DISTRICT COURT

Rule 3-121. Process - Service - In personam.
(a)				Generally. Service of process may be made within this State or, when authorized by the law of this State, outside of this State (1) by delivering to the person to be served a copy of the summons, complaint, and all other papers filed with it; (2) if the person to be served is an individual, by leaving a copy of the summons, complaint, and all other papers filed with it at the individual's dwelling house or usual place of abode with a resident of suitable age and discretion; or (3) by mailing to the person to be served a copy of the summons, complaint, and all other papers filed with it by certified mail requesting: "Restricted Delivery - show to whom, date, address of delivery." Service by certified mail under this Rule is complete upon delivery. Service outside of the State may also be made in the manner prescribed by the court or prescribed by the foreign jurisdiction if reasonably calculated to give actual notice.
(b)				Evasion of service. When proof is made by affidavit that a defendant has acted to evade service, the court may order that service be made by mailing a copy of the summons, complaint, and all other papers filed with it to the defendant at the defendant's last known residence and delivering a copy of each to a person of suitable age and discretion at the place of business of the defendant.
(c)				By order of court. When proof is made by affidavit that good faith efforts to serve the defendant pursuant to section (a) of this Rule have not succeeded and that service pursuant to section (b) of this Rule is inapplicable or impracticable, the court may order any other means of service that it deems appropriate in the circumstances and reasonably calculated to give actual notice.
(d)				Methods not exclusive. The methods of service provided in this Rule are in addition to and not exclusive of any other means of service that may be provided by statute or rule for obtaining jurisdiction over a defendant.
Rule 3-123. Process - By whom served.
(a)				Generally. Service of process may be made by a sheriff or, except as otherwise provided in this Rule, by a competent private person, 18 years of age or older, including an attorney of record, but not by a party to the action.
(b)				Sheriff. All process requiring execution other than delivery, mailing, or publication shall be executed by the sheriff of the county where execution takes place, unless the court orders otherwise.
(c)				Elisor. When the sheriff is a party to or interested in an action so as to be disqualified from serving or executing process, the court, on application of any interested party, may appoint an elisor to serve or execute the process. The appointment shall be in writing, signed by a judge, and filed with the clerk issuing the process. The elisor has the same power as the sheriff to serve or execute the process for which the elisor was appointed and is entitled to the same fees.
Rule 3-124. Process - Persons to be served.
(a)				Individual. Service is made upon an individual by serving the individual or an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process for the individual.
(b)				Individual under disability. Service is made upon an individual under disability by serving the individual and, in addition, by serving the parent, guardian, or other person having care or custody of the person or estate of the individual under disability.
(c)				Corporation. Service is made upon a corporation, incorporated association, or joint stock company by serving its resident agent, president, secretary, or treasurer. If the corporation, incorporated association, or joint stock company has no resident agent or if a good faith attempt to serve the resident agent, president, secretary, or treasurer has failed, service may be made by serving the manager, any director, vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, or other person expressly or impliedly authorized to receive service of process.
(d)				General partnership. Service made upon a general partnership sued in its group name in an action pursuant to Code, Courts Article, § 6-406 CTS. & JUD. PROC. by serving any general partner.
(e)				Limited partnership. Service is made upon a limited partnership by serving its resident agent. If the limited partnership has no resident agent or if a good faith attempt to serve the resident agent has failed, service may be made upon any general partner or other person expressly or impliedly authorized to receive service of process.
(f)				Limited liability partnership. Service is made upon a limited liability partnership by serving its resident agent. If the limited liability partnership has no resident agent or if a good faith attempt to serve the resident agent has failed, service may be made upon any other person expressly or impliedly authorized to receive service of process.
(g)				Limited liability company. Service is made upon a limited liability company by serving its resident agent. If the limited liability company has no resident agent or if a good faith attempt to serve the resident agent has failed, service may be made upon any member or other person expressly or impliedly authorized to receive service of process.
(h)				Unincorporated association. Service is made upon an unincorporated association sued in its group name pursuant to Code, Courts Article, § 6-406 CTS. & JUD. PROC. by serving any officer or member of its governing board. If there are no officers or if the association has no governing board, service may be made upon any member of the association.
(i)				State of Maryland. Service is made upon the State of Maryland by serving the Attorney General or an individual designated by the Attorney General in a writing filed with the Chief Clerk of the court and by serving the Secretary of State. In any action attacking the validity of an order of an officer or agency of this State not made a party, the officer or agency shall also be served.
(j)				Officer or agency of the State of Maryland. Service is made upon an officer or agency of the State of Maryland, including a government corporation, by serving the officer or agency.
(k)				United States. Service is made upon the United States by serving the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland or an individual designated by the United States Attorney in a writing filed with the Chief Clerk of the court and by serving the Attorney General of the United States at Washington, District of Columbia. In any action attacking the validity of an order of an officer or agency of the United States not made a party, the officer or agency shall also be served.
(l)				Officer or agency of the United States. Service is made upon an officer or agency of the United States, including a government corporation, by serving the United States and by serving the officer or agency.
(m)				Substituted service upon State Department of Assessments and Taxation. Service may be made upon a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, or other entity required by statute of this State to have a resident agent by serving two copies of the summons, complaint, and all other papers filed with it, together with the requisite fee, upon the State Department of Assessments and Taxation if (i) the entity has no resident agent; (ii) the resident agent is dead or is no longer at the address for service of process maintained with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation; or (iii) two good faith attempts on separate days to serve the resident agent have failed.
(n)				Statutes not abrogated. The provisions of this Rule do not abrogate any statute permitting or requiring service on a person.