Maryland Form DC-CV-001 is the Affidavit and Claim form you file to start a small claims case in District Court for a money dispute of $5,000 or less. You fill in the defendant’s information, itemize what you’re owed, write a short sworn statement of the facts, complete a military-service affidavit, and take the form to the District Court clerk in the county where the defendant lives, works, or does business. The filing fee is $44.
Where to Get the Form
The fillable PDF is on the Maryland Courts website at courts.state.md.us/district/forms, under “Civil” forms.1Maryland Courts. District Court Forms by Category Maryland also offers a “Guide & File” tool, linked from the same page, that walks you through an online interview and produces the completed form from your answers. Blank copies are available at any District Court clerk’s office.
What to Gather Before You Start
Have this ready so you can complete the form in one sitting:
- The defendant’s full legal name and address. If you’re suing a business, use its registered legal name, not just a trade name. A misspelled name or wrong business entity can create problems with service and enforcement later.
- Your claim amount, which must total $5,000 or less. This can include the principal debt, pre-judgment interest at either the legal rate or a contractual rate, and attorney fees if a written agreement provides for them.2Maryland Courts. Maryland Small Claims Affidavit and Claim Form DC-CV-001
- The defendant’s military status. You can check this for free through the Department of Defense’s SCRA lookup at scra.dmdc.osd.mil using the person’s name, Social Security number, and date of birth.3Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Website. SCRA
- Your supporting documents. Contracts, invoices, photos, receipts, text messages, and similar records don’t get attached to the form, but you’ll want them organized for trial.
You can hire an attorney for a small claims case, but it isn’t required. Most people represent themselves.4Maryland Courts. Small Claims
Filling Out the Form Section by Section
Case Type and County
Near the top of the form, check the box for “$5,000 or under” to route your case through the simplified small claims process.2Maryland Courts. Maryland Small Claims Affidavit and Claim Form DC-CV-001 Small claims cases skip formal discovery like interrogatories, which keeps things faster and cheaper. Fill in the county where you plan to file. In most situations that’s the county where the defendant lives, works, or has a place of business.5The Maryland People’s Law Library. Small Claims
Party Information
Enter your full name, address, and phone number in the plaintiff fields. Then do the same for each defendant. The form has space for multiple defendants if you’re suing more than one person.
The Claim Amount
The claim breaks into components. Start with the principal amount owed. Add pre-judgment interest if it applies, checking a box for either the legal rate or a rate specified in a contract, and calculate the per-day interest amount multiplied by the number of days. If a written agreement entitles you to attorney fees, enter that figure separately. The totaled figure cannot exceed $5,000.2Maryland Courts. Maryland Small Claims Affidavit and Claim Form DC-CV-001
The Affidavit of Complaint
This is the narrative section where you explain why the defendant owes you money. Write a clear, factual summary: what the agreement or situation was, what the defendant did or failed to do, and how that caused your financial loss. Keep it straightforward. At the bottom you sign a declaration under the penalties of perjury affirming that everything in the affidavit is true to the best of your knowledge.2Maryland Courts. Maryland Small Claims Affidavit and Claim Form DC-CV-001 Filing a false affidavit can result in criminal penalties, so stick to facts you can prove.
The Military Service Affidavit
Federal law requires this section before the court can enter any default judgment. Under 50 U.S.C. ยง 3931 you must state one of three things: the defendant is on active military duty, the defendant is not on active duty, or you’re unable to determine the defendant’s status. If you state the defendant is not in the military, the form asks for supporting facts such as their age, current employer, or similar details that show how you know. Filing a false military-status affidavit is a federal offense punishable by a fine under Title 18 or up to one year in prison.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 50 USC 3931 – Protection of Servicemembers Against Default Judgments
Filing the Completed Form
Bring or mail the completed form to the District Court clerk’s office in the county where the defendant lives, works, or does business. If there are multiple defendants, you can file in any county where one of them could be sued.5The Maryland People’s Law Library. Small Claims Filing in person at the clerk’s window is the most common approach. Maryland’s Guide & File system also allows online preparation of the form, though you should confirm with your local clerk whether electronic submission is available for your county.
The filing fee is $44.7Maryland Courts. District Court of Maryland Cost Schedule If you can’t afford the fee, you can ask the court to waive it by completing a Request for Waiver of Costs form (CC-DC-089), available from the clerk’s office or the Maryland Courts website.8Maryland Courts. Filing Fee Waivers Keep your receipt. It proves the date your case started.
What Happens After You File
Summons and Service
After you file, the clerk issues a summons for each defendant.9New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Maryland Rules Rule 3-112 – Process – Issuance of Summons Under Maryland Rule 3-121, the summons and complaint can be delivered by personal delivery through a sheriff, constable, or private process server; by substitute service left at the defendant’s home with a resident old enough and responsible enough to pass them along; or by certified mail with restricted delivery, so only the defendant can sign for them.10New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Maryland Rules Rule 3-121 – Process – Service – In Personam Private process servers typically charge between $40 and $125. Your case cannot move forward until the defendant is properly served.
Trial Date
In most District Court cases the clerk sets a trial date within 60 days of filing. If the defendant files a Notice of Intention to Defend, the trial is typically scheduled within 90 days of the filing date.11The Maryland People’s Law Library. Preparing Your Case You’ll get a notice in the mail with the date, time, and courtroom. Watch your mail closely, because a missed rescheduling notice can cost you the case.
If the Defendant Doesn’t Respond
When you file a complaint with a supporting affidavit and the defendant never files a Notice of Intention to Defend, the court may enter a default judgment, sometimes called an “affidavit judgment,” without holding a hearing at all.12The Maryland People’s Law Library. Default Orders and Judgments in Maryland The defendant then has 30 days from the entry date to file a motion to vacate.
Free Mediation
Maryland’s District Court ADR Office provides mediation for civil cases at no charge, either on the trial date or beforehand through a remote program.13Maryland Courts. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) If you reach an agreement, the terms go into the court file. If mediation doesn’t work, you proceed straight to the courtroom, so the process doesn’t delay your trial.
Preparing for the Hearing
Bring everything that supports your version of the facts: contracts, invoices, receipts, photos, repair estimates, text messages, and emails. Organize them chronologically and make copies for the judge and the defendant.4Maryland Courts. Small Claims If someone witnessed the events, bring them. Firsthand testimony carries more weight than you describing what a witness told you. For business records like invoices or account statements, be prepared to explain who created the record and when.
Small claims hearings usually last 15 to 30 minutes. The judge will let you tell your side, then the defendant responds. Stick to what happened, what the defendant owes, and why your documents prove it.