What is the process of obtaining a judgment in a small claims court case?

In Maryland, the process of obtaining a judgment in a small claims court case begins before the case even gets to court. First, you must complete and file a complaint with the court. This complaint should include the name of the person or business against whom you wish to bring a claim, and a detailed description of the dispute. Once the complaint is filed, the court clerk will set a hearing date to consider your case. Before the hearing, you must serve the complaint and its attachments to the other party. This can be done through the mail or other approved delivery service. At the hearing, you will need to present your evidence and make your argument to the judge. The judge will then either make a decision in your favor or refer the case to a higher court. If the judge rules in your favor, they will issue a judgment that outlines the amount of money that must be paid to you. After the judgment is issued, the other party has a certain amount of time to pay the amount in full. If payment is not received during that time period, you may need to take legal action to collect the money, such as garnishing wages or filing a lien against the person or business.

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