Judgments – Foreign Judgments – Maryland

(a)(1)(i)  Except as provided in subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph, a copy of any foreign judgment authenticated in accordance with an act of Congress or statutes of this State may be filed in the office of the clerk of a circuit court.
(ii) If the face amount of the judgment is $2,500 or less, the copy shall be filed with the clerk of the District Court.
(iii) If the face amount of the judgment is not more than a jurisdictional amount described in § 4-401 of this article, but more than $2,500, the copy may be filed either with the clerk of the District Court or in the office of the clerk of a circuit court.

(2)  The clerk shall treat the foreign judgment in the same manner as a judgment of the court in which the foreign judgment is filed.

(b)  A filed foreign judgment has the same effect and is subject to the same procedures, defenses, and proceedings for reopening, vacating, staying, enforcing, or satisfying as a judgment of the court in which it is filed.  § 11-802.

(a)  At the time a foreign judgment is filed, the judgment creditor or the judgment creditor’s attorney shall file with the clerk of the court an affidavit showing the name and last known post office address of the judgment debtor and the judgment creditor.

(b)(1)  The clerk promptly shall mail notice of the filing of the foreign judgment to the judgment debtor at the address given and shall note the mailing in the docket.
(2)  The notice must include the name and post office address of the judgment creditor and if the judgment creditor has an attorney in this State, the attorney’s name and address.
(3)  The judgment creditor may mail a notice of the filing of the judgment to the judgment debtor and may file proof of mailing with the clerk.
(4)  If proof of mailing by the judgment creditor has been filed, lack of mailing notice of filing by the clerk does not affect the enforcement proceedings. § 11-803.

(a)  The court shall stay enforcement of the foreign judgment until an appeal is concluded, the time for appeal expires, or a stay of execution expires or is vacated if the judgment debtor:

(1)  Shows the court that an appeal from the foreign judgment is pending or will be taken, or that a stay of execution has been granted; and
(2)   Proves that the judgment debtor has furnished the security for the satisfaction of the judgment required by the state in which it was rendered.

(b)  If the judgment debtor shows the court any ground on which enforcement of a judgment of the court of this State would be stayed, the court shall stay enforcement of the foreign judgment for an appropriate period, and require the same security for satisfaction of the judgment that is required in this State. § 11-804.