There a Statute of Limitations on Attempted Murder?
Attempted murder in Maryland has no statute of limitations. This means that if someone is accused of trying to kill another person, the state can bring charges at any time, even if many years have passed. Murder works the same way—there is no time limit for charging someone.
Other crimes in Maryland, like some misdemeanors or smaller felonies, do have deadlines that usually range from one to five years. But because attempted murder is a very serious crime, it is treated like murder and can always be prosecuted. There are no exceptions—a person can be charged with attempted murder in Maryland no matter how much time has passed.
Statute of Limitations on Sexual Assault in Maryland
The sexual assault statute of limitations in Maryland gives survivors different deadlines depending on the case. For criminal cases, serious crimes like rape have no time limit, so the state can bring charges at any time. Smaller crimes, such as a fourth-degree sexual offense, must be reported within one year or three years if the offender was in a position of authority. For civil lawsuits, adults generally have only three years to file a claim. But the Child Victims Act of 2023 changed the rules for children—there is now no time limit for filing sexual abuse claims in Maryland if the victim was under 18, and in 2025 the Maryland Supreme Court confirmed this applies even to older cases. This means that there is no time limit for reporting rape in Maryland for serious criminal charges or child survivors. However, adult civil claims must be filed within three years.
Civil Statute of Limitations in Maryland
The civil statute of limitations in Maryland sets time limits—called civil lawsuit deadlines in Maryland—for when a person may bring a case to court. If someone waits too long, the court will usually dismiss the case. Knowing how long one has to sue in Maryland is important, because missing the deadline can mean losing the chance to seek justice.
Different cases have different deadlines. Here is a table showing how long someone has to file a civil lawsuit in Maryland:
| Claim Type | Statute of Limitation |
|---|---|
| Personal Injury | 3 years |
| Property Damage | 3 years |
| Breach of Contract (written or oral) | 3 years |
| Defamation (libel or slander) | 1 year |
| Medical Malpractice | 3 years from discovery, or 5 years max |
If the deadline is missed, the case is usually thrown out. Exceptions exist for hidden injuries, fraud, or if the person was a minor when the problem happened.
Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice in Maryland
The medical malpractice statute of limitations in Maryland explains how long someone has to sue a doctor or healthcare provider for medical mistakes. A patient usually has five years from the date of the injury or three years from the date they discovered the injury, whichever comes first. This is called the discovery rule, which allows extra time if the injury was hidden and not noticed right away.
For example, if a surgical mistake is not discovered until years later, the patient has three years from when the problem was found to file a claim. However, the law sets an absolute malpractice claim deadline in Maryland of five years from the original mistake, even if the injury was discovered later.
Before filing a case, Maryland requires patients to submit a certificate from a medical expert stating that the doctor failed to meet proper standards of care. Most claims also begin in the Health Care Alternative Dispute Resolution Office (HCADRO) before moving forward in court.
Missing the deadline usually means the court will dismiss the case, and the patient loses the right to seek compensation.
The table outlines common medical malpractice cases in Maryland.
| Type of Case | Example |
|---|---|
| Surgical Errors | A surgeon operates on the wrong body part or leaves a tool inside the patient. |
| Misdiagnosis or Delay | A doctor fails to notice cancer until it is too late to treat. |
| Medication Mistakes | A patient is given the wrong drug and suffers harmful side effects. |
| Birth Injuries | A baby is hurt because of mistakes during delivery, like misuse of forceps. |
| Anesthesia Errors | Too much anesthesia is given, leading to serious health problems. |
Statute of Limitations for Debt in Maryland
The debt statute of limitations in Maryland is the rule that decides how long creditors have to sue someone for not paying back money they owe. For most debts, like unpaid credit card debt in Maryland, medical bills, or personal loans, creditors only have 3 years from the last payment or account activity to take the person to court. Some debts, like auto loans or contracts signed “under seal”, give creditors more time.
Even though the deadline to sue is short, people should know that debt can stay on a credit report for 7 years. This means that even though the time to sue has passed, it can still hurt someone's credit score. Also, if someone pays the debt or writes that they owe it, the clock starts over, giving creditors more time to sue.
The table lists the applicable terms and statute of limitations for different debts in Maryland.
| Type of Debt | Statute of Limitations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Debt | 3 years | Applies to unpaid credit card debt in Maryland. |
| Medical Bills | 3 years | Treated as open account debt. |
| Personal Loans (written) | 3 years | If not under seal |
| Promissory Notes | 6 years | Written promise to pay. |
| Auto Loans | 4 years | Based on a written contract. |
| Contracts Under Seal | 12 years | Must say “under seal”. |
| Oral Agreements | 3 years | Harder to prove in court. |
Statute of Limitations for Child Abuse and Child Support in Maryland
For child abuse statute of limitations Maryland, there is no time limit for criminal cases. This means that someone who hurts a child could be charged at any time, even years later. In 2023, the Child Victims Act ended all deadlines for civil cases. Then in 2025, the Maryland Supreme Court upheld the law, so survivors can now file a lawsuit whenever they feel ready.
For child support enforcement in Maryland, the state uses tools like taking money from paychecks, intercepting tax refunds, suspending licenses, or going to court for contempt. Child support debt does not go away, but contempt cases must be filed within three years of the missed payment. If the missed payments become a court judgment, they can be collected for at least 12 years and renewed if needed. This makes sure children still receive the support they are owed.