What does Maryland call proof of service?
Affidavit or affirmation
Document Guides
Maryland proof of service
The form title can say affidavit while the signature block is only the penalties-of-perjury affirmation. CC-DR-055, Rev. 04/2021, is that form.
iRemoteNotary Editorial Team
Published and reviewed by iRemoteNotary
Last reviewed October 7, 2026
Quick Answer
What proof does Maryland use, and does it explicitly require a notary?
Affidavit or affirmation. The form title can say affidavit while the signature block is only the penalties-of-perjury affirmation. CC-DR-055, Rev. 04/2021, is that form.
Do not assume a notary is required from the document title. Send the unsigned page if the signature block is unclear.
Proof at a glance
| Question | This jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Proof name | Affidavit or affirmation |
| Private server | Affidavit, or perjury affirmation on the family and district forms |
| Officer | Sheriff return |
| Traditional notary explicit? | Optional under Rule 1-304 |
| Perjury alternative? | Yes |
| Recipient acceptance of remote notarization | No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed. |
Current controlling rule
Maryland proof is controlled, for this guide, by Md. Rules 2-126 and 1-304. The form title can say affidavit while the signature block is only the penalties-of-perjury affirmation. CC-DR-055, Rev. 04/2021, is that form.
No single effective date is stored beyond the source that was reviewed on October 7, 2026.
What this jurisdiction calls the proof
The opened materials call it: Affidavit or affirmation. Classification used in the authority record: affidavit admin officer not specified.
Private process server
Rule 2-126 requires a non-sheriff affidavit with name, address, telephone number, and age. Rule 1-304 allows that statement to be sworn before an officer or signed with the perjury affirmation.
Sheriff, officer, or other listed server
A sheriff's return is not the non-sheriff affidavit.
Is an oath or notary explicitly required?
The answer depends on the form or the server. Read the signature block on the page that will be filed.
A penalty-of-perjury or unsworn-declaration alternative is part of the official path.
Current official form
Affidavit of Service (family hand delivery) (CC-DR-055), revision 04/2021. Signature block: declaration.
Fields the server has to complete
- Name, address, telephone number, and age
Remote online notarization and court acceptance
No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed.
Remote online notarization is performed under the law of the online notary's commissioning state. When the commission is a Florida commission, Florida's remote online notarization statute governs the notarial act. The court or other recipient still decides whether to accept the return.
If the page is only a declaration, certificate, or signed return, do not add a notary certificate.
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
What to send iRemoteNotary
- The unsigned proof, return, or affidavit
- The court, and that the case is connected to Maryland
- The form number and revision if one is printed
- Whether the signature block is a jurat or a perjury declaration
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
Process-serving companies and law firms
A coordinator can submit the request. The signer is the person named on the certificate. There is no organization account, dashboard, volume price, or court-filing service.
One signer and one notarization is $25 domestically. Each additional notarization is $15. An additional signer is $10. A witness is $15. An international session coordination fee of $25 applies when a signer is outside the United States. An international session commonly starts at $50 for one signer and one notarization.
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
Frequently asked questions
Does a sheriff or officer use the same signature block?
A sheriff's return is not the non-sheriff affidavit.
Is a penalty-of-perjury declaration an alternative?
Yes, on the path described on this page.
Did the official materials expressly accept remote notarization of the proof?
No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed.
Related pages
Sources and Official References
The following primary sources support the legal and procedural information in this guide. Requirements can change, so confirm current rules with the receiving organization before relying on a notarized document.
Maryland Courts service help(opens in a new tab)
Maryland
Accessed October 7, 2026
Maryland
Accessed October 7, 2026
Send the unsigned page
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.