Ch. 766

LAWS OF MARYLAND

District Court of the county wherein the property is situated,
describing in general terms the property sought to be
repossessed, and also setting forth the name of the tenant to
whom the property is rented or his assignee or subtenant with the
amount of rent due and unpaid; and praying by warrant to
repossess the premises, together with judgment for the amount of
rent due and costs. The District Court shall issue its summons,
directed to any [constable or sheriff of the county entitled]
PERSON AUTHORIZED UNDER THE MARYLAND RULES to serve process, and
ordering him to notify by first-class mail the tenant, assignee,
or subtenant to appear before the District Court at the trial to
be held on the fifth day after the filing of the complaint, to
answer the landlord's complaint to show cause why the prayer of
the landlord should not be granted, and the -{—constable or
sheriff] PERSON shall proceed to serve the summons upon the
tenant, assignee or subtenant in the property or upon his known
or authorized agent, but if for any reason, neither the tenant,
assignee or subtenant, nor his agent, can be found, then the
[constable or sheriff] PERSON shall affix an attested copy of
the sum conspicuously upon the property. The affixing of the
summons upon the property after due notification to the tenant,
assignee, or subtenant by first-class mail shall conclusively be
presumed to be a sufficient service to all persons to support the
entry of a default judgment for possession of the premises,
together with court costs, in favor of the landlord, but it shall
not be sufficient service to support a default judgment in favor
of the landlord for the amount of rent due.

(2) NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (1)
OF THIS SUBSECTION, IN WICOMICO COUNTY, IN AN ACTION TO REPOSSESS
ANY PREMISES UNDER THIS SECTION, SERVICE OF PROCESS ON A TENANT
MAY BE DIRECTED TO ANY PERSON AUTHORIZED UNDER THE MARYLAND RULES
TO SERVE PROCESS.--------------------------------------------------

(2) NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (1)

OF THIS SUBSECTION, IN WICOMICO COUNTY, IN AN ACTION TO RECOVER

UNPAID RENT, A LANDLORD MAY OBTAIN PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS ON
A TENANT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MARYLAND RULES
THAT RELATE TO THE PERSONS TO BE SERVED PROCESS.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1988.

Approved May 27, 1988.

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