Maryland Small Claims Court Forms — DC-CV-001 Instructions

Form DC-CV-001 is the only complaint form you need for a Maryland small claims case. It's the same form used for all District Court money claims up to $30,000, and filling it out correctly the first time saves you a rejected filing and a trip back to the clerk's office.

Getting the Form

Download DC-CV-001 from the Maryland Courts website under District Court civil forms. The instruction brochure (dccv001br) walks through each section, but here's what trips up most self-represented filers.

Section by Section

Caption and venue box. Enter your name, address, and phone number as the plaintiff. For the defendant, use their full legal name — not a nickname, not a trade name. Select the county or Baltimore City where you're filing.

Claim details (Section 1). Check whether you're suing on a contract or a tort. Write a short, factual description of what happened and the exact dollar amount you're claiming. Stick to facts: "Defendant received $3,500 deposit on June 15, 2025 for kitchen renovation. No work performed. Demand letter sent August 1, 2025. No response." The judge will hear the full story at trial — the form just needs enough to identify the dispute.

Military service affidavit (Section 3). Federal law requires you to state whether the defendant is on active military duty. If you're not sure, check the SCRA database before filing. Leaving this blank prevents the court from entering a default judgment if the defendant doesn't show.

Service selection box. Choose how you want the defendant notified: clerk certified mail ($20), sheriff service ($60), or private process server (market rate). If you're unsure the defendant will be home to sign for certified mail, sheriff service is more reliable.

Common Mistakes

Wrong defendant name. If you're suing a business, search the SDAT database to find the registered legal entity name and resident agent address. "Mike's Plumbing" on the truck is probably "Michael's Plumbing LLC" in the state records. A judgment against a trade name may be unenforceable.

Missing attachments. Attach a copy of the contract, invoice, or demand letter for the court and one copy for each defendant. The clerk won't file the complaint without them.

Wrong form entirely. DC-CV-001 is for money claims. If your landlord is evicting you or you're trying to evict a tenant, that's Form DC-CV-082. If you need a fee waiver, file CC-DC-089 and, unless your case is a restricted case type, MDJ-008 alongside your complaint.

Filing Options

Self-represented litigants in Maryland can file in person at the District Court clerk's counter, by mail, or through the MDEC e-filing system. E-filing is optional for pro se filers — you're not required to use it. Once you choose paper or electronic filing for a case, continue using that method throughout the case unless the court orders otherwise. If you file on paper, bring the original plus two copies for the court plus one copy per defendant.

The filing fee is $44 for small claims. Pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card at the counter. For mail filings, send a check or money order payable to "District Court."

The Maryland small claims filing guide includes a form completion walkthrough with a pre-submission checklist so every field and attachment is right before you hand it to the clerk.

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