Demand Letter in Maryland

A demand letter asks someone to pay or fix a problem before you go to small claims court. Many judges expect one, and it is useful evidence. Your state's small claims limit and fee are shown below.

What Maryland law says

Small claims limit	$5,000, not counting interest, costs and recoverable attorney's fees. Small claims are for money only, not return of property or performance of a service. The District Court also has exclusive jurisdiction over landlord-tenant actions under Real Property §§ 8-401 and 8-402 where the rent claimed is $5,000 or less. Money-only scope from the Judiciary's small claims page: https://www.mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/smallclaims Source: Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405
Filing fee	$44 for a new small claims contract or tort complaint (includes surcharges). A counterclaim, cross claim or third-party claim costs $18. Service is extra: $20 per defendant if mailed by the clerk, or $60 per defendant if served by the sheriff or constable. Fee waivers are available. Fee waiver information: https://www.mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/filingfeewaivers Source: District Court of Maryland Cost Schedule (DCA-109, Rev. 03/2026)

Small claims limit

$5,000, not counting interest, costs and recoverable attorney's fees. Small claims are for money only, not return of property or performance of a service. The District Court also has exclusive jurisdiction over landlord-tenant actions under Real Property §§ 8-401 and 8-402 where the rent claimed is $5,000 or less.

Money-only scope from the Judiciary's small claims page: https://www.mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/smallclaims

Source: Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405

Filing fee

$44 for a new small claims contract or tort complaint (includes surcharges). A counterclaim, cross claim or third-party claim costs $18. Service is extra: $20 per defendant if mailed by the clerk, or $60 per defendant if served by the sheriff or constable. Fee waivers are available.

Fee waiver information: https://www.mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/filingfeewaivers

Source: District Court of Maryland Cost Schedule (DCA-109, Rev. 03/2026)

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[today's date]

To: [person or business name], [their address]

From: [your name], [your address]

This letter is a formal demand for $[amount demanded] for [what happened, with dates].

[Short list of facts and attached documents: contract, receipts, photos, messages.]

Please pay this amount by [payment deadline] by [payment method].

If I do not receive payment by then, I intend to file a claim in [court name] without further notice.

[your name] [phone or email]

Demand Letter for other states · Maryland tenant rights

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.