This Unit receives approximately 37,000 court documents per year and is responsible for the service of Summonses and Subpoenas for the criminal and civil cases scheduled by District Court, Circuit Court, and Juvenile Court. The Unit receives court process from every jurisdiction in the State of Maryland as well as from out-of-state. Types of court process served by this Unit are Summonses, Subpoenas, Landlord/Tenant situations, Judgments/Sheriff’s sales, special orders of court, different types of repossessions, Emergency Evaluation Petitions for psychiatric situations, and Peace Orders, which are a civil restraining order issued by the District Court. Special orders of court usually consist of Custody/Child Seizure situations, Injunctions to prevent a situation from happening, Show Cause Orders for addressing possible violation of probation or special orders issued by a judge, and any special requests from the judges.
The Sheriff’s Office Civil Process Unit is open Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. However, persons wishing to stop-in to pick up their court papers can do so 24 hours a day, seven days a week, after calling the Civil line first to make arrangements. There are three locations for picking up court papers, our headquarters building located in Bel Air at 45 South Main Street, the Southern Precinct located in Edgewood at 1305 Pulaski Highway, and the Northern Precinct located in Jarrettsville at 3726 Norrisville Road.
Successful service of papers is based upon the information you provide. Please include all information that will assist us in serving your papers. This information may include age, description, work hours, place of employment, vehicle description, or other pertinent information you feel may be of assistance. The more information you provide, the better the probability for a successful service.
Fees for service must be paid in full in advance. If you are due a refund, upon request, a check will be mailed to your address or the address designated by the original document. If the service is from out- of -state, a notarized Affidavit of Service will be supplied in our return.
Fees for Service:
- Civil Summons: $60.00 per person, per case.
- Criminal Case Summons: No Charge
- Late Rent Ejectment notice: $5.00
- Service of any Warrant of Restitution, Peace Order, Writs, such as Judgments, Attachments, Possessions or Replevins: $40.00
- All checks/money orders made out to Harford County
NOTE: On any Writ of Execution that requires seizure of items, a bond is required. The bond is usually $2,000.00 but could be higher depending on items seized and stored.
- Out-of-state process: $60.00