Md. R. Civ. P. Dist. Ct. 3-131

As amended through November 13, 2024

Rule 3-131 - [Effective until 1/1/2025] Appearance

(a) By an Attorney or in Proper Person. Except as otherwise provided by rule or statute:

(1) an individual may enter an appearance by an attorney or in proper person and

(2) a person other than an individual may enter an appearance only by an attorney.

(b) Limited Appearance.

(1)Notice of Appearance. An attorney, acting pursuant to an agreement with a client for limited representation that complies with Rule 19-301.2(c) of the Maryland Attorneys' Rules of Professional Conduct, may enter an appearance limited to participation in a discrete matter or judicial proceeding. The notice of appearance (A) shall be accompanied by an Acknowledgment of Scope of Limited Representation substantially in the form specified in subsection (b)(2) of this Rule and signed by the client, and (B) shall specify the scope of the limited appearance, which (i) shall not exceed the scope set forth in the Acknowledgment but (ii) unless otherwise ordered by the court, shall include the performance of any procedural task required by law to achieve the objective of the appearance.

(2)Acknowledgment of Scope of Limited Representation. The Acknowledgment of Scope of Limited Representation shall be substantially in the following form:

[CAPTION]

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SCOPE OF LIMITED REPRESENTATION

Client: _____________________________________________________________

Attorney: ____________________________________________________________

I have entered into a written agreement with the above-named attorney. I understand that the attorney will represent me for the following limited purposes (check all that apply):

[] Arguing the following motion or motions:___________________________________

[] Attending a pretrial conference.

[] Attending a settlement conference.

[] Attending the following court-ordered mediation for purposes of advising the client during the proceeding: _______________________________________________________________

Acting as my attorney for the following hearing or trial: _____________________________________________

With leave of court, acting as my attorney with regard to the following specific issue or a specific portion of a trial or hearing: ___________________________________________________________

I understand that except for the legal services specified above, I am fully responsible for handling my case, including complying with court Rules and deadlines. I understand further that during the course of the limited representation, the court may discontinue sending court notices to me and may send all court notices only to my limited representation attorney. If the court discontinues sending notices to me, I understand that although my limited representation attorney is responsible for forwarding to me court notices pertaining to matters outside the scope of the limited representation, I remain responsible for keeping informed about my case.

_____________________________________________

Client

_____________________________________________

Signature

_____________________________________________

Date

Cross reference: See Maryland Attorneys' Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 19-301.2, Comment 8. For striking of an attorney's limited appearance, see Rule 3-132(a).

(c) How Entered. Except as otherwise provided in section (b) of this Rule, an appearance may be entered by filing a pleading, motion, or notice of intention to defend or, by filing a written notice of appearance.

(d) Effect. The entry of an appearance is not a waiver of the right to assert any defense in accordance with these rules. Special appearances are abolished.

Md. R. Civ. P. Dist. Ct. 3-131

This Rule is in part derived from former Rule 124 and in part new.

Adopted April 6, 1984, eff. 7/1/1984. Amended Nov. 9, 1994, eff. 1/1/1995; 1/20/1999, eff. 7/1/1999; 2/10/2009, eff. 5/1/2009; 6/7/2011, eff. 7/1/2011; 3/2/2015, eff. 7/1/2015; 12/7/2015, eff. 1/1/2016; 6/6/2016, eff. 7/1/2016; 12/13/2016, eff. 4/1/2017; amended Mar. 13, 2020, eff. 3/16/2020.

HISTORICAL NOTES

2009 Orders

The February 10, 2009, order, corrected a cross-reference.

2011 Orders

The June 7, 2011, order amended the cross reference.

2015 Orders

The March 2, 2015, order amended the Rule to permit the entry of a limited appearance under certain circumstances; added a form of acknowledgment of the scope of limited representation; and added a cross reference pertaining to limited appearances.

The December 7, 2015, order replaced the word "representation with the word "appearance in subsection (b)(1) and specified that, except as otherwise ordered by the court, the scope of a limited appearance includes any procedural task required by law to achieve the objective of the appearance.

2016 Orders

The June 6, 2016, order revised internal references in the Rule.

The December 13, 2016, order deleted the option of an oral entry of appearance and made a stylistic change.

Rules 1-311, 1-312, 1-313; Rules 19-214 and 19-215 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar. See also Rule 1-202(u) for the definition of person, and Code, Business Occupations and Professions Article, § 10-206(b)(1), (2), and (4) for certain exceptions applicable in the District Court.