What is the process for requesting a court trial in a small claims court case?

In Maryland, the process for requesting a court trial in a small claims court case begins with filing a Complaint with the court. The Complaint must include details of the case and the amount of money or value of the property being claimed. The Complaint must then be served to the other party. The party being served has 20 days to file an Answer, which can include an admission or denial of the facts in the Complaint. If the Answer denies the facts, a court trial will be necessary. The party requesting the trial must then file a request for a trial date with the court, and both parties must appear at the trial. The court may require the parties to follow specific procedures, such as filing additional documents, to proceed. Trials are generally conducted in front of a judge, who will make a decision based on the evidence presented. Both parties can present evidence in the form of documents, testimony, or witnesses to support their case. After the presentation of evidence is complete, both parties will make closing statements. The judge will then make a decision and issue an order determining the outcome of the case.

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